By Jeff Lennard
Every part of the Christmas story is miraculous. God’s love was made manifest in a lowly barn, in the dark of night, for ordinary people. We need not believe that we must do anything extraordinary to make this season magical. There’s no need to worry about shopping for it or allowing the stresses of life to weigh us down. Perhaps if we practice leaning into the simplicity of the holy story and the sacredness of our ordinary lives, we will find joy and peace.
The Brethren Press devotional series is published twice a year in anticipation of the Advent and Lenten seasons. This year’s Advent devotional is written by Kathy Guisewite, titled Simple Gifts: Devotionals for Advent 2022.
Becoming a seasonal subscriber to the devotional series is easy, saves you money, and costs only $8 a year for both regular print booklets or $16 a year for both large print booklets. Subscriptions are renewed automatically each year at the discounted rate and bulk quantities can be adjusted with a simple call. Subscribers can cancel their enrollment in the program at any time. To sign up call 800-441-3712 and ask about the seasonal devotional standing order program.
The early order special for the Advent devotional is $4 (large-print edition $8). Purchase online at www.brethrenpress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=8488.

Please pray… For Brethren Press, the publishing ministry of the Church of the Brethren.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum sends letter regarding multicultural commitments and welcome at Annual Conference
- Intercultural Ministries seeks volunteer ‘frontliners’ (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole)
- Church of the Brethren staff and leaders meet in Uganda to plan for increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan
- Grants support increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan, among other responses to violence and war
- Messenger magazine receives three awards from the Associated Church Press