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's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and 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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Holidays / Church Calendar

Christmas & Advent

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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

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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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	'Twas the Night Before Christmas for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	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)
	Advent Coloring Calendar A Coloring Book to Bless and De-Stress Through the Season Clr Csm from Paraclete Press for 3rd-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $10.19
	Advent of the Lamb of God previously published as Behold the Lamb of God from InterVarsity Press for 5th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $20.00
	All Creation Waits The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein from Paraclete Press for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall from Atheneum for Preschool-Adult in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	Annotated Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from W. W. Norton and Co. for 6th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Better December by Steven Estes from New Growth Press for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $15.99
	Better Than Anything Christmas by Barbara Reaoch from Good Book Company for Preschool-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.99
	Book of Christmas from Reader's Digest for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Book of Christmas Carols by Jane Lydbury from Prentice Hall for 2nd-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Carols for Choirs 1: Fifty Christmas Carols by Reginald Jacques and David Willcocks, edited and arranged by from Oxford University for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Carols for Christmas by David Willcocks from Metropolitan Museum of Art for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Case for Christmas A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger by Lee Strobel from Zondervan for 8th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Child in the Manger The True Meaning of Christmas by Sinclair B. Ferguson from Banner of Truth Trust for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Christ Is Born A Coloring Book with Bible Verses by Laura Marr, illustrator from Dover Publications for 3rd-Adult in Holiday Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOL) $13.59
	Christ of Christmas by James Montgomery Boice from P&R Publishing for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Carol Dover Thrift Editions by Charles Dickens from Dover Publications for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $2.55
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Gramercy Books for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	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 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 Julian Brazelton from Pocket Books for 9th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	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) $24.00
	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)
	Christmas Carol and Other Stories Reader's Digest World's Best Reading by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Reader's Digest for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carolers' Book In Song & Story by Torstein O. Kvamme from Unknown Publisher for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Christmas Carols by Compiled by Frank Edwin Peat, Illustrated by Fern Bisel Peat from Saalfield Publishing Co. for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Christmas Songs and Carols for Guitar by Arranged with Tabulature by David Nadal from Dover Publications for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Come Let Us Adore Him A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp from Crossway Books for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99
	Counting the Days, Lighting the Candles by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Jessica L. Thompson with Jami Nato from Unknown Publisher for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Cricket on the Hearth and Other Christmas Stories Dover Thrift Editions by Charles Dickens from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.10
	Cricket on the Hearth and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens from Mcloughlin Bros. Inc for 10th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper from Crossway Books for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.99
	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)
	Esther's Gift A Mitford Christmas Story by Jan Karon from Viking Press for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	George Balanchine's The Nutcracker with CD of musical highlights from Barnes & Noble for Preschool-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Get Ready, Celebrate, Rejoice Inspiration and Activities for the Christmas Season by Sue Kirk and Sally Wilke from Standard Publishing Company for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	God Rest Ye Merry Why Christmas is the Foundation for Everything by Douglas Wilson Fir from Canon Press for 11th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $16.00
	Greatest Gift Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Hallelujah A Journey Through Advent with Handel's Messiah by Cindy Rollins from Circe Institute for 1st-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Hallelujah Cultivating Advent Traditions with Handel’s Messiah by Cindy Rollins 2^nd edition from Blue Sky Daisies for 1st-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $14.95
	Hosanna in Excelsis Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David & Barbara Leeman from Moody Press for 3rd-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Journey into Christmas by Bess Streeter Aldrich, illustrated by James Aldrich from Appleton-Century-Crofts for 10th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Journey into Christmas by Bess Streeter Aldrich, illustrated by James Aldrich for 10th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin from Moody Press for 3rd-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $25.49
	Lucia, Child of Light The History and Tradition of Sweden's Lucia Celebration by Florence Ekstrand from Welcome Press for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Man Born to be King by Dorothy L. Sayers from Classical Academic Press Drama for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $23.95
	Mary Did You Know? - Book and CD by Mark Lowry from Thomas Nelson Publishers for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Mary Engelbreit: Christmas Ideas Make Good Cheer! by Mary Engelbreit from Meredith Press for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	O Come, O Come, Emmanuel A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany by Jonathan Gibson from Crossway Books for 6th-Adult in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV) $29.99
	Old Western Culture Year 4 Volume 4 - Video Lectures Early Moderns: The Novels by Wesley Callihan from Roman Roads Media for 9th-Adult in Old Western Culture (Location: LITCUR-OWC) $84.75
	Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays 135 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations by Ree Drummond from William Morrow & Company for Adult in American Cooking (Location: COOK-US)
	Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren from Howard Books in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Saint Nicholas by Joe L. Wheeler Ph.D. from Thomas Nelson Publishers for 8th-Adult in Christian Encounters (Location: BIO-CE)
	Silent Night The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub from Plume Books in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Silent Night The Remarkable Christmas Truce of 1914 by Stanley Weintraub from Simon and Brown in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
	Skipping Christmas by John Grisham First Ediition from Doubleday & Company for Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Star Over Bethlehem from Dodd, Mead & Co. for 10th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Tasha Tudor Christmas Book Take Joy! by Tasha Tudor from Philomel Books for 4th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement C. Moore from International Resourcing Services for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	War on Christmas by Bodie Hodge from Master Books for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $14.39
	Watch for the Light Readings for Advent and Christmas by Various Anthology from Plough Publishing House for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Wild Bells A Literary Advent by Missy Andrews from Center for Literary Education for 5th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99
	Winter Fire Christmas with G.K. Chesterton by Ryan Whitaker Smith, excerpts from G.K. Chesterton from Moody Press for 9th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $24.99
	Wonder of the Greatest Gift - Advent Calendar An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for 3rd-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $18.00 (1 in stock)

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