Comfort and Joy
Readings and Practices for Advent
by Sherah-Leigh Gerber and Gwen Lantz
Pub DateSep 03 2024
Herald Press
Christian


Through Herald Press and Netgalley, I am reviewing Comfort and Joy:


This holiday season, take time to truly connect with what matters.



The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can make it difficult to slow down and really connect with what matters-to loved traditions with family and friends, to being present in our communities, and to experiencing God in the celebration of Jesus' birth. Sherah-Leigh Gerber and Gwen Lantz present a unique blend of spiritual practices that are rooted in noticing the sacred in the ordinary in Comfort and Joy. Through a shared love of writing, two friends forged a friendship and a blog that provide insight, warmth, and spiritual growth opportunities. You'll find ways to connect with favorite traditions and inspiration for forming new ones in these pages.



The weekly offerings feature devotional meditations and invitations to walk through Advent and Christmas. A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church by Wilda Gafney accompany reflections, journal prompts, and spiritual practices to help us slow down and savor this meaningful and holy journey through Christmas.


I give Comfort and Joy five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Comfort and Joy walks you through a special 6-week journey during the season of Advent. It does follow the traditional rhythm of preparation, hope, joy, peace, love, and Emmanuel. So, what makes this one different than all the other Advent devotionals out there? This one is geared towards nourishing your spirit. It’s not a theological explanation or a devotional geared towards sharing with your family. It is for you to sustain your own spirit during the season. The breakdown is provided in the intro and helpful to know what to expect: poems, theme reflections, practices of joy, lectionary texts (taken from Wilda C. Gafney’s guide), words of comfort, recipes (to honor the author’s Mennonite and Amish histories), pause for reflection, and blessings. I found there to be a lot of depth and encouragement from these collections. The way it is written allows you to easily break it into smaller sections throughout the week, or one long immersion experience. The writing is genuine and inviting and applicable to all. There is plenty of Scripture, anchoring it in Truth and encouragement. There are some additional resources at the end, including more recipes and tips for how to use in a small group setting. A beautiful book for you or to give away as a special gift.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Comfort and Joy by Sherah-Leigh Gerber and Gwen Lantz is an impressive advent book that goes further into the season than just December 25th. I had never seen a book that took the reader week by week until Old Christmas. This is a date that I remember from my parents but not one emphasized so much today.

It doesn’t matter if you are unfamiliar with these authors’ blog the book is still a joy to read. I enjoyed the devotionals for each week, the activities to do and especially the recipes. I don’t plan to wait until the holiday season to try some of them. The journals prompts encourage me to be more intentional in my own walk with the Lord during the busy season of Christmas. It is the kind of thoughtful book that I can use to reflect on advent each and every year.

I enjoyed reading through this book of devotions, recipes, stories, and reflections for the Advent season. The main focus was to slow down and prioritize the friendships, fellowships, and faith. Not all things were in line to what I believe but it was enjoyable and I’d recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I am thankful to now have a great resource for advent season. I loved the layout of this book and intend to read it at Christmas time for sure!

Are you looking for a devotional to get you into the spirit of Christmas while keeping your heart and mind on the ways of Christ? Then this is your book! This was a great read that was so encouraging to me and my walk with God. This book gave great insight, and connected the author to the reader with relatable stories and truth. The added recipes were such a sweet way to break up the chapters and to provide another way to connect with the reader.

Thank you to the authors and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

My husband and I are always looking for Christian books for our kids to read at night with them. As a mom, I am also always looking for new Christina books, especially devotionals to read through to fill my cup.

This Is Not Forever by Sarah Grace Hollis is full of hope when life is not going as planned, or you’re feeling stuck. It was such a reminder to always turn to the Lord when life gets shaky and the foundation doesn’t feel secure. I loved how deep the devotionals were, but how simple they were. I really was able to reflect on them throughout the day, and had the time and attention to soak into the Bible verses, and the encouragement to see me throughout the day. Release date is August 19.

Comfort and Joy by Gwen Lantz and Sarah-Leigh Gerber is a book I cant wait to reread during the holiday season. It was all about how to slow down and enjoy the moment in the season. It was a wonderful advent to walk through the season, and remember the importance of the holiday. Release date is September 2.

Discovering Christmas by Amanda Jass is one I already told my husband we are purchasing for the holiday season. It’s an advent devotional for kids for the Christmas season to focus on the meaning of the season. I loved the illustrations, the sweet words, and simplicity of this book. My kids will absolutely adore this one. It would make a really sweet gift too! Release date is September 9.

The Easter Lamb by John Greco was told so sweet from a child point of view of the story of Easter. The way he intertwines Easter and the Passover, and so simply but deeply explains it all together with such a gentleness for children was wonderful. Release date is December 16.

I’ve Got the Joy and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands were absolutely adorable. My two little boys loved reading this before bed. We love to listen to the songs of these, and so it was fun to see them flipping the book and saying all the words. The illustrations are beautiful and so colorful for kids. A perfect gift! Release date is August 12.

Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark Vrogop is a book I have in my amazon cart. This is a fantastic book on the Sioux characteristics of waiting.

COMFORT AND JOY's title drew me and I found the text to be incredibly helpful for approaching advent with greater intent. A highly recommended book for all who want more joy in the time before and during Christmas.