Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Christmas People by J. Ellsworth Kalas

Subtitle is An Advent Study for Adults.

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. We use this period to prepare for our Christmas celebrations which may or may not include celebrating Christ's birth. Kalas organizes this study in four lessons designed to be used during the four weeks of Advent.

Each lesson includes a scripture reading, a though-provoking essay, study/discussion questions, and a suggested Focus for the Week. In his essays, Kalas recognizes that Christmas is for everyone: the lonely, the busy bee/worker types, the spendthrifts, and the saints (those who wait patiently).

From his lifetime of preaching and teaching, Kalas has packed a ton of wisdom in this skinny little book. I think he touched on every thought I've ever had about preparation for Christmas---what's right about it and what's wrong with our current approach.  It is worth studying individually if you do not have time to organize a group study.

Published by Abingdon Press in 1998, this book is out of print, I think. It is available used through several sources, though.

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