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Christmas Book List

Everyone should have a Christmas book list. You know what I mean—that list of favorite books you get down off the shelf every year at this time. So today’s Hello Monday is a time of sharing some of my favorite mentoring voices found between the covers of the best Christmas books. Care to join me for some December reading?

Hello Christmas Book List

God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

These forty short devotions from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer move through the Advent season of waiting, mystery, redemption, incarnation, and the twelve days of Christmas.

Written in prison during the last two years of his life, each day’s devotional includes a reflection from Bonhoeffer’s Christmas sermons and Christmas letters to his family and fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer.

This is the 2012 addition to my Christmas book list, and it sits on my coffee table where I can easily include it in my morning devotions and coffee.

The Adventure of Christmas book cover by Lisa Whelchel

The ADVENTure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions by Lisa Whelchel

I have a very old nativity set that nestles under our Christmas tree for the little ones to play with. The problem is that baby Jesus often goes missing since he is the only movable figure in the set. I hate to admit it, but we’ve even found the toddlers chewing on him from time to time, but not in the context of “eat my body, drink my blood.”

Losa Whelchel asks the question, “Have you discovered that Jesus sometimes gets lost in the middle of the hustle and bustle of His birthday party?” Yes, she is talking about more than a baby Jesus figurine.

The ADVENTure of Christmas uses the 24 days before Christmas to explain various traditions, ask those teaching moment questions that you never seem to remember, and engage in activities geared to mentor your children in the real meaning of Christmas. A perfect book for parents, grandparents, and children’s ministry leaders.

50 Best Loved Christmas Stories and Poems For All Ages on a post at Holy in the Daily

50 Best Loved Christmas Stories and Poems for All ages (Cambridge World Classics Edition) {Kindle Edition}

This is a handy little Kindle book for my Christmas book list because it provides a collection of the classic Christmas stories, poems, and tales, making it easy to find something for family reading at dinner or before bed.

There are three sections: The Meaning of Christmas, Christmas Tales, and Classic Christmas Poems.

Included in these sections are such classics as “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, “A Story of the Child” by Elizabeth Harrison, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore, “The Old Man’s Christmas” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “The True Christmas” by Henry Vaughan, and “A Christmas Carol” by G. K. Chesterton, to name just a few.

Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from the Divine Hours on a post at Holy in the Daily

Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle

A few years ago, when I was struggling through life’s swamps, I latched on to this prayer-book as a means of keeping my focus on Jesus instead of the swamp creatures threatening to overwhelm me.

I didn’t have to think—just “be,” and Jesus felt close. The intimacy I found connected with a sense of participating with others around the world in an ancient Christian practice.

After Christmas I continued using the Daily Office as part of my daily devotional practice. It has Scriptures, prayers, and short readings all in one place.

Your turn: So these are some of my favorites—what books are on your Christmas book list? Add your favorites in the comment section below. I’ll grab my coffee and we can read together.

Wishing you a bookish week, Susan

“Jesus likes it when we share.” -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody’s brother, but you know . . . all of your friends would be nice.

Related posts:

Who Else Wants to Have a Meaningful Christmas?

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