I Am Mary: Advent Devotional

by Carol Howard

"If you re looking for a devotional to give to everyone in the congregation, this is the one." ~The Christian Century "Do not be afraid, Mary," the unwed teenage peasant girl is told by a strange visiting angel. Her courageous response -- and what happens next -- still shapes our world and our faith more than two thousand years later. In this new Advent devotional, join young Mary as she experiences the surprise, confusion, fear, anticipation, and blessing that follows her brave response to God's "Here am I, Lord." Listen carefully, and you may hear that call in your own life. From the first Sunday of Advent through Christmas Day, each daily devotion includes a scripture verse, a reflection, and a prayer. I Am Mary also features an Advent candlelighting service as a free download. Best-selling author and minister Carol Howard Merritt leads us on a remarkable Advent journey with the blessed ordinary girl who becomes the holy and revered Mother of God.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2018

Reviews

[Mary Anne]

Thought-provoking reflections on what Mary might have thought and experienced while being pregnant with the Savior.

[Scott]

A lovely and powerful series of Advent devotionals. Carol Howard Merritt writes and imagines the Advent story through the voice of Mary -- and more generally through the voices of women. Each day, we travel with Mary a little bit further into her pregnancy, into her fear of how the world around her may react with violence, and through her world, the world that Jesus would see. And then, after the daily reflections, there are also weekly candle-light services, fitting for church of family,

[Elsa]

Somehow I expected this to be more of a meditation of any woman’s journey through pregnancy and how that might make us all like Mary, but it’s not that. This little devotional invites us to imagine the experience of Mary’s pregnancy. It challenges us to consider the risk and the hardship. I read this alone, and I like it but I do wonder what it might be like to read this with others in a congregation where we are sharing the candle lightings each week. I imagine that it would be quite powerful.

[Leslie Latham]

Powerful and deeply faithful.

Carol Howard Merrit’s exploration of Mary’s journey has been a light during a very “wait-y” advent. She offers a beautifully rich gift of an often misunderstood person.

[Autumn Elizabeth]

Honestly, this is the devotional I have always wanted about a vision of Mary that the world desperately needs.