Book details

Comfort and Joy

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ebook

Comfort and Joy

by Sherah-Leigh Gerber and Gwen Lantz

Connect with what truly matters this holiday season
 
In the hustle and bustle of the season’s endless to-dos, it can be difficult to truly connect with what matters—honoring beloved traditions with family and friends, being present in our communities, and experiencing God in the celebration of Jesus’ birth. In Comfort and Joy, authors Sherah-Leigh Gerber and Gwen Lantz offer a unique blend of thoughtful reflections and inspiring spiritual practices grounded in noticing the sacred amid the ordinary. Two friends who forged a friendship and a blog through a shared love of writing, together they bring fresh insight, warmth, and opportunities for spiritual nurture and growth. In these pages, you’ll find ways to engage more deeply with favorite traditions and cultivate creative space for new ones.
 
With readings to walk through the Advent and Christmas season, the weekly offerings include a variety of devotional meditations and invitations. Scripture texts drawn from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church by Wilda C. Gafney accompany reflections, journal prompts, and spiritual practices to help us slow down and savor this meaningful and holy Advent journey.
 

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Introduction
 
Week 1: Preparation
Advent Questions                              
Reluctant Preparation            
Gathering Evergreens            
Lectionary Text: Luke 1:26–38
Mary’s Miracle                                  
Great-Grandma’s Soft Sugar Cookies           
How Can This Be?                            
Releasing Expectations                     
Good in the Present                           
Blessing for the Waiting                                
 
Week 2: Hope
Hope Haikus                                      
Living in the Gap                               
Intentionally Hopeful Tasks  
Lectionary Text: Luke 1:39–45
Hope Is Alive                                     
Star Bread                                          
Shared Hope                                      
Unresolved Hope                               
Reverence for the Future                   
Blessing for the Season                     
 
Week 3: Joy
Blessing for the New Day                 
Joy’s Interruptive Invitation              
Welcoming Joy                                  
Lectionary Text: Luke 1:46–55
Joining with God                               
Family Fruitcake                               
Joy beyond Our Circumstances         
Deep Joy                                            
Greater Joy                                        
Christmas Prayer                               
 
Week 4: Peace
Holiday Communing             
All Is Well                                         
Breathing Deeply                               
Lectionary Text: 1:18–25
Choose Wisely                                   
Ranch Party Mix                                
Grace and Peace to You                    
One Task at a Time               
Winter Mornings                               
Blessing for Peace                             
 
Week 5: Love
Winter Sunrise                                   
The Story of Loving Friendship                                
Feel the Love                         
Lectionary Text: Luke 2:1–14
Vastly Loved                                     
Pecan Tarts                                        
A Sign for You                                  
Well Loved                                        
The Ministry of Availability             
Blessing to Love                                
 
Week 6: Emmanuel
Ponder                                    
Familiar yet Fresh                              
Being With                                        
Lectionary Text: Luke 2:15–20
Embodied Christ                                
Christmas Fruit Salad            
Treasuring and Pondering                 
Embracing Humanity            
God with Us                                       
Blessing My Body                             
 
Conclusion
 
Acknowledgments
Additional Resources
       
Bonus Recipes
Recipe Index
How to Adapt for Small Groups
Notes
The Authors
 

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Praise for Comfort and Joy