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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Used Books & Materials

	Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin from Houghton Mifflin Christmas/Advent for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $14.00 (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)
	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 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 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 from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch First Edition from Little, Brown & Company for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (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) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Christmas with Mary Engelbreit: Here Comes Santa Claus by Mary Engelbreit (illustrator), text by Vitta Poplar from Oxmoor House for Adult in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS) $6.00 (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) $5.50 (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)
	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)
	Greatest Gift Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp from Tyndale House for Adult in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $19.99 $12.00 (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)
	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) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by Michael Hague from Henry Holt and Company for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.00 (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)
	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)
	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) $4.50 (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 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)
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Gramercy Books for 2nd-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $15.00 (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)
	Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren from Howard Books in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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 Christmas Comes Again The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer by Beth Seidel Levine from Scholastic Inc. Fictional historical journal for 3rd-6th grade in Dear America Books (Location: SER-DEAR) $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)

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