Book Spotlight: Shadow & Light

Advent- the "New Years Day" of the Christian calendar!

I committed to observing a liturgical church calendar for one year, to see if it was a practice that we would adopt as a family. I felt drawn to the idea of spending every season, every day, awake to the wonder of aligning my life with the whole biblical narrative. The desire to observe Advent intentionally had been on my heart for three years, so I figured I would finally just begin! Little did I know that Advent is the genesis, the beginning of the church calendar!

I knew this wasn't a coincidence. I saw it as an intentional move on God's part.

So, I used a gift card and picked up a copy of Tsh Oxenreider's "Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent" to prepare my heart to observe Advent! I believe this book could be a valuable piece of your own Advent observance, and here's why:

"This book is written as a guide for the journey: intentionally short, ecumenical, and requiring almost no preparation. Many of us don't respond to our invitation to participate in Advent because of busyness, confusion, or overload. This guide aims to remove those barriers, offering a sensory-rich summons to enter the season as we are, wherever we are in life.

Working long, ten-hour shifts five days a week? This invitation is for you.

Sleep deprived with small children who have overtaken your house and life? This invitation is for you.

Young and immersed in studies with barely enough time to eat? This invitation is for you.

In your second half of life, feeling a bit lost on what's beyond the bend? This invitation is for you too.

I first wrote this devotional to meet my own family's needs for an Advent guide that was short but rich with meaning marinated in tradition, yet fit for a family of laypeople. Because Advent is for all of us. Honoring the season doesn't need to be complicated. It simply requires that we take the first step and respond to the invitation." -Tsh Oxenreider

Advent is an invitation.

To draw near. To settle. To anticipate.

If you find yourself already overwhelmed by all that December brings with it, I encourage you to check out my blog post on Advent to see what Danielle Hitchen's (Author of Sacred Seasons) has to say about stepping away from the cultural Christmas craze! In the meantime, pickup a copy of this book by Tsh Oxenreider, and be blessed this Advent season as we anticipate the birth of our King!