Description

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The Joy of Advent is an easy, guided celebration of Advent and Christmas for any family that hopes to bring richness and meaning into the holiday season.

From Advent through Epiphany, daily Bible readings, reflections, songs, prayers, and activities for all ages provide a guided celebration that will infuse depth and delight throughout the Advent and Christmastide season. The Joy of Advent gives families the opportunity to come together and focus their hearts on the scarlet thread of Christmas—Christ’s love and sacrifice—woven through the tapestry of Scripture, and utilizing the Jesse Tree, to create poignant memories and beloved traditions.
 
Readers will…
· Create meaningful traditions and activities that family members will enjoy year after year.
· Experience companionship through accessible readings and thoughtful reflections.
· Appreciate the amazing story of God’s redemptive work in the world.
· Have every day moments transformed into lasting memories of rich spiritual significance.
· Extend the celebration of Christmas through the full Twelve Days of Christmas.
 
Features of The Joy of Advent:
• PERFECT GIFT for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany celebrations
• TIMELESSLY CLASSIC PACKAGING: With a beautifully ageless, full-color, holiday design, this family activity book is perfect for decorating a coffee table or bookshelf, and the sturdy hardcover package ensures durability.
• DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS: This book includes family devotions and reflection questions for different age levels, and activities the whole family can enjoy together.

About the Author

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Rebecca Grabill is mother of six and award-winning author of children’s books Halloween Good Night (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), Violet and the Woof (Katherine Tegan Books/HarperCollins), and A Year With Mama Earth (Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers), as well as the poetry collection, Sweetened Condensed (Flying Ketchup Press), and essays on global platforms such as ScaryMommy.com. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Calvin University. She is also an awardee of the Sustainable Arts Foundation. She lives in rural Michigan with her husband and children, and balances homeschooling with writing and commercial photography.
 

Stephen J. Grabill, Ph.D., theological consultant on this project (and conveniently Rebecca’s husband), is general editor of the NIV Stewardship Study Bible (Zondervan, 2009) and co-author and executive producer of the film series For the Life of the World, which has sold more than 250,000 copies and reached 1.5 million viewers. He also has numerous academic titles to his name, teaches social ethics at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and has 20 years experience as a senior research theologian, author, and speaker. Currently he is Director of Moja University and co-founder of the IT startup, Moja Market LLC, which will bring e-commerce and education to Sub-Saharan Africa.
 

Clare Therese Gray is the author, illustrator and pattern designer behind popular Instagram account @claretheresegray. She creates artworks for textiles, paper craft and fabric collections, packaging and homewares. Inspired by the natural environment of her rural Hampshire surroundings, she lives and works on a farm with her husband and young family. After studying Painting at Art School in Norwich she went on to the Drawing Year at the Royal Drawing School where she focused on imaginative and observational drawing & printmaking before launching a freelance design career. 
 
Aside from bespoke artworks, she takes on project-based collaborations with like-minded companies.  Clare’s design experience spans a range of clients and sectors from textiles to craft collections, homewares to book illustration. She is the author of two books, 'Woodland Watercolor: A Colouring Workbook' and 'Painting Nature with Clare: Create Beautiful Gouache Motifs of the Garden, Countryside, Sea, River and Forest' published with Page Street Publishing. She has illustrated the children's picture books, 'The Agnes Series' published with DK. Her patterns can be found around the world on children’s and women’s apparel, luxury toiletries, stationery, ceramics and decorative objects.

She has a passion for lino printing on paper and fabric, and loves spending time in galleries drawing ceramics and paintings. Otherwise she can often be found enjoying the English countryside with her family, growing and collecting flowers to dry and, of course, drawing and painting every single day.
 
 

Praise For…

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"The Joy of Advent is a beautiful and rich resource. I celebrate that families will be able to create Christmas traditions that join their worship with that of the saints of old. Even though I struggle to remember the church calendar, I long for rhythms and traditions that will place me inside God’s redemptive story. I’m delighted that this volume will lead families in lifelong faith formation together." —Geoffrey Hsu, Executive Director, Shepherd Flourish San Diego

"What a beautiful, meaningful, imaginative, and fun-filled interactive book with a website! Biblical storytelling, from foretelling to fulfilling, from stump to branches, from hyssop to hyssop, from century to century we are captivated to live in the story. Beautiful illustrations, notable music, I-can-smell-it recipes and activities all contribute to memory-shaped meaning and identity. I cannot put the book down and am ready to recommend it to our young millennial couples. Authors and practitioners Rebecca and Stephen Grabill are able to show us how to form, disciple, and pass along biblical values and family traditions to the next generation. Through emotional resonance, personal significance, conversational reflection and introspection, ‘one’ day of Christmas is transformed into a season of celebration. May I commend you to welcome The Joy of Advent into your home." 
—Samuel E. Chiang, Deputy Secretary General World Evangelical Alliance  

"For those of us who have longed for a rewarding Christmastime reading experience for ourselves and our families, the search is over. The Joy of Advent is a rich, guided companion through the rhythms and themes of the season—anchored in Scripture and brought to life by the beautifully written word, wonderful artwork, musical recommendations, and activities for all ages and stages. Prepare your hearts each day of Advent and Christmastide and bring your gifts as you bring yourself to the One who offers hope, peace, joy, and love throughout the season and the whole year long."  —Timothy J. Beals, Author of The Red Letters, Teach Us to Pray, and When Grief Goes Deep
 
 
"The Joy of Advent is a timeless resource that will be a staple in your family’s faith traditions for years to come! From your little ones to grandparents, every member of your family will be engaged by the thoughtfully written reflections, beautiful illustrations, creative celebration ideas, and much more! This book will truly bless each and every family who seeks to grow closer to Christ during the Advent and Christmas seasons."—Cassie Herrington, Author of Little Saint Stories & Director of Youth Ministry