Advent – daily readings

Advent is a season of preparation and waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas and his second-coming.

The readings this year follow a book by Tim Chester — The One True Story. “The Christmas story is the one true story because it completes and fulfils all the stories of the Bible. But it also goes on being the one true story. This is the story that makes sense of my story and your story. …The plot lines of our lives are meant to find their resolution in the enjoyment of God.”

Therefore, the readings invite us to explore a different theme each day, and to consider how they find their fulfilment in the Christmas story and how the Christmas story connects with our story. There’s also a piece of music to reflect on (if that’s your thing). Where it’s not easy to find on YouTube, this is indicated by the word “Lyrics” first – you could use it as a poem instead by googling the lyrics.

So come and spend some time each day, following the readings & music below and allowing the Spirit to guide your thoughts around the daily themes. If you’d like some accompanying devotional notes, just click on the book title above / google it – it is available in paperback and ebook.

As always, do post some thoughts below, indeed post other songs that link with the theme for you, so we can reflect together as a community. Click here to jump to that section

How does it work?

It’s simple:

• PRAY for the Spirit to highlight a particular line or aspect of the word;
• READ through the bible passages;
• REFLECT on what’s struck you – how does it link to the Christmas story?
• RESPOND in some way—through prayer, praise, confession, action, art, poetry, music (listen to the suggested track on YouTube), perform an act of kindness. Take this into your day.
• POST any occasional reflections below (scroll down). Dialogue with others by clicking REPLY next to their comment. As always, be respectful and encouraging in all you write.

Don’t worry if your observation seems obvious;
noticing and responding is the key.

I look forward to spending time reading together through Advent as we intentionally slow down each day—waiting in anticipation for both Christmas Day and the Lord’s return.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
– Romans 15:13

2024 Advent Reading Scheme: The One True Story

	Passages	Music to reflect on
Advent Sun 1	The firstborn Proverbs 8:22-31 Colossians 1:15-20	Hymn: See, amid the winter’s snow (Edward Caswall)
Mon 2	The new Adam Genesis 1:26-2:7 Psalm 8 Hebrews 2:5-18	Hymn: Praise to the holiest in the height (John Henry Newman)
Tue 3	The dragon-slayer Genesis 3:1-15 Revelation 12	Hymn: In Eden—sad indeed that day (William Williams)
Wed 4	The true brother Genesis 4 Hebrews 12:22, 24	Hymn: Mercy speaks by Jesus’ blood (William Gadsby)
Thu 5	The new ark Genesis 6:5-7, 24 Exodus 1:22-2:10 Exodus 14 1 Peter 3:20-21	Lyrics: Noah Preserved in the Ark, and the Believer in Christ (Philip Doddridge)
Fri 6	Hope of the nations Genesis 11:1-9 Matthew 2:1-12 Luke 2:22-35	Hymn: I cannot tell (William Fullerton)
Sat 7	The ultimate punchline Genesis 181-15 1 Samuel 1-2 Luke 1:5-56	Classical: The Magnificat (J.S. Bach) [In latin but google for translated lyrics] Modern: Song of Mary (Magnificat) by Liturgical Folk

Advent Sun 8	The justice of God Genesis 18:16-33 Luke 1:68-69, 72-75 Romans 5:18-19	Hymn: In the bleak midwinter (Christina Rossetti)
Mon 9	The refugee Exodus 1:1-22 Jeremiah 31:15-17 Matthew 2:13-18	Hymn: It came upon a midnight clear (Edmund Sears)
Tue 10	The rock Exodus 17:1-7 1 Corinthians 10:3-4	Hymn: Rock of ages (Augustus Montague Toplady)
Wed 11	The tabernacle Exodus 40 John 1:14	Hymn: Love came down at Christmas (Christina Rossetti Song: In the beginning (Tommy Walker)
Thu 12	The true people of God Numbers 13-14 Luke 3:21-4:13	Hymn: Once in royal David’s city (Cecil Frances Alexander)
Fri 13	The true warrior Joshua 6 Hebrews 4:6-9	Hymn: We rest on thee (Edith Cherry)
Sat 14	The true judge Judges 13-16 Luke 1:51-52	Lyrics: And did the holy and the just (Anne Steele)

Advent Sun 15	The anointed one 1 Samuel 16:1-14 Isaiah 11 Luke 3:21-22	Hymn: Hail to the lord’s anointed (James Montgomery) Hymn: Breathe on me, breath of God (Edwin Hatch)
Mon 16	The suffering servant 1 Samuel 23:7-29 Isaiah 53 Matthew 2:52-53	Hymn: My song is love unknown (Samuel Crossman)
Tue 17	The ultimate king 2 Samuel 7-8 2 Kings 18-19, 22-23 Luke 1:32-33, 2:10-11	Hymn: Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious (Thomas Kelly Hymn: Let all mortal flesh keep silent (Gerard Moultrie)
Wed 18	The good shepherd Genesis 22 2 Samuel 24 John 10:11	Hymn: From east to west, from shore to shore (plain song, trans John Ellerton)
Thu 19	The wisdom of God 1 Kings 3 Proverbs 1:7 1 Corinthians 1:18-31	Hymn: O come, o come, Immanuel (trans H. S. Coffin)
Fri 20	The whisper of God Exodus 34:6 1 Kings 18:16-19:18	Hymn: O Word of God incarnate (William Walsham How)
Sat 21	The presence of God Isaiah 7, 9:1-7 Matthew 1:22-23	Hymn: Bright And Joyful Is The Morn (James Montgomery)

Advent Sun 22	The end of exile Ezra 1 Nehemiah 1 Isaiah 40:3, 10-11 Mark 1:1-3	Hymn: My God I thank thee who hast made (Adelaide Anne Procter)
Mon 23	The Lord Malachi 2:17-3:5 Mark 11-13	Hymn: Angels from the realms of glory (John Montgomery)
Tue 24	The one true story Matthew 1:1-17 John 1:1-18	Hymn: O little town of Bethlehem (Phillip Brookes)

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