No one will ever convince me that The Sound of Music is not a Christmas movie. I don’t care if the holiday is never mentioned in the plot or a single song. It doesn’t matter. I grew up watching this movie — all three hours of it! — every year over Christmas break. That and Anne of Green Gables — all 7 hours and 9 minutes (the Megan Follows version, which should be noted is the only correct film adaptation). At least Anne had a couple Christmas scenes. Regardless, it’s tradition.

If you don’t know The Sound of Music, you didn’t get the reference in the title of this post and, therefore, may view the entire first paragraph as irrelevant nonsense. Let me move on.

Three years ago in the wake of a global pandemic I wrote a post offering Advent Tools for Those who Already Feel Behind. It was a crazy year. My kids were in high school, stretching the limits of adolescent independence. My house felt chaotic in the weeks leading up to the holidays. You can read that post HERE.

It was a good post with a list of great resources, but it was a few years ago and it’s time for a new and expanded list. And so I give you..

A Few of My Favorite Things (for Advent)

Disclosure: I employ affiliate links in this post (and some other places on my website). I do not get paid for endorsements or recommendations, but if you do purchase anything through my links, I may receive a small commission. This is one easy way for you to support the ministry of this website, and I thank you! 🙂

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Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

by Asheritah Ciuciu
Available in print, digital, or audio.
Find it here.

First, this book has a great deal of helps. You’ll find resources for why and how to celebrate Advent, lists of activities ready to roll, and some great material about names of Jesus. All good stuff.

Second, the book includes 28 daily readings and reflections, but it also has 5 easy-to-use scripts for once-weekly Advent celebrations. In other words, it tells you what Scripture to read, what questions to ask, and how to lead your family through the weeks of Advent. Voila! No prep. 🙂

Now, you could get this and read through it each day together as a family. You could just do the once-a-week devotion. You could encourage every family member (including teens/pre-teens) to read through it independently, then discuss it together as a group once or twice a week when you’re able.

The point: this tool gives you loads of flexibility! You can do as much or as little as you want, each bit helping you with that ultimate goal.

Uncovering Mercies at the Manger

by Kim Sorgius
Available in print only via Not Consumed website.

This interactive Bible study comes from Not Consumed, and it is my TOP PICK for families who want an Advent Bible study. Uncovering Mercies at the Manger is just one of the Christmas studies available on that site. You can also check out Adoration at the Manger. (I’ve not done that one yet.)

What I love about these: They offer sound Bible teaching customized at age-appropriate levels. You can order individual books for each person in your family, even if you span a large age gap. This allows the worship and learning to be both personal and communal.

There are five levels available, including a Parent Guide.

• Pre-K (ages 2-4)
• Primary (ages 5-7)
• Junior (ages 8-12)
• Youth (ages 13+)
• Parent Guide

Last year we had one kid in college (out of state) and one at home in high school. This format allowed us to each do daily devotionals on our own. We then had a family zoom meeting once a week to talk about it and pray together over what we’d been reading and learning. It was fantastic! I loved it.

The workbooks are simple yet insightful. They come with stickers, too, so that’s fun. There is also a set of countdown cards you may purchase as an add-on for your Advent journey.

The Chosen Christmas Specials

For those who have not yet heard of it, The Chosen is a series from Angel Studios that seeks to bring the Gospels to life. The first two seasons each offered a bonus episode for Christmas. They are tremendous and I cannot recommend them highly enough. **

The Shepherd (from Season 1) is only 20 minutes long. It offers a unique perspective from the shepherds, not only of the angel encounter, but also about the element of sacrifice, hope, and healing brought in the promised Messiah. Click here to watch it free online.

The Messengers (from Season 2) is 38 minutes long. In this episode we meet the Magi and follow their curiosity, wonder, and journey to the newborn Savior. Click here to watch it online for free.

You can also download the Angel Studios app to watch these and the entire series (and anything else from this production company) on your phone or cast to your tv. Some episodes are also available on YouTube.

You can also see this in the theatre!
For one week only — December 12–17 of this year — these two specials will be combined with concerts and shown as a single full-length feature in select theaters for the Advent season. Watch the trailer below. Tickets go on sale next week (November 20th) at FathomEvents.com.

** A note about The Chosen: This series seeks to bring Scripture to life in a new way. It definitely does that! Many have shared testimonies of how this project has helped them see the humanity of the disciples and to understand parts of the Bible in fresh and tangible ways. The first season was absolutely fantastic. It very closely followed the Gospels and added some interesting and believable perspectives. I also especially loved the Round Table discussions with teachers and theologians who would discuss and evaluate the choices made by the writers, directors, and actors. The second season had several great episodes and a few that seemed to take creative license too far. The third season… well, I confess I haven’t finished it because it seems almost entirely fictional. Fiction and imagination are wonderful, but that’s not what I want in this series. So while I heartily recommend the Christmas episodes and all of Season 1, I’m a little more reluctant to offer a full-fledged endorsement of the whole series.

Touching Wonder

by John Blase
Available in print or digital.
Find it here.

This little book has almost become an annual read for me. It’s short — only twelve readings — and surprisingly powerful.

The author begins with Scripture: Luke 1–2, The Message. He then puts himself in the shoes of the characters, imagining what they might have felt or experienced. Then he adds a personal note of prayer and reflection.

This isn’t a theology book. It’s not an exegetical study. It’s an attempt to put flesh on a story that sometimes feels overplayed and too familiar. The purpose (as the subtitle says) is to recapture “the Awe of Christmas.”

I recommend this for personal use, reading with your spouse or good friends, or even with your teens. It’s going to go over the heads of little ones.

Before and After Christmas

by Debbie Trafton O’Neal
Available in print (used) and digital.
Find it here.

This is an older one, but it’s still a favorite, specifically designed for families with littles. Unfortunately, it is out of print, but you can still get it as an ebook on Kindle.

Offering full readings and activities to fill the days from Advent through Epiphany, this interactive guidebook gives you more than 40 different ready-made opportunities to connect with your kids and with the season. Activities range from crafts to service opportunities. Some are as simple as singing a song together. The format makes it easy to pick and choose which ones you want to do.

The best part: it’s ready to go! You don’t have to think about it, research it, or put it together. It’s perfect for a last-minute devotional time because there’s very little prep required. You may need to grab a few supplies, but most things you probably already have in your home: construction paper, tape, yarn or string, sticks from the backyard…stuff like that. Easy-peasy, but with a big impact on little hearts. And yours too.

The Nativity Story

Available on DVD, digital purchase or rent.
Find it here.

Give family movie night an Advent purpose!

This dramatic re-telling of the Jesus’ birth may be a bit rough for younger kids, but it’s a beautiful, realistic portrait that could inspire some wonderful questions and conversations within your home.

While The Chosen episodes (mentioned above) focus on more fringe characters (shepherds, priests, and magi), this film centers almost entirely on Mary and Joseph. It highlights their struggles, humility, and devotion to God no matter the challenges.

A bit of trivia: Oscar Isaac, who plays Joseph, is the same actor who later played Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens. This will be of interest if you have any Star Wars fans among you. He does a tremendous job here.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

by C. S. Lewis

This isn’t explicitly Christmas or Advent, but it does touch on the subjects, and it is a beautiful way to engage your family in the wonder of the Gospel and the anticipation of His coming. This story speaks to the longing we have for salvation, the struggle we have in accepting and giving grace, and the lengths to which God will go to rescue us. I love this story so much!

The book is available in print, digital, and audio formats. You could read it together chapter by chapter or even listen to it while decorating the tree or baking cookies!

If you’ve never read this before, I beg you to read the series in the PUBLISHED order. That means The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes first. Some have decided since the author’s death to rearrange the series and put the last book (The Magician’s Nephew) first. This is wrong. It is a prequel, but it must never be read first. It steals all the wonder when you do that.

If you’d rather watch instead of read or listen, that’s fine. You’ll find an excellent film adaptation on Disney+. You can also rent or purchase it online as a DVD or digital download (find the movie here).

BONUS: Narnia has a whole fandom eager to enhance this experience. Consider grabbing a cookbook to make some Turkish Delight or other Narnian treat to enjoy while you watch. The cookbook I have appears to be out of print, but I did find this other one that might prove worthwhile.

Remember why you’re doing this.

Whether you employ one of these tools or another of the many amazing resources available, remember your WHY. Don’t let Avent become another item on your to-do list, something you have to check off. Choose to soak in the wonder of the season, the beauty of miracles, and the joy of family and restoration. The story we celebrate is the beginning of our reunification with God. Take a deep breath and remember. It’s pretty amazing.

YOUR TURN! Tell me what tools and resources are your favorite for Advent.