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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Just for Fun

Holidays / Church Calendar

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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5th grade (Ages 10-11),

In-Stock Books & Materials

	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
	Annotated Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Deluxe from Random House for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Bartholomew's Passage A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $18.99
	Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson from HarperCollins Humor for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Progeny Press Study Guide Progeny Press Literature Guides by Andrew Clausen from Progeny Press Literature Guide for 4th-6th grade in Progeny Press Literature Guides (Location: LITSG-PP) $21.99
	Better Than Anything Christmas by Barbara Reaoch from Good Book Company for Preschool-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.99
	Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin from Yearling for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin from Yesterday's Classics Christmas/Advent for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $13.56
	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
	Christmas Around the World - Coloring Book Dover Coloring Books by Joan O'Brien from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Holiday Coloring Books (Location: COL-HOL) $4.24 $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Camera by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49
	Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada from Crossway Books for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $14.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Compass by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $10.99
	Christmas Donkey by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.34
	Christmas Rat by Avi from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.99
	Christmas Star by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.34
	Christmas Stove by Alta Halverson Seymour from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.34
	Gift of the Magi & Other Short Stories Dover Thrift Editions by O. Henry from Dover Publications for 4th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 $2.00 (4 in stock)
	Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, illustrated by Kevin King from Simon and Schuster for 4th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry, illustrated by P. J. Lynch from Candlewick Press for 4th-10th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $15.29
	Grandma for Christmas by Alta Halverson Seymour 75th Anniversary Edition from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.89
	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
	I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge from David R. Godine for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $14.41
	Jotham's Journey Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 1st-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99 $10.50 (1 in stock)
	Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin from Moody Press for 3rd-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $25.49
	Midnight Clear Selected Family Christmas Stories by Katherine Paterson from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Nicholas: A Manhattan Christmas Story by Annie Carroll Moore, illustrated by Jay Van Everen 2025 Reprint from Unknown Publisher for 5th-8th grade 1925 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $19.99
	Night Before Christmas - Coloring Book by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by John O'Brien 81st edition from Dover Publications for 3rd-5th grade in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT) $4.24
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Gramercy Books for 2nd-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Nutcracker Ballet Coloring Book by Brenda Sneathen Mattox from Dover Publications for 2nd-6th grade in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT) $4.24
	One Wintry Night by Richard Jesse Watson from Baker Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Latin! by Dr. Seuss from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Christmas Stories (in Latin) for 3rd-6th grade in Latin Resources & Reference (Location: FL-LATREF) $10.40 (1 in stock)
	Tabitha's Travels A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Servant Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Tabitha's Travels A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide from Kregel Publications for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99
	Tell Me About Christmas by Mary Alice Jones, illustrated by Marjorie Cooper from Rand McNally for 1st-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Tell Me the Story by Max Lucado, Ron Dicianni, Timothy Botts 1^st edition from Crossway Books for 3rd-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Turkey for Christmas by Marguerite de Angeli from Purple House Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.04
	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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