Child of the Light

Walking Through Advent and Christmas

Upper Room author Beth A. Richardson invites you to experience the weeks before Christmas differently this year. “We all need this time of Advent to slow us down, to open our ears to God’s quiet voice, to guide us through the chaos of the consumerist culture that Christmas has become.”

Child of the Light provides tools to help you find your quiet center. Our eCourse invites you to find that quiet center with friends old and new. Enter with Beth into readings and reflections inspired by the season’s carols and hymns. Your spirit will be lifted and your mind quieted. The experience extends past Christmas to Epiphany, encouraging you to live into the joy of Christmas beyond seasonal celebrations.

Our eCourse includes:

  • Video recordings of worship and reflection with Beth.
  • All daily readings from Beth’s book Child of the Light, which offer a brief meditation for each day of Advent.
  • Audio recordings of Beth and friends highlighting the carols and hymns of the season.
  • A space for online conversation.

Private eCourse classrooms with group rates are available upon request. If you are interested, email us at [email protected].


To purchase a print version of Child of the Light, visit The Upper Room online store.

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Your Instructor


Beth A. Richardson
Beth A. Richardson

Beth A. Richardson serves as the director of prayer and Upper Room worship life at The Upper Room and dean of The Upper Room Chapel. She has worked at The Upper Room in various roles, including editor of Alive Now and director of The Upper Room’s website. An Oklahoma native, she is a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church and is a member of the Mountain Sky Conference. Beth holds a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Oklahoma City University. Follow her writings at betharichardson.com.


Course Content


  Welcome to Child of the Light
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  First Week of Advent: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
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  Second Week of Advent: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
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  Third Week of Advent: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
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  Fourth Week of Advent: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
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  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: What Child Is This?
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  Christmas and Epiphany: Away in a Manger and other Christmas Favorites
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the eCourse start and finish?
The eCourse is intended to start with Advent and continue through Epiphany. But it will remain open indefinitely. It’s self-paced, so you can decide when to start and when to finish.
How long do I have access to the eCourse?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this eCourse for as long as you like—across any and all devices you own. We’ll give you plenty of notice should we need to close the eCourse.
What if I am unhappy with the eCourse?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us within the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Who sponsors these eCourses?
This eCourse is brought to you by The Upper Room.

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