Candles in the Darkness: Experiencing Advent with the Early and Medieval Church

Illuminating Advent Through Diverse Voices from Early Christianity

In Candles in the Darkness, historian Lynneth Miller Renberg and theologian Adam R. Renberg invite us to travel back in time and encounter faithful voices from many walks of life, including bishops and mothers, monks and nuns, priests, pastors, and noblewomen.

For each day of Advent and the Christmastide, this thoughtful devotional will connect you to the global and historical body of Christ, offering a new, deeper experience of the season through rediscovering treasures from Christians of long ago.

The writers featured in Candles in the Darkness lived throughout the early Christian world, from Scandinavia and the British Isles to Ethiopia and China. They include well-known leaders such as Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi, as well as many largely forgotten figures. With a variety of sermons, poems, theological meditations, and more, these selections draw you into the wonders of Christ's first and second comings. Through biographical sketches at the end of the book, you'll learn more about each historical believer.

Each daily reading for Advent and the twelve days of Christmas includes a Scripture text, an excerpt from an author from the second through thirteenth centuries, a devotional reflection, and a prayer.