Christmas & Advent - Exodus Books

Store Location

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.

Did you find this review helpful?

Parent Categories

Just for Fun

Holidays

Christmas & Advent

Subcategories

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)

30 Items found Print

Active Filters:

Kindergarten (Ages 5-6),

Used Books & Materials

	Advent and Christmas In Family Worship by Doug & Amy Hayes from Home Fires Publishing for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration by James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, et al. from NavPress for Preschool-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Alphabet Deluxe Anniversary Edition by Robert Sabuda from Orchard Books for Nursery-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Family Read-Aloud Holiday Treasury by Selected by Alice Low, Illustrated by Marc Brown First Ediition from Little, Brown & Company for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Book Treasuries (Location: PIC-TRE) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Gift by R. Kent Hughes, Illustrated by Ron DiCianni, Calligraphy by Timothy R. Botts from Crossway Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Christmas Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell, Illustrated by Sergio Leone Reprint from Ideals Publications for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Living Nativity The Story of Saint Francis and the Christmas Manger by Helen and David Haidle from Honor Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Morris's Disappearing Bag A Christmas Story by Rosemary Wells from Dial Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Mousekin's Christmas Eve by Edna Miller from Prentice Hall for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $28.00 (1 in stock)
	Nativity by Julie Vivas from Voyager Books for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Weathervane Books for Preschool-3rd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore, illustrated by Jan Brett from Scholastic Press for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.50 (2 in stock)
	Night Before Christmas with DVD by Clement Moore, illustrated by Jan Brett from Putnam Juvenile for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Night the Toys Came to Life A Christmas Story by Enid Blyton, Illustrated by Shirley Willis from Gallery Books for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Noel for Jeanne-Marie by Francoise from Charles Scribner's Sons for Nursery-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	O Come, All Ye Faithful Hymns of Adoration and Joy to Celebrate His Birth by Bobbie Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth First Edition from Crossway Books for Preschool-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	One Wintry Night by Richard Jesse Watson from Baker Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Peter and Lotta's Christmas by Elsa Beskow from Floris Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Prancer by Stephen Cosgrove from Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Santa's Surprise Book by Joan Potter Elwart, illustrated by Florence Sarah Winship 1974 printing from Golden Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Santabear's First Christmas by Barbara Read, illustrated by Howard B. Lewis from Santabear Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Story of Christmas With Its Own Advent Calendar by Kathryn Jackson, illustrated by Augie Napoli from Golden Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $18.00 (1 in stock)
	There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pam Munoz Ryan, Illustrated by Dennis Nolan from Hyperion Books for Children for Preschool-3rd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Twelve Days of Christmas in Oregon by Susan Blackaby, illustrated by Carolyn Conahan from Sterling Publishing Co. for Nursery-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Unwrapping the Greatest Gift A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for Kindergarten-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $26.99 $17.00 (1 in stock)
	When Christmas Comes by Doris Whitman, illustrated by David K. Stone from Holt, Rinehart and Winston for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	When Joy Came The Story of the First Christmas by Pauline Palmer Meek; illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis from Golden Books for Preschool-3rd Grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Wipe Your Feet, Santa Claus! by Konrad Richter, illustrated by Jozef Wilkon from North-South Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.00 (1 in stock)

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Connect