Preparing the Way: A New Advent Resource for Congregations
Grand Canyon Synod congregations planning for Advent have a new resource to explore: Preparing the Way: A Herstory of Hope. Centered on the five women in Jesus’ family tree in Matthew 1—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—the collection offers materials for seasonal worship, faith formation, and daily devotion, including a devotional spanning December 1–January 1.
Their stories invite us to recognize God’s grace amid complicated human lives. For Lutherans, this is a familiar foundation for Advent hope: we trust God’s promise in Christ, whose coming draws near to our ordinary struggles and unexpected beginnings.
Developed through the Nourishing Vocation with Children Project at St. Olaf College’s Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the collection brings together the work of dozens of contributors across the church.
Resources include:
Worship materials: Advent candle lighting liturgies, prayers, confession and absolution, an affirmation of faith, Eucharistic materials, blessings, a worship outline, and an original hymn.
Scripture and faith formation: text studies, character monologues, Near and Now studies, communal prayer practices, and faith formation resources.
Creative and seasonal activities: original character art, coloring pages, AdventFest resources, and a Christmas Eve Holy Communion liturgy.
The collection is offered through an invitation to shared stewardship and generosity. Those who benefit are encouraged to help sustain its continued availability for others.
Explore Preparing the Way: A Herstory of Hope and share it with your congregation’s worship planners, faith formation leaders, and newsletter readers. Questions may be directed to nourishing-vocation@stolaf.edu.
