The Archbishop of York’s Advent Book, 2024

Do Not Be Afraid

Author Rachel Mann
Publisher SPCK £11.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281090013

The subtitle of this powerful book is: ‘The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear.’ As Archbishop Stephen Cottrell reminds us in his foreword, we are living in a fallen, imperfect world, scarred by wars, the climate crisis and injustice. The Advent themes of watching and waiting may therefore easily be lost in such fearful times, especially as waiting – whether in a hospital, in a traffic jam, or for an aeroplane – can add to our anxieties and frustrations. And yet, as Rachel Mann immediately reminds us, despite everything, waiting may be a divine gift – an encounter with holiness and a time when we may receive a vision of grace to still our fears. She provides a personal example. When in some danger in the Caribbean Sea she gazed into the night sky and, seeing for the first time the Milky Way, was ‘surprised by the gift of creation.’ Beholding th

e glory of God, her fears were calmed.

The book comprises a narrative for each day of Advent, culminating in a prayer and questions for reflection. The narratives are original and absorbing. Some are personal biographical stories, sometimes self-deprecating; others are clever reflections on poetry from Christina Rossetti or Emily Dickinson; there is an intriguing passage from Jane Austen’s Persuasion; and reflections on the medieval mystics, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe. We are also reminded how Mary and Joseph waited for the birth of Jesus; and Elizabeth and Zechariah for John the Baptist. Each reflection draws an appropriate biblical allusion or insight. If readers persist throughout Advent in using these reflections and the questions they evoke, maybe for just 20 minutes each day, I am sure they will be spiritually enriched. And many of the prayers are magnificent and memorable. For Christmas Eve, we pray with Richard Baxter (1690): ‘Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a serious seeking after you’. And for Christmas Day, we have: ‘God of Love, on this glorious day, may our waiting be at an end.’

This is a book which, in many ways, enriches the concept of Christ’s incarnation.

Reviewed by Peter Clough

Embracing Humanity

Author Isabelle Hamley
Publisher BRF 9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781800392267

The BRF Advent Book for 2024, sub-titled ‘A journey towards becoming flesh’, is divided into days, covering the Advent period up to Christmas. The  material for each day consists of a Bible passage, commentary, some ideas for eflection and a prayer. In addition, at the back of the book, there are suggestions for group study, handily divided into four sections, suitable for the four weeks of Advent. The commentary is both challenging and approachable. Isabelle Hamley focuses throughout on the amazing gift God gave to the world: Jesus becoming flesh and so taking upon himself all the dangers and the joys which living as a human being involves. Each day is an examination of the way God chose and embraced the human world, shown through the human birth and life of his Son. The passages and commentary explore themes such as loneliness and relationship, lament and hope, bodily resurrection, human uniqueness and limitations, to name but a few. What is clear throughout is that salvation comes by embracing humanity – hence the title – not by trying to renounce it. One delightful touch, reminding us of this humanity, is the fingerprint which appears on the front cover and at many points in the text. I heartily recommend this book as a useful and thought-provoking preparation for Christmas.

Reviewed by Margaret Tinsley