In her new book, Fleming Rutledge, well-known author, pastor and homilist, presents a powerful collection of essays and sermons that capture the tensions of the Advent season. The book is aimed at a nonacademic audience and is meant as a resource for those with pastoral responsibility for planning the season of Advent or for those who wish to deepen their encounter with the “now but not yet” of this oft misunderstood and important time of year.

Advent has a rich and complex history. Though short in duration, this season encompasses much that seems contradictory on first glance. Light in the darkness, hope in a future already begun, challenges for conversion on a journey anchored in past deed, Advent is filled with an as yet unresolved tension. Rutledge powerfully captures these currents and presents them in reflections and sermons that challenge the reader to intense self-examination and change of heart. The very multifaceted nature of Advent has allowed different faith traditions to explore its themes in a variety of directions. Rutledge's approach within the episcopal tradition looks squarely into the darkness and explores that darkness and its contradictions in a season whose movement into light is its culmination. Her emphasis in this regard would seem to be aimed at a primarily episcopal audience though others would certainly find much food for thought in contrasting her vision of the season with those found in other traditional approaches. Her occasional mention of the Roman Catholic tradition is at odds with that tradition's own accepted embrace of Advent as a season filled with opposition, but one that emphasizes stronger strains of hope and light than, perhaps, Rutledge gives it credit.

Rutledge's depth of scholarship and capacity to communicate meaning in sermon and writing is on clear display in this text. The selection of writings explores, mainly, the darker themes of Advent with depth of theological sources and breadth of contemporary connections. The power of her preaching ripples through the collected sermons and can clearly be heard even when read. The work is well organized and presented in order of the liturgical calendar. The sermons span the lectionary cycle, providing selections from across the gospels, prophets, and psalms. This text gives audiences, new and old, insight into the work of a master preacher and material that will enrich any Advent journey.