A Radiant Birth: Advent Readings for a Bright Season
"At the birth of Jesus, an event of cosmic significance by which we humans still mark our calendars, the invisible and visible worlds come together." —Philip Yancey
Rediscover the Wonder of Christ’s Birth with 42 Days of Reflection
Prepare your heart and spirit for the Advent season with A Radiant Birth, an inspiring anthology written by the members of the Chrysostom Society. This collection offers six weeks of deeply reflective readings, guiding you through the seasons from the first Sunday of Advent through the twelfth day of Christmas.
Readings in this volume include:
- In a Mad Mad World, God Welcomes our Merrymaking by Philip Yancey
- Star by Eugene Peterson
- Into the Darkest Hour by Madeleine L'Engle
- Sermon on the Nativity by St. John Chrysostum
- A Blessing for the New Baby by Luci Shaw
- A Welcome-Unwelcome Traveler in Narnia by Matthew Dickerson, and many more
This volume draws its heart from the words of St. John Chrysostom, who preached the earliest preserved Christmas sermon, “Behold a new and wonderful mystery!” Through these pages, the Christian literary voices of the Chrysostom Society prepare readers in Advent and Christmastide as seasons radiant with anticipation and divine glory.
In A Radiant Birth, you'll find
- Forty-Two Days of Readings – Immerse yourself in forty-two moving reflections, thoughtfully curated to guide you daily from Advent to Epiphany.
- Deeply Rooted Inspiration – Journey through history as contributors both ancient and modern explore the timeless essence of Christ’s birth.
- A Call to Renewed Wonder – Enter this sacred season slowly and deliberately, allowing familiar stories to astonish you and become wondrous once again.
- Transformative Purpose – Discover how Christ’s birth in Bethlehem mirrors His birth within us, empowering Christians to bear His presence into the world.
A Radiant Birth is beautifully crafted for Christians seeking to deepen their spiritual lives during Advent and Christmas. It is particularly meaningful for those wishing to connect with the rhythm of the church calendar, center their hearts on Christ, and reflect on the profound mystery of His incarnation.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, but He is also born in us, that we might bear his presence and impart his goodness to the world. Through A Radiant Birth, experience Advent as a time of joy, waiting, and wonder, as you are drawn once more into the story of His light entering into your life and into the world.
Foreword by Richard Foster
Introduction by Leslie Leyland Fields
Part One: Jesus, Born in Bethlehem
First Week of Advent
Second Week of Advent
Part Two: Jesus, Born in Us
Third Week of Advent
Fourth Week of Advent
Part Three: Jesus in Us for the World
First Week of Christmas
Second Week of Christmas
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Permissions
"A Radiant Birth is a true gift. Poetry and prose flow mingled down into the heart and soul. Lovingly assembled by two wise and care-filled writers, it warmly welcomes readers into the mystery and wonder of Advent. This is a book that you will cherish and read year after year."
"Every legendary voice in this remarkable collection dares take us closer to the brilliant star, the bleat of sheep, the crackle of straw, and even the blood of birthing to behold with anticipation and awe the remarkable arrival of the saving Jesus. In poems and memories told with astounding personal candor, the Chrysostom Society's communal exploration of the most holy of births is a brave, amazing gift."
"Who better to lead us to the mystery of Word become flesh than writers? Who better to help us sing songs of yearning and joy than poets? This wonderful collection from some of my favorite writers and poets is a space for the imagination to contemplate the incomprehensible gift of the incarnation during the journey through Advent and Christmastide."
Leslie Leyland Fields is the award-winning author of twelve books, the founder of Your Story Matters Ministry, and an international teacher and speaker on matters of faith and culture. When not traveling, she lives on two islands in Alaska, where she has worked in commercial fishing with her family and where she leads the Harvester Island Writers' Workshop.
Paul J. Willis, now retired, served for many years as professor of English at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He has published seven collections of poetry, the most recent of which is Somewhere to Follow. He is also the author of an eco-fantasy novel The Alpine Tales, the young-adult novel All in a Garden Green, and the essay collections Bright Shoots of Everlastingness and To Build a Trail. He serves as president of the Chrysostom Society.