Reflections for Advent 2021

Author Stephen Cottrell & Guli Francis-Dehqani
Publisher CHP £3.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780715124000

Four distinguished Anglican bishops have contributed to this little book of reflections to accompany morning prayer throughout Advent. Libby Lane introduces the season as a time of ‘desire and danger’ – for the eternal hopefulness of Advent also means confronting death, judgement, heaven and hell – creating, in her words, ‘a momentous, seismic season.’ Rachel Treweeke’s contribution is to show how the rhythm of daily morning prayer can be built into our lives as we seek to go out to love and serve the Lord. But the substance of the booklet is the series of daily reflections, based on the lectionary readings, firstly from Stephen Cottrell (29 November to 11 December) and then by Guli Francis-Dehqani, until Christmas Eve. Their wisdom is palpable and memorable. There are no bland platitudes, but much food for thought, ably blending challenge and comfort. This book is therefore a valuable and inspiring spiritual accompaniment to a season of short, dark days – a time with a growing need for reflection and devotion.

Reviewed by KATE BURTON

Advent

The Whole Christmas Story

Author Jo Swinney 
Publisher BRF £8.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780857469410

Jo Swinney has produced a thoughtful and very readable book for Advent. The subtitle says it is ‘An advent adventure through Genesis, Revelation and points in between’. The selection of readings, prayers and reflection that suggest ways to develop the spiritual life are well presented and are a challenging read.  The book in part has been reshaped as the author came face to face with a personal tragedy. It will be with me during Advent, enabling me to stop and consider during the time of preparation for Christmas.

Reviewed by CAVAN WOOD

Advent

Celebrating Christmas

Author Amy Boucher Pye & Leo Boucher
Publisher BRF £9.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9781800390515

This beautiful book has been written and illustrated by a father and daughter team. It is divided into four parts which could be used during the four weeks before Christmas. Each part is made up of several short sections comprising scripture, a reflection by the author and an illustration. Amy, the author, encourages us to think more deeply about a particular aspect of Christmas. She also gives us an insight into her childhood memories and why they are so special to her. She then closes each reflection by leaving questions with the reader; questions for us to ponder and pray about. Leo beautifully illustrates the theme with his paintings. This would make an excellent small gift which could be used year after year and still stay fresh.

Reviewed by SUE PIPER

Advent

The Christmas Story

Author Martin Payne
Publisher BRF £2.50
Format pbk
ISBN 9781800391208

This little book covers the Christmas story from the announcement to Zechariah of the coming of the Christ child, to the escape to Egypt of the Holy family. Each section offers a reading from scripture, followed by a commentary, questions, ideas and activities for families to do together. The author was part of BRF’s Messy Church team and is passionate about the richness experienced when families talk about faith together; this book would make an excellent inexpensive pre-Christmas gift and would generate new ideas and conversations about the importance of celebrating the Nativity and what it means to us today.

Reviewed by SUE PIPER

Advent

The Art of Christmas

Author Jane Williams
Publisher SPCK £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281086474

The distinguished theologian and writer, Jane Williams, has produced another helpful volume in SPCK’s series of booklets on classical and modern artworks to accompany the liturgical seasons. The Art of Christmas follows the author’s earlier offering The Art of Advent (2018), and similar works from the late and much-loved Wendy Beckett: The Art of Lent (2017); and The Art of Holy Week and Easter (2021, published posthumously). Both these authors have provided exceptional insights into great artworks and have related the art to biblical matters. Beckett is, perhaps, the greater expert on art history; Williams the more profound theologian. It matters little – all these delightful booklets provide great scope for personal meditation and deeper understanding of scripture through the inspiration of artistic masterworks. It is a joyful and highly collectable series.

The Art of Christmas is subtitled ‘Meditations on the Birth of Jesus’, and certainly there is strong emphasis on the nativity scenes as documented in Matthew and Luke. The holy family, the shepherds and the magi all feature in a variety of works. But Jane Williams is also at pains to take us beyond the birth of a baby in Bethlehem, and reminds us through wider scripture readings of the eternal meaning of the incarnation and its significance for our salvation. Thus, she provides allusions to Romans chapter 8 as well as John chapter 1. And, with a nod to prophecy, she relates Mary’s pregnancy thanksgiving in the Magnificat to Hannah’s prayer and subsequent psalm of joy (1 Sam. chapters 1 & 2), augmented by a moving and little known portrait of Hannah by the Dutch artist Jan Victors (1619-1679).

One of the strengths of the book is the way familiar artworks such as Botticelli’s Annunciation and The Mystical Nativity are balanced against the inspiration of lesser known works. For example, I was unfamiliar with the wonderful portrait of St Joseph with the Infant Christ by the Italian Baroque painter, Guido Reni (1575-1642). There is also a beautiful and intriguing and work by Gerhard von Hornthorst (1592-1656) on The Adoration of the Shepherds with exceptional use of light and shadow to show the infant Jesus as the light of the world. In summary, this is a book to treasure – and an ideal, thoughtful Christmas gift.

Reviewed by KATE BURTON

Advent