Ebook
Season of the year, of church, and of life can too easily flow right into the next. Taking time to mark occasions— stopping to look around— gives us the chance to breathe, see something new, and break the cycle of sameness. Be Ready takes the heart of Advent - waiting, preparation, readying - to new places, engaging the spirit found within ministries of relief, refugees, preparedness, and recovery, alongside the sacred texts of the Advent season. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, each day's devotion includes an Advent scripture, reflection, and prayer, engaging the traditional themes of Advent - hope, peace, joy, love - paired with stories from those responding to issues of welcome and hospitality, hunger and food justice, disaster and recovery, rebuilding and resilience. Candle-lighting moments for each Sunday and Christmas plus devotions including the 12 Days of Christmas until Epiphany make Be Ready an engaging Advent experience.
Courtney Richards is the Communications and Development Manager for Week of Compassion. A graduate of Brite Divinity School and Angelo State University and ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she has more than 25 years experience in congregations, where she thrives building connections between individuals, communities, and God’s call to be alive and at work in the worlds.