By Dorothy Powell

Pentecost is coming to a close. The first Sunday of Advent is December 3rd this year.
Advent is the beginning of the new church year, with a change in the cycle of lessons that are read each Sunday. This Advent begins Year C, which is the year that the Gospel lessons will focus on Luke. The BMRC has several resources for clergy and lay leaders to use for sermon preparation or Bible study classes.
In the Proclamation series of books is Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year: Advent/Christmas. We have Luke in the Interpretation Bible Studies series and in Tom Wright’s For Everyone series. There is also a four-video collection of the complete book of Luke in the New Media Bible video series. The first tape in that series is titled Christmas, and has the annunciation story and the nativity.
Some of the most glorious works of art involve events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The Nativity by Jeremy Wood quotes the biblical texts and explains the religious symbolism associated with 35 masterpieces by Rubens, Botticelli and Bruegel among others. Reading this book in sections would make for thoughtful Advent meditation, as would Advent and Christmas with Thomas Merton. Merton’s book has a selection from scripture and a short meditation followed with a prayer for each day of Advent, as well as for the 12 days of Christmas.
Music is an important element in the Christmas season. We have two lovely CD’s, The Chants of Christmas and Hear Them Ring! The Bells of Christmas, both by the Gloriae Dei Cantores group. Advent music is harder to find, but we recently obtained the Gregorian Singers’ Advent CD.
A delightful book which can be used by individuals or families, at home or at church, is The Season of Advent: Herbal Symbolism, Projects, Garden Designs & Recipes by Don Haynie of Buffalo Springs Herb Farm in Raphine, Virginia. Inside you will find hanging or tabletop advent wreaths, and Star of Bethlehem, St. Andrew’s or Advent Manger gardens. There is lots of Advent history and symbolism, including the herbs of Advent. The last half of the book is devoted to traditional Advent baking, including Swedish saffron buns for St. Lucy’s day on December 13th.
There is great joy in sharing a beautiful Christmas picture book with a child. We have a wide variety for younger children including books by Tomie dePaola, Brian Wildsmith, Debbie O’Neal, Ulises Wensell, and Guido Visconti. For older children and adults, Marianna Mayer’s The Real Santa Claus is not to be missed. It tells the story of St. Nicholas, with stunning illustrations taken from works of art depicting his life.
When my children were little they would play for hours on end with a simple pottery nativity set that their grandmother had brought back from Mexico, moving Mary and Joseph and the animals around the coffee table and putting baby Jesus in the manger. The BMRC now has a child-friendly nativity set that can be checked out. The soft figures are made of stuffed felt, and come inside a zippered bag that is decorated like a stable. Baby Jesus fits right in Mary’s arms, and the cow and sheep have moveable legs.
Contact us here at the BMRC if you would like to borrow any of the above resources, or have questions about other resources we might be able to help you with. We’re here to serve. //

Dorothy Powell is co-coordinator of the Bishop Marmion Resource Center. Contact the BMRC at 540-342-6797 or 800-DIOSWVA.