Xavia Arndt Sheffield
Christian Author and Speaker
Xavia Arndt Sheffield is a Christian Author, Speaker and Musician. She frequently writes devotionals for The Upper Room and Washington National Cathedral, where she also taught a Lenten class in 2014. She is currently available for writing, class, and speaking inquiries. Her first book, "Life Principles from the Women of Acts" was published by AMG Publishers.
Xavia grew up a Methodist in South Dakota. She holds a BA degree in Music and an MA degree in Speech/Theater from South Dakota State University. While in college, she was involved in a Lutheran traveling evangelism ministry. And, she has been married to a Presbyterian minister for nearly forty years! They have served congregations in Sudbury, MA; Lima, OH; Washington, DC; Columbia MD; Madonna, MD; and Hershey, PA.
With an interest in church history combined with women’s issues in the church, she has taught Women of the Bible, Great Women in Church History, Women in the Early Church, and Women in the Medieval Church.
She enjoys all aspects of being in the church and has taught children’s and adult Sunday School; directed Vacation Bible Schools, Christmas pageants and church musicals; created special Advent programs, Sunday School kick-offs and education fairs; directed and composed children’s music, played the handbells, and sung in the choir!
Xavia and her husband have two grown children, a daughter, Jennifer and a son, Andrew.
Xavia Arndt Sheffield
Christian Author and Speaker -
Full Biography
Xavia Arndt Sheffield has been active in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) for 30 years. Raised Methodist in South Dakota, she earned her BA in Music/Vocal Performance and her MA in Speech/Theater from South Dakota State University. While there, she toured with a Lutheran campus ministry evangelism group. She has worked at Westminster Choir College; as a Professional Assistant in Communications; and as a Children’s Music Teacher/Director. She continues to love performing in community and reader’s theater. She has been married to a Presbyterian minister for nearly 40 years. He has served churches in Sudbury, MA; Lima, OH; Washington, DC; Columbia, MD; Madonna, MD; and Hershey, PA. They have two grown children.
Xavia writes meditations for The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide and recently has written for the Presbyterian devotional book, These Days. AMG Publishers released her Bible Study in 2009, Life Principles from the Women of Acts.
For the church, she has been involved in the following:
For children, she has taught Sunday School, been Superintendent of the Sunday School Program, directed Vacation Bible School, taught the Worship Workshop program, been involved in every aspect of the LOGOS program, created Sunday School Kick-Off programs and Education Fairs, taught a Drama Workshop for the Middle School, and directed and staged Christmas Pageants. She has created a VBS program entitled, The Bible Bulbs Present: The Light of the World!”
For adults/women’s ministry, she has taught Adult Sunday School, including Women of the Bible, Great Women in Church History, Women in the Early Church and Women in the Medieval Church. With an interest in the liturgical calendar, she has created special Advent events and written family Advent activity/devotional booklets. An Advent party idea entitled, “New Years in November” was seen in Presbyterians Today magazine in Nov., 2005.
For the adult music program, she has sung in the choir, played the handbells, and written an Easter anthem entitled, “It’s Easter Morn.”
For children's music, she has directed and composed music for the children’s choirs, including the handbell and chime choirs, and directed “The Messiah for Young Voices.” She has also directed and staged children’s musicals, and written a youth musical about the liturgical calendar entitled, “What’s a Church Year?”, from which she adapted, “Tenebrae, A Service of Darkness.”
Creatively and craftily, she has designed and rendered over 1,000 bulletin boards for the church. An article entitled, Tips from the Bulletin Board Lady, was featured in Presbyterians Today magazine in March, 2004. Following the publication of this article, and responding to the many requests for bulletin board help, she wrote a newsletter entitled Bulletin Board Heaven for two years, in which she shared her designs and tips with churches around the country.
She has also taught VBS and Sunday School crafts, and recently coordinated the “Chrismon Tree Project,” which had women of the church cross-stitch over 100 new Chrismons. She also enjoys designing custom counted cross-stitch and creating custom centerpieces for church occasions.
Xavia has also helped every church her husband has served celebrate an anniversary, either by making a "church-shaped" cake or creating miniature church buildings for centerpieces.
You can reach Xavia directly via e-mail at xaviasheffield@hotmail.com
Published Work
Classes
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Journaling Toward God
2014In March of 2014 I taught a class at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, taking the participants on a six-week Lenten journey. Everyone wrote their own Lenten journals, reflecting on how to put their life focus less on self and more on God, thus making this Lenten season not just an owning up to individual sins, but a turning around toward God, the one who gives new and eternal life.
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Life Principles from The Women of Acts
2009Life principles from the Women of Acts is a twelve-week Following God Bible study examining in detail the stories of the women who helped start the Christian church. Published by AMG Publishers, it is available for purchase on Amazon.
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God's Handprints
2007God's Handprints is a collection of true stories from people who acknowledge God's hand at work in their lives. I wrote chapter 13, titled "God's Handprints on my Life". Edited by Linda Gilden. Available on Amazon.com
Books
Devotionals & Meditations
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These Days
2011-2017'These Days' is a 30-year strong devotional series released quarterly every year. I wrote a series of seven daily devotionals for them in 2011 and 2017.
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The Upper Room
2008 - 2016I have written a variety of Meditations and the Advent Litanies for The Upper Room, an international publication. The devotionals are archived on the Upper Room website and require a free sign-in to view. Please contact me if you would like to receive samples to read!
Upper Room Devotional - January 24, 2016 - "Offering Buckets"
The Upper Room Blog - July 30, 2014 - "Calling Pigs"
Upper Room Devotional - July 30, 2014 - "Calling Pigs"
Upper Room Advent Worship Litanies - Nov-Dec 2013
Upper Room Devotional - December 8, 2011 - "Shaped and Re-Shaped"
Upper Room Devotional - December 5, 2010 - "Only a Shepherd"
Upper Room Devotional - October 6, 2010 - "Behind Closed Doors"
Upper Room Devotional - December 14, 2008 - "Humility"
Upper Room Devotional - September 27, 2008 - "God's Sandpaper"
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Washington National Cathedral
2011 - 2017I have written several Advent and Lenten Meditations for the Cathedral in our nation's capital.
Advent Meditation - December 8, 2017
Lenten Meditation - March 1, 2017
Advent Meditation - November 27, 2016
Lenten Meditation - March 21, 2016
Advent Meditation - November 30, 2015
Lenten Meditation - March 31, 2015
Lenten Meditation - February 23, 2015
Lenten Meditation - March 27, 2014
Lenten Meditation - March 16, 2014
Advent Meditation - December 14, 2013
Lenten Meditation - March 29, 2013
Lenten Meditation - February 28, 2013
Lenten Meditation - February 24, 2012
Advent Meditation - December 20, 2011
Miscellaneous
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Presbyterians Today "Bright Ideas"
2005A 'Bright Idea' to throw a News Years party at the beginning of the Christian Calendar.
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Presbyterians Today "The Bulletin Board Lady"
2004Another 'Bright Ideas' segment, profiling my bulletin board work and how I made them work for the church in a variety of creative ways.
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Bulletin Board Heaven
2004-2006A self-published newsletter with How-To's, Tips and Photos from over 1,000 church bulletin boards! Contact me for more information on my bulletin board work.
Contact
For all inquries regarding writing, classes or speaking engagements,
please email me directly at xaviasheffield@hotmail.com
Areas of Expertise
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Writing
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Speaking
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Classes
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Music
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Children's Programs
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Bulletin Boards