If you’re hunting around for a little something for your parish or prayer group, maybe this will be right up your alley: God With Us, a daily devotional from the good people at Bayard Publishing, with reflections and prayers from yours truly.

As Bayard describes it:

Advent is a special time of year to be aware not only of God’s coming into human history through the person of Jesus but also to express our gratitude and wonder at his continuing presence in our world. God is with us! It is a season heralding hope. The Scripture selections, reflections and prayers inside this booklet encourage readers to journey through Advent once again, reassured that they do not go alone. God is at our side—and on our side.

There’s a reflection and short prayer for every day of Advent, and it’s the sort of thing you can easily digest in just a couple of minutes.  Plus: it’s priced for purchase in bulk ($1.99 for 20 copies or less …500 to 999 are just $.89 a piece.)

Want more info? Visit the Bayard website. 

Meanwhile, from the introduction:

Are we there yet?

Our journey toward Christmas may just be starting, but already, like the song says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” The sales begin in October, the lights go up after Halloween, and by Thanksgiving, most of us have gotten more than enough of Mariah Carey to last us until next year.

But have we forgotten about Advent?

I once preached about the odd, blended season of “Chradvent,” the conflation of Christmas and Advent that has turned this season of anticipation and hope into barely a blip on the calendar, a brief blur on the way to The Big Day. We’ve made Advent little more than an afterthought.

This year, let’s give it thought.  

I hope this little devotional can help facilitate that and guide us toward a deeper appreciation for what this season means.

This time of year is really a moment to be aware not only of God’s coming into human history through the person of Jesus, but also to express our gratitude and wonder at his continuing presence in our world. God is with us!  It is a season heralding hope.

So let’s wait with joyful hope. Many of the readings, reflections and prayers here encourage us to do that. Soon enough, we will arrive at Christmas.

But first, let’s set out on this journey once again, reassured that we do not go alone. God is at our side — and on our side.