Advent & Christmas Devotionals and Music

Inklings Bookshop happily offers the follow devotionals and recordings in the hope that they will enrich and deepen our customers' celebration of the Savior's birth. We should have all these items available by November 30.

God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas
By Scott Cairns, Emilie Griffin, Richard John Neuhaus,
Kathleen Norris, Eugene Peterson, Luci Shaw
Edited by Beth Bevis, Greg Pennoyer, and Gregory Wolfe
Paraclete Press, 2007
(185 pages, $26.95 $17.00, hardcover)

This beautiful collection of daily Scripture readings, meditations, prayers, fine art, and brief historical essays invites readers to take time (several weeks actually) to reflect on the deep meanings of the Incarnation of God's Son by viewing Christmas, the celebration of His birth, as earlier Christians have, "in the larger context of the Advent season that precedes it and the Epiphany season that extends its meaning outward from Bethlehem to the whole world."

While the contributors come from differing Christian traditions (Eastern Orhtodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant), they place little emphasis on the distinctive doctrines of those traditions, but focus the reader's thoughts on the personal implications (spiritual and practical) of the Scripture passages and liturgical days they reflect on.

Eugene Peterson provides an Introduction that explores the meaning of the enfleshment of God's Son and challenges the implicit docetism in the lives of many believers. (Bitter medicine for mere bookworms!) Richard John Neuhaus, Scott Cairns, Luci Shaw, and Kathleen Norris offer daily meditations and prayers for the four weeks of Advent, Emilie Griffin for the days from Christmas to Epiphany.

To help readers "recover a more ancient way of looking at time and the mysterious relationship between the material and spiritual realms," Beth Bevis illuminates the history and meaning of major feast days and "the traditions, both liturgical and popular, that have become associated with the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany."

Advent and Christmas: Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton
By G. K. Chesterton, Thom Satterlee, and Robert Moore-Jumonville
Liguori Publications, 2007
(128 pages, $9.95 $8.00, paperback)

"People are losing the power to enjoy Christmas through identifying it with enjoyment. When once they lose sight of the old suggestion that it is all about something, they naturally fall into blank pauses of wondering what it is all about. To be told to rejoice on Christmas Day is reasonable and intelligible, if you understand the name, or even look at the word. To be told to rejoice on the twenty-fifth of December is like being told to rejoice at quarter-past eleven on Thursday week. You cannot suddenly become frivolous unless you believe there is a serious reason for being frivolous."

G. K. Chesterton was an energetic and vociferous apostle of serious Christian joy, especially during the Christmas season. This little devotional, prepared by The Center for the Study of C. S. Lewis and Friends at Taylor University, compiles excerpts from his writings with Scripture passages, prayers, and daily spiritual exercises for the weeks of Advent (Part I) and the Twelve Days of Christmas (Part II).

Part III suggests two optional liturgical formats for individuals or groups to use the devotions. Most Protestants might want to skip two minor parts of these formats - a mention of the Catholic practice confession and a closing prayer to Mary.

Many of the excerpts from Chesterton's writings, like the one we quote above, are taken from books and newspaper articles that he wrote explicitly to defend Christmas against its secular critics in his day. Others are from more general works. Some excerpts are from his Christmas poems, including the beautiful and profound "The House of Christmas."

The Miraculous Journey:
Anticipating God in the Christmas Season
By Marty Bullis (Foreword by Eugene Peterson)
Regal Books, 2007
(144 pages, $14.99 $11.00, hardcover)

This Advent and Christmas devotional contains "29 devotions7 for each week of Advent, plus 1 for Christmas Day. The devotions begin with Matthew's Gospel and work their way through Mark's, Luke's, and John's accounts." Journaling space follows each devotion except those for Sundays. Two closing sections provide a candle-lighting meditation for church and home for each week of Advent and an Advent litany for small group use (including a very rare call for five full minutes of silence!).

The author's reflections on the Scripture passage for each day are "refreshingly different" and always aimed at the heart.

Christmas with the Dale Warland Singers
by The Dale Warland Singers
Gothic Records, 2003
($16.98 $12.00, Audio CD)

The Dale Warland Singers, which disbanded in 2004, was one of the best American a cappella choirs for over thirty years. This CD contains reverent and exceptionally beautiful perfomances of very interesting arrangements of traditional and contemporary Christmas carols from around the world.

Christmas with Roger Wagner: To Catch a Christmas Star
by The Roger Wagner Chorale
Delos Records, 1992
($15.98 $12.00, Audio CD)

The Roger Wagner Chorale originated in 1947 under the name The Los Angeles Concert Chorale. Many famous conductors and composers considered them the finest choral ensemble in the world. They recorded prolifically and in 1992 produced one of the best recordings of Christmas carols and songs now available. NOTE: We thought we had a source for this CD, but it is very difficult to find. Stay tuned.

Christmas Star: Carols for the Christmas Season
by The Cambridge Singers and Ochestra, John Rutter conductor
Collegium, 1997
($11.98 $10.00, Audio CD)

Remaster of the legendary first recording (1981) of The Cambridge Singers founded by John Rutter. Classic English choral performances of traditional carols and one secular Christmas song.

The John Rutter Christmas Album
by The Cambridge Singers and Ochestra, John Rutter conductor
Collegium, 2002
($11.98 $10.00, Audio CD)

Performances of some traditional carols combined with most of the carols that John Rutter has written. This CD was at the top of the classical music charts for 10 week in 2002.