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Keep It Simple: The Practice of Advent Joy 鈥� A Virtual Timeout
Keep It Simple: The Practice of Advent Joy
Celebrate Advent with C21's "Keep It Simple: The Practice of Advent Joy" Timeout! This听virtual retreat was led by author, speaker, founder of听, and friend of C21, Laura Kelly Fanucci.
Jesus chose the smallest, simplest way to come into the world: to be born as a baby. How can we humble ourselves this Advent, not to run ragged trying to do it all (even all the beautiful, good things!) but let ourselves slow down and seek God?
In the midst of a busy culture always clamoring for more, more, more, the spiritual life invites us to move in the opposite direction and do less. To choose the narrow path, the quiet prayer, and the simple practices that keep us close to God.
Join us to begin Advent with a mini-retreat to reflect on how God calls us to "keep it simple鈥� and choose joy as we prepare for Christ鈥檚 coming. We鈥檒l look at Mary鈥檚 own preparations for Jesus鈥� birth in the Gospel of Luke and how she gives us a joyful model for our own daily Advent practices.听Drawing from her new book on , Laura will lead us in this peaceful time of reflection, conversation, and prayer.
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Additional Retreat Resources
Reflection Questions
1. What鈥檚 one small joy you鈥檝e noticed recently?
2. What鈥檚 one thing you want to DO in Advent & one thing you will NOT do in Advent, to make more space for God?
3. How could you thank God for a joy you have received?
Reflection Questions offered for small groups
1.听 What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檙e going to do this Advent? What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檙e NOT going to do, to make more space for God?
2. What is one source of joy in your life right now? How might you deepen that joy or thank God for that joy in Advent?
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Additional Materials
- 听by听Laura听Kelly Fanucci, available from听.
- Mary Oliver poems referenced during the retreat:听听&听
- On the daily practice of seeking small joys:听听from The Holy Labor
- Henri Nouwen, from听You Are The Beloved: 鈥淛oy does not simply happen to us.听We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.听It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge and our safety and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us.鈥�
- Laura鈥檚 new book, coming in early 2026鈥�Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection听(available for pre-order from听听or听)
Meet our retreat facilitator
Laura Kelly Fanucci - Retreat Facilitator
听is an award-winning author, a monthly columnist for OSV News Service, a devotional writer for (in)courage and Give Us This Day, and a regular contributor to publications including America Magazine and U.S. Catholic. She has authored many books including听Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting听and听Grieving Together: A Couple's Journey through Miscarriage.听Her latest book on Easter is forthcoming from Ave Maria Press in 2026.
Her work has been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR鈥檚 Morning Edition, On Being, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She writes two best-selling Substacks:听听with essays on spirituality and听听with humorous reflections on surviving cancer. Laura also writes regularly on Instagram at @. She and her husband live in Minnesota with their children.
To learn more about Laura, visit: .听
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