Blessed Advent, community! We’re so happy to share with you our new Advent + Christmas Devotionals featuring contributions from 19 different authors and artists from the pastoral team and members of the Mercy Community. For more information on some exciting new changes we have made this year, read the full story below. Also, check out our website or Facebook page for weekly videos and music to accompany your reflections!
Print your own (5.5×8.5)! | Print your own for booklets!
Easier to read, larger print, but fewer pizzas.
Since February, Mercy has been adapting and evolving with the pandemic; the devotionals were no exception. In years past, we’ve held a ‘devotional print, staple, and mail pizza party’ doing everything by hand to get them out the door to you. With social distancing in mind, that just wasn’t an option this year, so we decided to also reimagine how they could look! If you are on the mailing list, you’ll experience the biggest change: booklet sized, self-addressed, direct mailed to you. Bonus points that this also allowed for a color cover created by our own Pastor Chad! Extra bonus: we saved ourselves some time AND were able to pinch some pennies as well. To top it off, we think the end result is a great devotional experience we can share with you!
You’ll also notice the format has changed from horizontal to vertical. Not only does the format feel more like a book, it also allows us to increase the font size! So – now the devotionals are easier to read and print from home if you would like.
Weekly Videos to Guide your Devotional Experience
This year we’ll also be sharing weekly conversational videos to guide your devotional reading experience. In our first video Pastor Chad talks all things apocalypse as he ponders the lectionary texts for the first week of Advent. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Advent reflections and music that we’ll be sharing throughout the season.
Some things never change
We are happiest to share that what hasn’t changed about this community project is the hard work and heart that went into these devotionals. While 2020 has been a whirlwind, we couldn’t miss this important opportunity to share the voices and creativity of our beautiful community with you!
This year, like all years past and future, Mercy will be working together to build up God’s house of love and care for one another. As you read, pray, and study with us this Advent season, we hope you feel connected to the work and people of our community!
This year the devotionals feature 19 writers and artists, include photos of our day-to-day during Covid, and give a little insight into what the future of what Mercy looks like!