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Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions With Handel's Messiah
Family traditions become established, sometimes quite by accident and sometimes because “we’ve always done it that way.” But the best family traditions are thoughtfully cultivated. With Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions With Handel’s Messiah, Cindy Rollins leads the way in building a rich Advent tradition for you and your family. Inside you will find:
Weekly Scripture passages, hymns, and poems,
Daily Messiah listening schedule with background information from Greg Wilbur
An overview of the church calendar by Thomas Banks
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany recipes, and
Suggestions for celebrating the Advent feasts of St. Nicholas
and St. Lucia.
Cindy also invited four of her friends to share how they celebrate Advent with their own families.
Weekly Scripture passages, hymns, and poems,
Daily Messiah listening schedule with background information from Greg Wilbur
An overview of the church calendar by Thomas Banks
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany recipes, and
Suggestions for celebrating the Advent feasts of St. Nicholas
and St. Lucia.
Cindy also invited four of her friends to share how they celebrate Advent with their own families.
142 pages, Paperback
Published September 26, 2020
150 people are currently reading
1301 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
November 12, 2017
As of this minute, I am the only person who has read this, me and the copy editor :)
It made me pretty happy to realize that I could get credit for reading this, on my reading goal, since it took a lot of my reading time away this year.
I am going to give it 4 stars because I loved writing it and it was a labor of love, and 5 stars seems a little self-congratulatory.
It made me pretty happy to realize that I could get credit for reading this, on my reading goal, since it took a lot of my reading time away this year.
I am going to give it 4 stars because I loved writing it and it was a labor of love, and 5 stars seems a little self-congratulatory.
October 4, 2020
This is just my favorite of everything with my name on it. I love the essays by the other contributors and the whole remembrance of Advent. And I love Handel’s Messiah most of all. Go forth little book.
February 24, 2023
Reading the newer edition today in memory of Lynn Bruce. On The Messiah itself: like many people, I associate it much more with Advent/Christmas than Lent/Easter, but it really speaks to both seasons, and I'm grateful for the reminder.
December 20, 2018
When I was 16 years old my Pastor's wife invited me to join her to hear The Voices of Omaha perform the Messiah. I was smitten, and always hoped that someday I might be able to participate as a singer.
This was my year. I am now 62 years old, and had the opportunity to sing with The Voices of Omaha in their 50th production. What a thrill!
But it was a little overwhelming, as a newbie, to learn all the music.I wanted it to become a permanent possession, not just something I did with my voice, but also with my soul. This book helped me in that endeavor.
Breaking the Messiah down into bite sized bits for daily devotional consumption is a great way to assimilate this large composition. Listening to the musical pieces in conjunction with the scripture readings adds another layer of appreciation and depth.
Also included are various guest posts, contributing ideas for creating lovely family traditions for Advent.
Cindy Rollins was someone who enriched me during my 19 years of homeschooling my four children. I loved her blog and various articles she wrote. I would have enjoyed using this book during our Morning Circle times as a way of instilling a greater appreciation for one of the great gems of our Western culture. I still enjoyed using it "solo" this season and it helped the music to become a very part of me. Thank you Cindy!
This was my year. I am now 62 years old, and had the opportunity to sing with The Voices of Omaha in their 50th production. What a thrill!
But it was a little overwhelming, as a newbie, to learn all the music.I wanted it to become a permanent possession, not just something I did with my voice, but also with my soul. This book helped me in that endeavor.
Breaking the Messiah down into bite sized bits for daily devotional consumption is a great way to assimilate this large composition. Listening to the musical pieces in conjunction with the scripture readings adds another layer of appreciation and depth.
Also included are various guest posts, contributing ideas for creating lovely family traditions for Advent.
Cindy Rollins was someone who enriched me during my 19 years of homeschooling my four children. I loved her blog and various articles she wrote. I would have enjoyed using this book during our Morning Circle times as a way of instilling a greater appreciation for one of the great gems of our Western culture. I still enjoyed using it "solo" this season and it helped the music to become a very part of me. Thank you Cindy!
December 31, 2023
This book gets five stars for being just the right book at just the right time. We used this for our Advent morning time with my teenagers, and it was perfect. The reading and listening schedule was manageable and the extra essays and poems made the experience rich and deep for us. We even tried one of the recipes for cookies and it was the favorite from Christmas dinner. This will definitely be read and enjoyed for years to come. Thank you Cindy for putting your heart and soul into this!
December 24, 2025
This is our second time through Hallelujah, and I love it even more than I did last year. My kids are still young enough that we don't do all aspects of it, but can slowly add in the bits and pieces year by year. They don't love Handel's Messiah quite the way I do yet, but I hope, by going through this book each Christmas, they eventually will.
If you're looking for a family Advent tradition, I highly recommend picking up Hallelujah. You can just listen to the music selections each day, or add in other Christmas hymns, poetry, and scripture memorization. There are also fun ideas for celebrating December feast days and other family Christmas traditions. It is a lovely addition to Advent, whether you do it all or just bits and pieces.
Update, 12/22/21:
This is our third time using Hallelujah to listen to Handel's Messiah during Advent, and we still love it. It's one of my favorite Christmas morning time traditions. The girls are starting to recognize parts of the Messiah, and they definitely remember the weekly Christmas poems and Scripture passages.
If you are looking for a kid-friendly Advent that includes music, scripture, and poetry, I *highly* recommend Hallelujah.
Update, 12/21/22:
This is year four of using Hallelujah during our December Morning Time, and it's still as beautiful as ever. I love how adaptable it is--you can just listen to the selections of the Messiah each day, or you can sing the Christmas hymn, read the poetry, work on the scripture memory, try out the recipes, and celebrate the feast days too. Each year, we pick the pieces that best fit in with our schedule and workload.
You are supposed to listen to the last section on Christmas Day. We're bad at that. This year, we hit Part 3 of the Messiah and just... kept going. It's a lovely way to anchor our Advent anticipation.
Update, 12/25/23:
Year five of reading Hallelujah and this was the first year we didn't read ahead and actually hit Worthy is the Lamb on Christmas day like we are supposed to. Still one of our favorite Advent reads and one will will continue to return to in future Decembers.
Update, 12/24/25:
Moving chaos caused us to miss Hallelujah last year. It was such a sweet tradition to resume this year.
If you're looking for a family Advent tradition, I highly recommend picking up Hallelujah. You can just listen to the music selections each day, or add in other Christmas hymns, poetry, and scripture memorization. There are also fun ideas for celebrating December feast days and other family Christmas traditions. It is a lovely addition to Advent, whether you do it all or just bits and pieces.
Update, 12/22/21:
This is our third time using Hallelujah to listen to Handel's Messiah during Advent, and we still love it. It's one of my favorite Christmas morning time traditions. The girls are starting to recognize parts of the Messiah, and they definitely remember the weekly Christmas poems and Scripture passages.
If you are looking for a kid-friendly Advent that includes music, scripture, and poetry, I *highly* recommend Hallelujah.
Update, 12/21/22:
This is year four of using Hallelujah during our December Morning Time, and it's still as beautiful as ever. I love how adaptable it is--you can just listen to the selections of the Messiah each day, or you can sing the Christmas hymn, read the poetry, work on the scripture memory, try out the recipes, and celebrate the feast days too. Each year, we pick the pieces that best fit in with our schedule and workload.
You are supposed to listen to the last section on Christmas Day. We're bad at that. This year, we hit Part 3 of the Messiah and just... kept going. It's a lovely way to anchor our Advent anticipation.
Update, 12/25/23:
Year five of reading Hallelujah and this was the first year we didn't read ahead and actually hit Worthy is the Lamb on Christmas day like we are supposed to. Still one of our favorite Advent reads and one will will continue to return to in future Decembers.
Update, 12/24/25:
Moving chaos caused us to miss Hallelujah last year. It was such a sweet tradition to resume this year.
January 9, 2026
2025: We read past Advent, but that’s how much we love this tradition. We read and listen at family dinner at home. Since we aren’t always home, and we were sick for a long time, many readings were delayed.
2024: This continues to be at the height of our Christmas traditions. The kids are paying attention to the music more and knew which day Hallelujah was coming after that day’s reading.
2023: This book has fully entered into our yearly Christmas celebration. We look forward to our evenings at the dining room table with a delicious meal, lighting the candles, listening to music and recounting the Gospel at work in our lives and across generations of believers.
2020: I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book and read it one sitting. What a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas. The essays were especially poignant, and I liked all the tidbits of information about Handel’s Messiah. I like that the daily readings and celebrations are short but also allow for making even more special. I’m usually overwhelmed by all that’s involved in many of the Advent devotionals I start but never finish. I look forward to adding in new traditions this year but also reveling in the ones we’ve already formed. (And I look forward to a slower reading this December as I reflect even more on the daily readings, singing, poems, listening and essays.)
2024: This continues to be at the height of our Christmas traditions. The kids are paying attention to the music more and knew which day Hallelujah was coming after that day’s reading.
2023: This book has fully entered into our yearly Christmas celebration. We look forward to our evenings at the dining room table with a delicious meal, lighting the candles, listening to music and recounting the Gospel at work in our lives and across generations of believers.
2020: I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book and read it one sitting. What a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas. The essays were especially poignant, and I liked all the tidbits of information about Handel’s Messiah. I like that the daily readings and celebrations are short but also allow for making even more special. I’m usually overwhelmed by all that’s involved in many of the Advent devotionals I start but never finish. I look forward to adding in new traditions this year but also reveling in the ones we’ve already formed. (And I look forward to a slower reading this December as I reflect even more on the daily readings, singing, poems, listening and essays.)
December 27, 2017
I loved the personal touches of this book and getting a glimpse inside other homes and how they celebrate the season of Advent. The scripture readings paired with Handel’s Messiah were the icing on the cake.
December 20, 2024
Listening to Handel’s Messiah with this book, along with a Christmas picture book and a bit of memory work most days, was a delightful way to spend our Advent Morning Times. It’s easy to combine some of the days in order to finish it in 3 weeks, listening Mon-Fri. I read most of the essays myself, but did share Greg Wilbur’s sections with my boys.
November 17, 2020
So many wonderful ideas. I love that it includes recipes, poetry, anecdotes, and a sample schedule for an Advent morning time.
Two really great quotes:
“The singing, candles, Bible readings, and food will be remembered long after the toys have broken.”
“[These traditions] help anchor our celebration of Christmas in the story of the Kingdom, creating space within the seasonal merriment for our lament and longing and our defiant hope as we wait for our returning King. My children have not yet experienced much of this longing or this hope, and thus the depths of what we celebrate at Christmas are only beginning to unfold for them. For now, they revel in Christmastime as a season of good cheer, happy memories, presents, treats, family time, and delightful traditions. These things are good, and these things matter: they are strong threads weaving us together, and when hard times come upon a family, as they inevitably do, I have seen how they help keep the fabric from unraveling. And yet I hope that our celebration of Christmas gives my children more than happy days and warm memories to draw upon for strength and comfort, and certainly more than the secular liturgies of nostalgia, sugar, plastic, and generic good will. I hope our Christmases are a means of inviting them to participate ever more deeply in all that is most real and true, of rooting them in a sense of place and becoming and kinship and story. I pray that these can truly be holy days as well as merry ones, turning their faces toward the Light that shines in darkness and will never be overcome.”
Two really great quotes:
“The singing, candles, Bible readings, and food will be remembered long after the toys have broken.”
“[These traditions] help anchor our celebration of Christmas in the story of the Kingdom, creating space within the seasonal merriment for our lament and longing and our defiant hope as we wait for our returning King. My children have not yet experienced much of this longing or this hope, and thus the depths of what we celebrate at Christmas are only beginning to unfold for them. For now, they revel in Christmastime as a season of good cheer, happy memories, presents, treats, family time, and delightful traditions. These things are good, and these things matter: they are strong threads weaving us together, and when hard times come upon a family, as they inevitably do, I have seen how they help keep the fabric from unraveling. And yet I hope that our celebration of Christmas gives my children more than happy days and warm memories to draw upon for strength and comfort, and certainly more than the secular liturgies of nostalgia, sugar, plastic, and generic good will. I hope our Christmases are a means of inviting them to participate ever more deeply in all that is most real and true, of rooting them in a sense of place and becoming and kinship and story. I pray that these can truly be holy days as well as merry ones, turning their faces toward the Light that shines in darkness and will never be overcome.”
December 27, 2024
2021: Highly recommend this sweet little book!
2023 Update—Just finished our third Advent with this book. It gets better every year!
2024: 4th year doing this devotional with my daughters. We got to see Handel’s Messiah live in person this year and it was incredible! Highly recommend.
2023 Update—Just finished our third Advent with this book. It gets better every year!
2024: 4th year doing this devotional with my daughters. We got to see Handel’s Messiah live in person this year and it was incredible! Highly recommend.
January 2, 2021
A splendid compendium of thoughts and ideas on celebrating Advent through small bites of Handel's Messiah each day. Contributors share ideas on how their families celebrate.
The joy of this book is that it inspires one to "up their Advent game" without burdening the reader with guilt and a sense of incompetence. Cindy Rollins does not want her readers intimidated by the perfect Advent season.
On a personal note, the music of Handel's Messiah has been present every Christmas season that I can remember. Listening was a large part of my childhood. I've sung in several performances. My brother, a professional tenor, has soloed in countless Messiahs. When I listen now, I am engulfed in a happy sadness. A sweet melancholy. It brings memories of my growing up years. Geography and life have kept me from all but two Christmases with my siblings since I was 18. And, somehow, all those emotions surface when I hear the opening orchestral overture. I know, I know: it's not about me. And the part that's not about me is the joyful part.
The joy of this book is that it inspires one to "up their Advent game" without burdening the reader with guilt and a sense of incompetence. Cindy Rollins does not want her readers intimidated by the perfect Advent season.
On a personal note, the music of Handel's Messiah has been present every Christmas season that I can remember. Listening was a large part of my childhood. I've sung in several performances. My brother, a professional tenor, has soloed in countless Messiahs. When I listen now, I am engulfed in a happy sadness. A sweet melancholy. It brings memories of my growing up years. Geography and life have kept me from all but two Christmases with my siblings since I was 18. And, somehow, all those emotions surface when I hear the opening orchestral overture. I know, I know: it's not about me. And the part that's not about me is the joyful part.
December 12, 2022
As my friend Cheyenne would say 10 out of 10! The Rollins family advent traditions are inspiring to be more aware of the Advent season and develop our own advent and Christmas traditions for years to come.
December 26, 2022
I found this perfectly delightful. It was an effortless yet rewarding read, and I couldn't wait to return to it every day. Even if I didn't want to incorporate Messiah into my family's celebrations, it would have been worth the read. Far from being a threatening, prescriptive, "oh no one more thing to squeeze into the season" book, it made me more excited to observe Advent and celebrate Christmas.
Rollins does not dominate the pages (and it would have been fine if she had); rather, she marshals several moms to share their Advent ideas, along with short essays to help us know how to appreciate the Messiah pieces from that week. This, along with recipes in the back, gives the whole thing the good feeling of a bunch of families excited to incarnate the season getting together and saying, "Ooo, what about this?" "Have you thought about the implications of this?" "Wow, great idea!" I never felt any pressure or inadequacy from what they shared, and I gleaned joyful ideas from its pages.
Rollins does not dominate the pages (and it would have been fine if she had); rather, she marshals several moms to share their Advent ideas, along with short essays to help us know how to appreciate the Messiah pieces from that week. This, along with recipes in the back, gives the whole thing the good feeling of a bunch of families excited to incarnate the season getting together and saying, "Ooo, what about this?" "Have you thought about the implications of this?" "Wow, great idea!" I never felt any pressure or inadequacy from what they shared, and I gleaned joyful ideas from its pages.
December 31, 2018
I was raised in the soil of Handel's Messiah, nurtured and cultivated on the cadences and curlicues of that glorious oratorio. I can't remember a time when the Hallelujah Chorus didn't course through my veins.
This Advent devotional is a winsome guide to families who may not had the same upbringing. In her signature style, Cindy Rollins gives a view of what it might look like without pressing the stress of expectations on the reader. The best thing ever? Each day has the minutes it will take to read and listen to that day's selection. Most are ten minutes or less.
I especially appreciate that she takes a long view of inculcating the true, good, and beautiful into our children's and grandchildren's Advent/Christmas. If [tradition A] didn't happen this year...relax! You have next year to pick it up. I call it the drip-drip method: small drops of daily care parceled out consistently will have long-lasting effect.
This Advent devotional is a winsome guide to families who may not had the same upbringing. In her signature style, Cindy Rollins gives a view of what it might look like without pressing the stress of expectations on the reader. The best thing ever? Each day has the minutes it will take to read and listen to that day's selection. Most are ten minutes or less.
I especially appreciate that she takes a long view of inculcating the true, good, and beautiful into our children's and grandchildren's Advent/Christmas. If [tradition A] didn't happen this year...relax! You have next year to pick it up. I call it the drip-drip method: small drops of daily care parceled out consistently will have long-lasting effect.
December 28, 2025
Review from 2024:
I absolutely loved the idea behind this book, and found walking through Handel’s Messiah so life giving and enriching. I was mostly in it for the guidance through the musical work and it’s beautiful focus on the prophesies and promises of a coming Savior in Scripture and the fulfillment not just in the first advent of Christ, but also in His work of salvation and the promise of His second Advent. I really appreciated that this homeschool-mom-guru created such a resource.
I could leave the extra personal Christmas stories, recipes, etc. and take more content regarding the work itself (more back story on the piece or section of focus, more ruminating on the Scriptures, maybe some more about Handel’s process if such information exists), but I’m thankful to have it as a resource for the future, and have found it a solid launching point into deeper relationship with this timeless masterpiece.
December 31, 2018
12/30/18 We decided to use this guide through the Messiah again this year for Advent, and I think I enjoyed it even more this time around. And even though we didn't get it finished this year on Christmas day, it's really flexible and quite perfect for listening to during the 12 days of Christmas as well.
12/17 Just finished reading this lovely little resource for Advent structured around the Messiah. It's easy to use, well-organized, and full of fun and helpful Advent extras. We're following this guide as we listen to sections of the Messiah each night, and I'd recommend it to any family who wants to try something new for Advent.
12/17 Just finished reading this lovely little resource for Advent structured around the Messiah. It's easy to use, well-organized, and full of fun and helpful Advent extras. We're following this guide as we listen to sections of the Messiah each night, and I'd recommend it to any family who wants to try something new for Advent.
December 30, 2021
Update:
This was our fifth December where we worked through Handel's Messiah across the month. It has become a beloved family tradition. We read the scripture verses as Cindy has broken them up and then we watch a Messiah recording. It's becoming like visiting with an old friend at the end of each year.
We used this book as our guide through Handel's Messiah this year. It's a wonderful way to go through the messianic prophecies and life of Christ, while also enjoying beautiful and sometimes transporting music and singing. Breaking it up over the month makes it doable for families and even to slow down to savor all the beauty.
This was our fifth December where we worked through Handel's Messiah across the month. It has become a beloved family tradition. We read the scripture verses as Cindy has broken them up and then we watch a Messiah recording. It's becoming like visiting with an old friend at the end of each year.
We used this book as our guide through Handel's Messiah this year. It's a wonderful way to go through the messianic prophecies and life of Christ, while also enjoying beautiful and sometimes transporting music and singing. Breaking it up over the month makes it doable for families and even to slow down to savor all the beauty.
December 24, 2022
I read ahead and I am so glad I did. I loved the Christmas memories shared by Cindy Rollins and others.
We are using this for our family’s advent season. It is the best guide for advent that I have ever used. I have had more failures than successes with advent books but this one is very promising and so far successful, even if we miss a day or two.
12/28/2018
We finished well as a family and my children and I have a greater appreciation and understanding of Handel’s Messiah. We also had a very enjoyable Advent Season. Thank you, Cindy Rollins.
We are using this for our family’s advent season. It is the best guide for advent that I have ever used. I have had more failures than successes with advent books but this one is very promising and so far successful, even if we miss a day or two.
12/28/2018
We finished well as a family and my children and I have a greater appreciation and understanding of Handel’s Messiah. We also had a very enjoyable Advent Season. Thank you, Cindy Rollins.
December 27, 2025
This one is sure to become a yearly family tradition. Well-organized with daily scripture reading and pieces from the Messiah, it's a beautiful way to celebrate advent. The extra essays and recipes are surely the whipped cream on top! Can't recommend it enough.
(2024) I was tempted to skip the essays this year as I'm especially tired, but I'm not sure I could have counted it if I had... and in the end, they encouraged my soul. Another beautiful year with the Messiah.
(2024) I was tempted to skip the essays this year as I'm especially tired, but I'm not sure I could have counted it if I had... and in the end, they encouraged my soul. Another beautiful year with the Messiah.
December 26, 2025
2025 read yhrough again with kids and finished. so good
2023. (Kids ages 8-15) We did not read (or listen) to all of it this year, but that’s the beauty of this book. We did what we could in the midst of seasonal busyness and sickness and it was a joy to listen/read along. Cindy makes this long performance so accessible and enjoyable for kids and adults! Will definitely be going through this book regularly! And hopefully some year we will finish it!
2023. (Kids ages 8-15) We did not read (or listen) to all of it this year, but that’s the beauty of this book. We did what we could in the midst of seasonal busyness and sickness and it was a joy to listen/read along. Cindy makes this long performance so accessible and enjoyable for kids and adults! Will definitely be going through this book regularly! And hopefully some year we will finish it!
November 27, 2018
Thank you for this book, Cindy Rollins!
I’ve used her Handel’s Messiah reading plan for two years prior but having it now in a book form versus my ugly print-outs is so handy. I loved all the added personal examples and memories and recipes to utilize in making advent more special.
I’ve used her Handel’s Messiah reading plan for two years prior but having it now in a book form versus my ugly print-outs is so handy. I loved all the added personal examples and memories and recipes to utilize in making advent more special.
December 23, 2025
I can't wait to incorporate this beautiful tradition into our family's Advent celebrations.
December 31, 2024
8th family read aloud of 2024.
years of reading & listening during Christmas season. all of the children love it!
years of reading & listening during Christmas season. all of the children love it!
December 28, 2025
This is our second year in a row doing this advent tradition. It's lovely and I look forward to sharing this with my family for many years to come.
January 16, 2026
I resisted reading this for years…I think because I tried to do a Handel’s Messiah thing when the kids were little and there was just too much in it and too much to do and I thought this was going to be like that. It wasn’t. I loved it. I loved the bits from different people about how they observe advent and Christmas, I loved the background info, I loved the listening tips, and I loved how easy it was to just read the scriptures and listen to the music. I think it will become a yearly tradition…at least for myself if not for the whole family. We did it during circle time with the kids that are still home this year and we took off when we didn’t have school which is why we just finished it today…but I definitely recommend.
December 30, 2021
We finished listening to Messiah last night! Probably the first time we’ve actually completed an advent devotional during Christmastide. I appreciate the various approaches to commemorating advent presented, from Cindy’s traditional American 25 days of Christmas to restrained liturgical Advent culminating in the Twelve Days of Christmas. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and I always need to be reminded there’s not one right way to celebrate Christmas.
December 27, 2022
We used this for advent with our girls this year. Josh and I have both performed the Messiah in college so we have a nerdy love for it—even if the cello parts of this era of music are somewhat….boring. 😂 I loved reading the scripture each day that the lyrics were quoting and introducing our girls to the melodies of this masterpiece.
December 26, 2021
A good resource to celebrate Advent using Handel's Messiah. I wish I had this about 10 years ago. But I used it a bit and did get my family listening some to this wonderful music. I recommend this for families who want to be more deliberate about Advent.
February 10, 2021
Nice little Advent book and next year I want to try her Scotch Shortbread recipe and see how it compares to our family's version. I did use Ann Hubbard's Celebrating Advent with it because I like the fact that she includes daily Scripture readings in her book.
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