This year, Advent begins on November 28th. I want to recommend this book to you, along with sharing all my Advent and Christmas book posts. (And there are some gems in those posts – please read and share these with others you think might be interested!) There’s still time to gather what you need to be prepared to wait for the light.
This little book (5″ x 6″) was my gift to the other teachers in our Truth, Beauty, Goodness Community a few years ago as a token of my deep appreciation and thanks. The Art of Advent – A painting a day from Advent to Epiphany by Jane Williams is a sweet treasure for anyone wishing to look, see and think about Christ as we wait for the light this Advent season. And each entry will nourish the soul, especially those of us who enjoy picture study and have formed the habit of meditating on pieces of art that seem to call His name.
Each reading features a painting with commentary by Ms. Williams, followed by a few reflection questions and a thoughtful prayer. Here is an excerpt from a reading on one of my favorite paintings, The Light of the World by Holman Hunt:
“Holman Hunt paints the crucified and risen Jesus: the marks of the nails are visible in the hand that is poised to knock, and he still wears the crown of thorns. But Jesus’ willingness to be vulnerable, to lay himself open to us and await our verdict, is there from the moment of his birth. Human birth, particularly in the ancient world, is such a risky business, with not guarantee of safety, and Jesus is born to such unlikely people and is dependent on them for food, for nurture, for safety, for love. So many things could have gone wrong at every turn of Jesus’ human life; at every moment, he stands and knocks and waits for us to offer what we can, to open the door, and then the light will come streaming in.”
I hope you find something in all of these posts that you find helpful for your personal reading or in your family read-alouds!
Simple and Holy: Five Favorite Advent Resources
Christmas Around the World Books
Christmas Books by Tasha Tudor
Hi Nancy,
The Art of Advent is such a wonderful way to slow down and focus on Christ this time of year. A church friend with no connection to CM recommended it to me last year and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is a beautiful and meaningful way to enjoy picture study. It was a wonderful way to connect as friends as well, studying portrayals of the Almighty by various artists throughout history.
Dear Sarah,
I couldn’t agree with you more! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your appreciation of this book. Yes, it is a beautiful book for EVERYONE.
Warmly,
Nancy