Here is wonderful 17th century Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt which expounds the meaning of the Incarnation. This is hymnic gospel proclamation! Let us take great comfort in the work of Christ, God come to get us. All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices; “Christ is born,” …
In Bede’s A History of the English Church and People, he includes a hymn in honor of a woman named Etheldreda. I can’t endorse all that is in the poem, but I appreciated this portion on the Incarnation. See! God most high resigns His royal throne, Descends to earth, and enters Mary’s womb; To free …
If you have read John Calvin but have not read from his sermons, you have missed his best. I have been edified this past week in reading from Songs of the Nativity, a new translation of selected sermons from Luke 1&2 (only one of which has previously appeared in English). In commenting on the angel’s …
It is a little late to be recommending Advent resources, but in case anyone is searching, our favorite resource continues to be Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration. We don’t really use the four main stories by the prominent authors. What we like is simply the daily Scripture readings and the two carols a …
Keeping Holiday, Starr Meade (Crossway, 2008), pb., 192 pp. Ages 6+ I got a copy of this book several months ago but waited for Christmas to read it to my children. We enjoyed it. It is sort of a “Pilgrim’s Progress meets Christmas.†In the story Holiday is a resort where many families come for …
Who Was Born This Special Day?, by Eve BuntingIllustrated by Leonid Gore(Atheneum, 2000), hb., 32 pp.Ages 3-5 This book is nicely illustrated and simple. There is not much to the book. The title question is asked through the book going through various animals as not the one born this day. On the last page it …