‘Following the Star’ Advent devotional series returns for 2017

Ecumenical collaboration adds to lineup of Presbyterian Mission Agency seasonal resources

by Gregg Brekke | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Following the Star, the devotional series for Advent and Christmas, has returned to the devotional website d365.org for the 2017 holiday season.

The series features scripture, prayer, and meditative thoughts accompanied by gentle music focusing on the Advent journey toward Christmas.

Writers Tammy Wiens, Jeff Binder, Melissa Kessler, Lawrence Powers, Ariana Gonzalez-Bonillas, and Erendira Jiminez have centered their thoughts on the classic themes of the season. A new collection of instrumental guitar arrangements has been recorded specifically for Following the Star. The music collection “Unto Us” is available for purchase through iTunes, and CDBaby.com. The musical reflections provide a familiar artistic backdrop to accompany each daily devotional.

Following the Star is part of the year-round devotional site, d365.org, a ministry of Passport, Inc., and is sponsored ecumenically by Passport, Inc., Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Presbyterian Mission Agency, and The Episcopal Church. d365.org hosts daily devotionals and three seasonal series for Lent, Advent, and the beginning of the school year, as well as over two million visitors annually. Daily devotionals are available on the web or through free mobile apps for Apple iOS and Android devices.

The devotional series was created for youth and young adults. It is used, however by millions of individuals. Users include youth groups, Sunday School classes, confirmation groups, governing boards and families! Following the Star is the most popular of the seasonal devotional series’ – echoing the ongoing longing for ways to help young people connect their forming faith to their daily schedule and rhythm during a busy and often chaotic season.

“Our goal is to provide a portal for prayer and reflection that reminds the follower that prayer, that seeking conversation with God, is a holy practice. Not the season itself – but the relationship that comes from the ancient acts of the season,” said Gina Yeager-Buckley, Mission Associate for Christian Formation – Youth, of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the PC(USA) staff person responsible for the resource.

“I am so pleased that our two PC(USA) based writers, Tammy Wiens and Jeff Binder, are the writers for 2017,” Yeager-Buckley added. “Both Jeff and Tammy have a heart for young people. For their faith formation. For their sense of finding their voice and their rituals.”