The Advent season has many messages that are common and that we miss. This devotion goes thru those messages in short chapters. Scripture introduces each reading, ending in thoughtful questions and prayer.

There were no Ahuh moments but it was reflective for the Advent season and what we need to be focused on.

A special thank you to Westminster John Knox and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Interesting premise by an excellent writer. I recommend for those interested in Advent (of course!) and something that pulls you back to the Biblical text.

This devotional takes you through Advent all the way to Epiphany through several objects (I do prefer "words" as some of these didn't feel like objects to me, for example Light). I love that it takes you to very different parts of the Bible. Each day has a short, light devotional, some questions and a prayer. I would recommend this, at any time of the year! There are a few references to Christmas but I do think it could be done anytime of the year.

Advent in Plain Sight takes us on a journey through advent using regular items found scattered through the scriptures but also found in our every day life. This is a delightful reading, that I thoroughly enjoyed for its different but impactful leading through the time of leading us to Christ's birth.

"No one who encounters the living God remains unmoved."

I received an ARC of #AdventInPlainSight from #NetGalley

I have enjoyed the days that I have read so far. They are not as "Christmassy" as I would have expected, but I enjoyed the themes and readings each day.

Advent in plain sight is well set out daily devotional for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany recommended for anyone who wishes to reach out to God ot to learn or revisit and reflect the true story and meaning of Christmas. An ideal daily devotional for just one person, groups or family and friends who wish to be able to reflect and discuss their thoughts of reading of set scriptures, a theological viewpoint of what the scriptures are about, prayers along with reflection questions for reflection, meditation and discussion.
#AdventinPlainSight #NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Westminister John Knox Press via NetGalley for my honest review of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are deemed the Advent season. Even though many nowadays do not celebrate Christmas in church, thanks to commercialization and popular culture, Christmas is that special time to usher in warm fuzzy feelings of giving, togetherness, family, and love. From public malls to private offices, department stores to individual homes, Christmas decorations can be found everywhere. Whether it is a Christmas tree or a candy cane, ornaments or pretty lights, these objects remind us about the coming of a significant annual event. Popularly called the "Christmas Spirit," different people would have varying opinions about what that means. Proverbs 8:17 reminds us that "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." What if we could redirect our attention from things to the Lord? What if we let the things of Christmas help us focus on Jesus and the reason He came to earth? "Be intentional," says author and minister Jill Duffield. Even as the world around us concentrates on the business of buying and selling stuff, believers should not be distracted by the hyperactive end-of-the-year commerce. Instead, let the ordinary things be used as launchpads to think more of Christ and the reason for the season. Throughout history, God has used messengers, sermons, narratives, prophecies, miracles, signs, testimonies, and so on, to call us back to Him. That is because the human race can often be forgetful, ignorant, or plain rebellious. We all need reminders and this book uses ten objects to help us observe Advent and Christmas intentionally. Let the ten objects we encounter be used to direct our attention and devotion to Christ. The ten objects are:

1) Gates (First Week of Advent)
2) Tears (Second Week of Advent)
3) Belts (Third Week of Advent)
4) Trees (Fourth Week of Advent)
5) Cloth (Christmas Eve)
6) Light (Christmas)
7) Hearts (First Week of Christmas)
8) Gold (Second Week of Christmas)
9) Stars (Epiphany)
10) Water

Except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the Epiphany where the devotion covers only a day, the author allocates an entire week for each of the other objects concerned. For each Advent week, readers get to ponder on the different situations pertaining to the object concerned. Duffield helps us connect a Scripture passage with the particular object through descriptions of the biblical contexts and what it means for contemporary culture. She makes room for us to reflect on the limitations of human culture and how Christ liberates us. For instance, gates can be open or shut. What do we do when we arrive at a gate? If we want to enter the gates of righteousness, what is required of us? How do we choose which gate to enter? Tears are used to tug not only at our emotional heartstrings but also challenge us to recognize the world of the oppressed.

Duffield gives us a good dose of realism when she critiques some common and glibly spoken words such as "Jesus is the answer to ALL your problems" or responses that tend to mix up spiritual discernment with simple decision-making. Written honestly and sometimes critically, the author invites us to consider each use of the objects with open hearts and willing minds. This calls for intentional engagement with God's prompting in our hearts to counter and challenge the worldly mindset that we sometimes accept too uncritically. For example, the world tempts us to do things on our own, but we are called to be a part of a community and to do what we can to build community instead of dozing through individualistic concerns.

Each Sunday, readers get a heavenly overview of the object for the week before launching into contemporary concerns that the objects could elucidate. Discussion questions are provided at the end of each chapter for individual or group use. Other resources include prayers for the day as well as online digital resources available at the publisher's website. For preachers, the author has also provided diagrams, quotes, and even images that can be used as PowerPoint templates! As an Advent resource, we get a fresh way to prepare Advent messages for the year.

Jill J. Duffield is Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, and formerly served as editor ofThePresbyterian Outlook. She holds an MDiv from Union Presbyterian Seminary and a DMin from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a concentration in preaching. She is the author of Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion through Ten Objects.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

I really really wanted to like this book as it sounded really good - I especially linked the link between items and advent related lessons/ teachings. However, I felt each day lacked depth and it didn’t really feel very advent/ Christmassy which I think a lot of people would like to be able to feel as they read this.

It wouldn’t work for our book club but I can see how it might for others, particularly people who are bored of the ‘normal’ advent content.

I love the concept of a daily Advent devotional, especially one that goes through Christmas _and_ Epiphany. Many stop at Christmas Eve, or the morning of Christmas Day--which makes sense!--but Epiphany doesn't always get the same level of attention!

As another reviewer mentioned, the 10 selected items felt a bit disjointed. Certainly the author does a great job at relating each individually to the Advent season; I would have liked to see more relating each item to _each other_. Individually, separately, fascinating; collectively, I felt it a tad wanting. I also would have enjoyed pictures! Perhaps the published version includes some; the cover is sure classy, and I can just imagine how well pics of each item would add to the read.

The included reflection questions and prayer each day are invaluable, and perhaps my favorite part. Each daily entry is a good length; not too long, but enough to flesh out each topic and focus the mind.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Can we see Jesus and his advent (first and second) through the mundane things of daily life? Jill Duffield would say that we can. This timely book is intended to be read through the time of Advent as a daily meditation, followed by questions to provoke thought and discussion, and culminating with a prayer.
I felt that the book was well-written and well-thought-out. I appreciated the structure and the easy-to-follow flow. Despite the obvious talent and intelligence of the author, however, I found myself disappointed. Pehraps it was because my expectations were too high. I found myself wondering if Duffield had chosen disconnected items and then searched out pieces of scripture at random that mention these items. While each weekly theme did create a commonality in the topics, I still felt it was disconnected. I'm wondering if, perhaps, my approach to the book as a personal, individual devotional was wrong, and if perhaps using it as the base for a group conversation and discussion would have served me better. I appreciated very much the opportunity to read this book, and was given this advance reader copy by @Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy history in x number of objects type of books so was really curious to see an advent devotional in objects. I must say I was not disappointed and in fact feel that this would make a great devotional as we approach Christmas. I may never look at gates, belts, etc the same way again! This is indeed a wonderful way to see God and His messages even in ordinary everyday things around us.

The author is a very capable writer - this is such a well written and accessible book. The questions for reflection are spiritually challenging and offers a lot of food for thought.

I couldn’t help but look out for and miss some little vignettes of the objects to beautify the book but that’s just the art journaler in me, I guess!

I’m already looking forward to using this devotional as the season approaches.

I received an advance copy of, Advent in Plain Sight, by Jill J. Duffield. This is a great guide book for Advent. It has questions for reflections, Prayer for the day, and a bible verse to read and reflect on. This is a great tool for Advent for the whole family.