Christmas & Advent - Exodus Books

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The Christian year begins with the birth of a baby. No one knows the exact day Jesus was born, but the date of December 25th was specifically chosen and introduced to Christian believers in order to counter the pagan feast of the "sun god," which was a popular winter solstice festival held in Rome. Instead of trying to coax the sun to return North again, this Christian theological corrective was meant to celebrate the source of true light in our dark world: the Son of God.

It was not until the fourth century that people began to celebrate Christ's birth. In keeping with Old testament feasts and festivals, it was designated a feast day called the Feast of the Nativity. The celebration began with a special Mass in honor of the remembrance of His coming, first called "Christ's Mass," later simply "Christmas." It was Christ being celebrated, not the day!

Later, the four week period before December 25th was declared a sacred and holy season. It was called "Advent," which comes from the Greek through the Latin and means "to come." It was a special time, designed to remind us that the Old testament saints had anxiously awaited the Messiah for centuries, and to provide a period of preparation that would allow time for reflection before the celebration of His birth. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas day, our actions and activities should remind us of our need for Jesus.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Just for Fun

Holidays

Christmas & Advent

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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Related Links

Corrigenda Denuo
Is Christmas Christian? Here's a list of articles to discuss the topic.
Readings for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
from the pastors of the CREC
Truth in the Tinsel
Advent ebook for young kids (affiliate link)

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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol,

9th grade (Ages 14-15)

	A Christmas Carol Audio Drama - 2 CD set by Charles Dickens from Focus on the Family for 1st-Adult in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Annotated Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from W. W. Norton and Co. for 6th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol Whole Story Series by Charles Dickens, illustrated by William Geldart from Viking Press Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol Everyman's Library Children's Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $20.00
	Christmas Carol Dover Thrift Editions by Charles Dickens from Dover Publications for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.00
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Gramercy Books for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol Sterling Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Scott McKowen Unabridged from Sterling Publishing Co. Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from Bantam Books for 6th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.95
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Enriched Classic from Pocket Books for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Everett Shinn from Harry N. Abrams, Inc. for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt Unabridged from Simon and Schuster Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol A Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens, illustrated by John Leech from J. G. Ferguson Publishing Co. for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti Unabridged from Stewart, Tabori, & Chang Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman Unabridged from Holiday House Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by P.J. Lynch Unabridged from Candlewick Press Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $19.99
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Robert Ingpen Unabridged from Palazzo Editions Limited Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $24.99
	Christmas Carol Macmillan Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by John Groth from Macmillan Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; illustrated by Julian Brazelton from Pocket Books for 9th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Robert Ball from Macmillan Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Maraja from Grosset & Dunlap Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol (condensed) Books of Wonder by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Carter Goodrich from HarperCollins Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol - Progeny Press Study Guide Progeny Press Literature Guides by Rebecca Gilleland from Progeny Press Literature Guide for 8th-12th grade in Progeny Press Literature Guides (Location: LIT-SGPP) $27.99 $17.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol - TLP Guide Christmas Volume 2 Total Language Plus Literature Guides from Total Language Plus for 6th-9th grade in Total Language Plus Guides (Location: LITSG-TLP)
	Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books by Charles Dickens, introduction by Margaret Atwood from Everyman's Library for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Dilithium Press, Ltd. for 5th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Dickens: Five Christmas Novels by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Reginald B. Birch from Heritage Press for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)

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