Advent Everyday Devotional Booklet
To access an online version of our Advent Everyday Devotional Booklet, please click on the pdf link on the left hand side.
Message from the Editor
We have been blessed since 2021 to have thoughtful, honest, and encouraging reflections for our spiritual nourishment in the season of Advent. 25 people reflected on readings from exilic and post-exilic prophets, and from Luke’s gospel. Seven authors were first-time contributors to Advent Everyday, some newer to Southside including our Senior Minister, Rev Andrew Gunton. We are also grateful to receive a contribution from recently inducted Presbytery Minister, Rev Catherine Solomon. These readings are guided by the Narrative Lectionary, and give us the context within which the expectations, lament, and hope arise within a people looking for God’s transforming work.
Each week of Advent will focus on readings from the following:
First Week Daniel
Second Week Joel, Ezra & Nehemiah
Third Week Isaiah & the prophets
Fourth Week Luke
The theme, ‘God’s invitation to transformation’ was developed across the entire breadth of readings during Advent. Transformation is not easy work. It requires an openness to ‘letting go,’ ‘moving on,’ and ‘laying down’ things that no longer serve. For this reason I chose the caterpillar for the front page image. The caterpillar may believe ‘life is just fine, thank you very much!’ It may not see the need to become a butterfly. But the caterpillar is not meant to live it’s whole life in this first form. It must undergo a transformative process through a necessary death. Only then can it born again and live. What if Advent, the coming of the Christ-child, was seen through this lens? What if God’s coming amongst us in Christ is itself an invitation to come around the manger, to kneel and worship, and to be transformed?
We are grateful to include original artwork from previous years by Peter Kennedy, Narelle Richardson, and Flora Woodward. Other images included are sourced from UnSplash and used by permission.
To those making use of this resource in other parts of Australia and the world, we would love to hear your reflections and stories along the way. Get in touch, hello@ssuc.org.au
About Advent
The word ‘Advent’ is derived from the Latin word adventus which means ‘coming’. During the season of Advent, the church remembers and welcomes again the coming of the Christ-child into the world. Jesus lived to heal, save, reconcile, and give birth to God’s new life for all. The life of the Christ-child continues to heal, save, reconcile, and give birth to God’s new life in all of life throughout the world through the Spirit of God.
Thanks to all the authors and artists for their contributions, and to the team making the arrangements for the launch event of this resource.
Rev Jock Dunbar
December 2024
Spiritual Growth covers key elements of the life of the Christian Church, including discipleship, bible studies, developing spiritual leaders and identifying people who have a calling on their lives for future ministry and mission engagement. As One Congregation in multiple locations, Southside seeks to build our unified identity through our spiritual commitment, by developing ourselves to discipleship we can find out more about our identity in Christ and as members of this unique community in the life of our church.
To find out more about Spiritual Growth in Southside Uniting Church or to express your interest in joining a Small Group, please contact the church office.