The Will to Dream Practices for Families

The Will to Dream Practices for Families is a devotional resource for households of all shapes and sizes, with weekly reflections, practices, and coloring pages—plus podcast recordings for busy families.

Theme Overview

In a time when trust feels fragile and divisions run deep, The Will to Dream calls us into holy longing—a sacred desire for a world made whole. Rooted in prophetic imagination, this Advent–Epiphany series helps communities confront despair, embody justice, and claim hope as a radical act. Together, we learn to dream not as escape, but as spiritual resistance—shaped by the visions of Isaiah, the song of Mary, and the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Weekly Themes:*

• Week One: Vigilant Hope (Isaiah’s Vision)
  Isaiah 2:1–5 & Mark 13:24–37
• Week Two: Prophetic Peace (John the Baptist’s Story)
  Matthew 3:1–12 & Malachi 3:1–6
• Week Three: Unexpected Joy (Elizabeth’s Story)
  Luke 1:39–55 & Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
• Week Four: Merciful Love (Zechariah’s Story)
  Luke 1:57–80 & Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26
• Christmas: Embodied Promise (Mary’s Story)
  Luke 2:1–20 & Isaiah 9:2–7
• First Sunday after Christmas: Generational Praise (Anna’s Story)
  Luke 2:22–40 & Psalm 148
• Epiphany: Courageous Defiance (Joseph’s Story)
  Matthew 2:1–15 & Exodus 1:8–2:10

*Note: These Advent resources follow the traditional weekly themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. They are not tied to the Revised Common Lectionary, so you can use them during Years A, B, or C.

Description

This flexible, easy-to-use resource is designed for both individuals and congregations:

• For Personal Use: Purchase for yourself or your family to enjoy the season together.
• For Ministry Use: Purchase once and share weekly with your congregation—send it home and invite them to follow along at their own pace.

Each week includes:

• A thoughtful reflection connecting the scripture and the theme
• Open-ended discussion questions for all ages
• A prayer for shared devotion
• Family practices for embodiment, advocacy, and joy
• A coloring page for creative engagement
• Audio recordings of the reflection, questions, and prayer in podcast format (available near the beginning of Advent)

What I Get

For Personal Use: PDF download

• Family Practices resource
• Coloring pages
• Access to audio recordings for each week’s reflection, questions, and prayer

For Ministry Use: ZIP file download

• Leader’s Intro Guide
• Family Practices resource
• Coloring pages
• Access to audio recordings for each week’s reflection, questions, and prayer