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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	A B C is for Christmas by Jane Werner Watson, illustrated by Sally Augustiny from Golden Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Book of Christmas from Reader's Digest for 6th-Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $9.00 (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)
	Children's Theatre A Reproduction of the Antique Pop-Up Book by Franz Bonn from Viking Press for Preschool-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.80 (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)
	Christmas Story by Jane Werner from Golden Books for Preschool-1st grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Trees A New True Book by Kathy Henderson from Children's Press for 2nd-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	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)
	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) $4.00 (1 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)
	Golden Christmas Treasury by Rick Bunsen (editor) from Golden Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Harold at the North Pole A Christmas Journey with the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson from HarperCollins for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.20 (1 in stock)
	Legend of Saint Nicholas by Demi from Margaret K. McElderry Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (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)
	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)
	Morris's Disappearing Bag A Christmas Story by Rosemary Wells from Dial Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.60 (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) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Gramercy Books for 2nd-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	One Wintry Night by Richard Jesse Watson from Baker Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (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)
	Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski from New Growth Press in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren from Howard Books in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May, Barbara Shook Hazen (Adapter), illustrated by Richard Scarry "I" Printing from Golden Books for Nursery-1st grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Santa Mouse by Michael Brown, illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt from Grosset & Dunlap for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.00 (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) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Savior is Born Rocks Tell the Story of Christmas by Patti Rokus from Zondervan for Preschool-2nd grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $16.99 $9.60 (2 in stock)
	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)
	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)
	Thirteen Days of Yule by Nonny Hogrogian from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Unwrapping the Greatest Gift A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for Kindergarten-4th grade in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO) $26.99 $13.50 (2 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) $4.80 (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) $3.20 (1 in stock)

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