Presbyterians Today offers bilingual Advent devotional

Love in word and action is this year’s theme

By Donna Frischknecht Jackson | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE – Presbyterians across the country are invited to begin their Advent journey on Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent, with Presbyterians Today’s 2017 Advent devotional, Let Love Speak: Words and Actions to Pave the Way of the Lord.

Written by the Rev. Magdalena I. García, a hospice chaplain in Chicago and frequent Presbyterians Today contributor, the devotional anchors each day’s writings in the laments and joys of the psalmist.

“You are invited to contemplate words and actions from the Psalms that challenge all of us to speak and act in just and loving ways. One place to begin is perhaps inviting the language — and the presence —of others among us, especially the other who is a foreigner,” García said.

Each daily reading includes an excerpt from a Psalm followed by a meditation and a prayer.

The Advent devotional has been a Presbyterians Today tradition since 1984. This is the first year, though, in which the devotional is completely bilingual.

“Rev. García came to the United States from Cuba via Spain. And so, she wrote to us in both of her mother tongues: English and Spanish,” said Jeffrey Lawrence, director of media and publishing for the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “This is a wonderful gift to the church,” he added.

Copies of the print version of Let Love Speak are available at pcusastore.com. Daily online readings will be posted on the Presbyterians Today blog at presbyterianmission.org/today.