Be Ready: An Advent Devotional

Contributors organized by Week of Compassion Edited by Courtney Richards PREVIEW Seasons of the year, of church, and of life can too easily flow right into the next. Taking time to mark occasions— stopping to look around— gives us the chance to breathe, see something new, and break the cycle of sameness. Be Ready takes the heart of Advent - waiting, preparation, readying - to new places, engaging the spirit found within ministries of relief, refugees, preparedness, and recovery, alongside the sacred texts of the Advent season.   Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, each day's devotion includes an Advent scripture, reflection, and prayer, engaging the traditional themes of Advent—hope, peace, joy, love—paired with stories from those responding to issues of welcome and hospitality, hunger and food justice, disaster and recovery, rebuilding and resilience. Candle-lighting moments for each Sunday and Christmas plus devotions including the 12 Days of Christmas until Epiphany make Be Ready an engaging Advent experience. About the Contributors: Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Be Ready’s contributors represent the diversity of the church, and the variety of partnerships Week of Compassion explores—communities, congregations, supporters, staff, and board members. Writers are named and profiled within the guide, edited by Rev. Courtney Richards, Communications and Development Manager.