Friends,
Advent will soon be here. The first Sunday of Advent is November 30th. The word advent comes from the Latin adventus meaning arrival or coming. Advent is a time to embrace and remember the gift of Christ’s birth. The books below are written by wise people who generously share their knowledge providing the reader soul comforting insights. Each Sunday of advent has a theme – hope, preparation, joy, love. I invite you to start this year’s Advent journey with either or both of these books. They are written by three of my favorite authors. I read The First Christmas every year and learn something new each time. A Child is Born is a new release and will be a first time read for me. I’ve included a summary from the editors to give you an idea of what the books are about. My summary is if you are tired of what is happening in world, escape into these books and fill your mind and time thinking about what they teach us. – Rev. Sara
A Child is Born by Amy-Jill Levine
This is set up as a four-week study that can be done at your own pace. What the editors say: “The book discusses the births of Isaac and Ishmael, Samson, and Samuel to reveal how they foreshadow and enrich the timeless Christmas story. Author Amy-Jill Levine brings her expert knowledge of Scripture and careful consideration of the Christian story to show readers how Scripture’s earlier birth stories anticipate the story of Jesus’s birth and how the birth resonates and gives new meaning to those earlier stories.”
The First Christmas by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan
What the editors say: “Basing their interpretations on the two nativity narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Borg and Crossan focus on the literal story—the inner truth rather than the historical facts—to offer a clear and uplifting message of hope and peace. With The First Christmas readers get a fresh, deep, and new understanding of the nativity story, enabling us to better appreciate the powerful message of the Gospels.”
