Waiting : Spending Advent with the Psalms

Find sacred stillness in the Psalms amid the rush of Advent. The season of Advent, meant to be a time of waiting, all too often hurtles headlong into Christmas without allowing us to take a breath. The poetry of the Psalms, on the other hand, invites us to slow down, pause, and connect with the thoughts, feelings, and images the psalmist has offered. To help readers carve out time for reflection and meditation during this ironically hectic time, noted Christian educator and best-selling author Elizabeth Caldwell engages readers in a creative spiritual practice of deeply connecting with one psalm each week to illuminate an enduring attribute of God so that we may recognize how these characteristics are embodied in the One whom God sent to live among us, offering us life and love. Waiting: Spending Advent with the Psalmsis divided into two sections to allow readers not only to connect with the Psalms during Advent but to extend this spiritual practice through the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany. The first section, “Waiting,” offers four weekly sessions for the Advent season, each of which explores a psalm and illuminates an enduring attribute of God. In addition to reflection questions and a suggested spiritual practice for each week, a leader’s guide for a four-session group study is also included. The second section, “Abiding,” provides four chapters for Christmas Day through Epiphany. Easily used by groups or individuals throughout these seasons, each chapter continues the practice of engaging deeply with a psalm to uncover attributes of God, provides reflection questions, and offers a spiritual practice of praying the psalm for the week to help readers carry the light and love of God into the world around them. The book ends with daily devotions for readers to use during the Twelve Days of Christmas. Through this unique seasonal practice, individuals, study groups, and preachers will find ways to enrich their ministry and sustain their life of faith as one that