The Season of Christmas
Calendar, Colors, and Icon
Dates: Wednesday, December 25th, 2024 - Sunday, January 5th, 2025
Colors: Gold and White
Icon: An eight-pointed star is the icon for Christmastide and Epiphany, which is a symbol of Christ being the morning star. It is also a symbol of hope and guidance, particularly among American indigenous populations.
About The Season
Glory to Your coming, which brought humanity back to life!
Glory to Him, Who came to us by His firstborn!
Glory to the Silence, that spoke by His Voice.
Glory to the Spiritual, Who was pleased to have a Body,
that by that Body he might show mercy on our bodies.
Glory to that Hidden One,Whose Son was made manifest!
Glory to that Living One, Whose Son was made to die!
Glory to that Great One, Whose Son descended and was small!
[An excerpt of a prayer of Ephrem the Syrian (306–373 CE), adapted from his Hymns on the Nativity, nos. 3–4]
Merry Christmas to you in the name of Jesus Christ! This Jesus—Prince of Peace and Light unto the nations—has come to you and to me. Behold our King.
Before us, in ages past, others came to behold him. As with any infant brought into this world, the first to behold Jesus was his mother, Mary. Imagine this moment. Mary had been visited by angels with news that she would give birth to the Messiah. In response, likely after many months of pondering and meditating on this news, she burst into song, extolling the promises of God to her people. Deliverance was coming through her womb. That pregnant pause in redemptive history erupted in a manger, and all of creation bore witness to that holy delivery. Beholding her infant’s face was to behold salvation and glory. Imagine!
Like family and friends piling into a delivery room, many others would follow quickly after. Among them were three foreigners traveling from east of Palestine to look upon this new King in Jerusalem. A few miles away were a group of shepherds tending to their flock in the weary hours of the night. In the enveloping darkness there burst forth an angel of light with a shout of praise: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy!” These shepherds, like those foreign men, went to behold the newborn Savior. Simeon, a devout one “waiting for the consolation of Israel,” beheld Jesus in a temple in Jerusalem. Upon holding him, Simeon broke out into worship with the words with which we end every week: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to your people Israel.”
Friends, our eyes, like these who saw before us, have seen God’s salvation through the light and life of Jesus Christ, and the invitation, then, is the same invitation to us today: Behold! But what does it mean to behold? It certainly means to look, but it is much more than that. The word’s etymology suggests more than a cursory glance or even an intent look; it is a considering, a possessing, and of course, a holding. It is to keep and preserve that which was seen so that one’s life is transformed by the sight.
The story of redemption we rehearse throughout the Christian year, and especially in this season of Christmas, serves as our invitation to allow this enchanted beholding to break through unbelief, to allow the light of God’s glory to illuminate every sacred and ordinary moment we encounter. When we do this, we are more fully able to sing with the hymnist, “Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!”
The season of Christmas (also known as Christmastide) begins on December 25 and stretches twelve days until the Epiphany of Our Lord on January 6. This span is one of feasting, generosity, and joy that celebrates the unparalleled gift of the incarnate Son of God. In the American, commercial Christmas season, Christmas is “one and done,” but the Christian history of Christmas encourages us to lean deeply into an extended, twelve-day feast!
So, friends, let us celebrate Love’s gift and feast unto the glory of God! Merry Christmas!
-Ashley Williams and Pastor Joel, adapted from The Daily Prayer Project.
Practices for the Season
Feast. In the Christian practice of Christmas, we are given not one or two but twelve days to feast in remembrance of the incarnation! Consider planning a series of special meals to prepare and share with loved ones.
Gift. It is traditional to give and share gifts during Christmastide. Consider how gifts could be spread out during the 12 days of Christmas. If you find yourself in a season of abundance, consider how you could give gifts to the poor.
Sing. Christmas is one of the most abundant times of sacred music, from Handel’s Messiah to Kirk Franklin and the Family’s Christmas to the Church’s treasured collection of beloved carols. Sing and listen to beautiful music during this season and allow it to enchant your experience of this life. See the Daily Prayer Project Spotify playlist below for listening suggestions.
Behold. Christmas is a time for beholding beautiful, wondrous things. Consider setting aside time to watch a film, view works of art, look at Christmas lights, or read a work of fiction. These things can make us more cognizant of the manifested glory of God.
Rest. The scripture says that the Lord “gives to his beloved sleep,” (Ps. 127:2). Consider sinking deeply into these holy days by napping and sleeping as much as possible.
Resources for the Season
The Living Prayer Periodical: Christmas and Epiphany 2024-25
The Daily Prayer Project is a publication ministry of Grace Mosaic that supplies a holistic resource for spiritual formation to thousands across North America and the globe. You can access the Christmas & Epiphany Living Prayer Periodical at the members-only section of the website, outside the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, or purchase at The Daily Prayer Project.
Also: Consider giving the Daily Prayer Project subscription or coffee mugs as a gift this holiday season! More details at the website.
Brief Articles for the Season
Christmas & Epiphany: The Sunrise From On High by Greg Thompson
“Taken together, these seasons of light remind us of one of the central convictions of the Christian life: That in Jesus Christ, the light of God comes both to us and through us. It reminds us that the consolation of our souls and the calling of our lives is, in the end, the same: the Sunrise from on High. And our life, in this season (and in every season) is best understood as a life of receiving the light of God in Jesus Christ and bearing that light to the whole of the earth.”
The People of the Gift by Greg Thompson
This beautiful, brief article was written for our community back in the COVID Pandemic days by our former theologian-in-residence, Dr. Greg Thompson. “Indeed, from the earliest days of the church in the Roman Empire, this work—the work of merciful giving to others— was seen as one of the most peculiar (and most dangerous) aspects of the Christian community. And throughout history, this act of giving has been both the source of good for our neighbors (providing food, shelter, medical care, and education to millions of people) and the essential validation of our witness. And correlatively, our failure to give—and our choice to hoard instead—has been one of the greatest hindrances to both the flourishing of our neighbors and the credibility of our message.”
Artwork for the Season
Art & Theology’s Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Daily Art Meditations by Victoria Jones
The Curator for our Daily Prayer Project, Victoria Jones, runs an amazing website called artandtheology.org. At the link above, you can enter your email and sign up for her daily seasonal artwork, poetry, and music meditations; they are very enriching. Also, you can enjoy Victoria’s work in the Gallery section of the Daily Prayer Project for this Christmas (and every other) season!
Music for the Season
Podcasts for the Season
Emily McGowin on Christmas with Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin (Church for the Sake of Others Podcast)
In this episode, co-hosts Mickey and Bishop Todd help us transition from Advent to Christmas with the Rev. Dr. Emily McGowin. Sometimes we struggle to see past Christmas’ cultural trappings to its timeless beauty, but Emily takes us beyond consumption to explore the “great exchange” of the incarnation. This episode caps off another year of enriching conversations with C4SO ministry leaders, church planters, authors, musicians, spiritual directors and friends. See you in 2024!
Books for the Season
Christmas: The Season of Light and Life by Emily Hunter McGowin
Of all the seasons of the church calendar, Christmas is the one most recognized and celebrated by our society at large. That means it's the season we're most familiar with—but that can also make it harder to see past Christmas's many cultural trappings to its timeless beauty.
At the first Christmas, God exchanged the glories of divinity for the vulnerability of human existence, uniting himself to us in order to unite us to God. In this short volume, priest and theologian Emily Hunter McGowin invites us into the church's celebration of that great exchange, in all its theological and liturgical splendor.
On The Incarnation by Saint Athanasius
By any standard, this is a classic of Christian theology. Composed by St Athanasius in the fourth century, it expounds with simplicity the theological vision defended at the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople: that the Son of God himself became "fully human, so that we might become god." Its influence on all Christian theology thereafter, East and West, ensures its place as one of the few "must read" books for all who want to know more about the Christian faith. Also, be sure to read the special introduction by C.S. Lewis.
Lights a Lovely Mile: Collected Sermons of the Church Year by Eugene H. Peterson
Long before his iconic paraphrased Bible translation, The Message, Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) faithfully preached for decades to the small congregation of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland.
As the seasons passed, along with the accompanying fasts and feasts, Peterson faithfully revealed ways to cultivate a robust, authentic life of faith, intimacy, obedience, and joy. Now you can gain new insights into Peterson’s preaching and pastoral life through this collection of his most compelling yet never-before-published sermons.
Following the calendar of the church year, from the darkness of Advent to the light of Epiphany, the wilderness of Lent to the celebration of Easter, and the fire of Pentecost to the everyday glory of ordinary time, these remarkable sermons point to the eternity beyond our experience of time.
Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David Leeman Carol
This devotional couples the lyrics and score of a new hymn daily with a devotional message about the hymn’s biblical and spiritual truths. You’ll find hymns of advent like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” that anticipate the coming of Christ, hymns of Nativity like “O Little Town of Bethlehem” that celebrate His birth, and hymns of Epiphany like “Go Tell it on the Mountain” that marvel at His glory. Go deeper with classic Christmas favorites like “O Holy Night” and learn others that may be lesser-known like “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry.” Each devotional teaches you about the background of the hymn, while inviting you into worship and praise.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a timeless holiday classic that has been enjoyed for generations. It tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Through this spiritual journey, Scrooge learns to let go of his past and embrace the joys of the holiday season. This beloved story is sure to bring warmth and cheer to readers of all ages. With its timeless message of redemption and joy, A Christmas Carol is the perfect book to bring out the spirit of the holidays.
Light Upon Light: A Literary Guide to Prayer Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by Various Authors
This collection contains daily and weekly inspirational readings to help the reader prayerfully experience God through the liturgical seasons of winter. Well-loved classics by Andersen, Dickens, and Eliot join contemporary works by Frederick Buechner and Gary Schmidt. Poems by Donne, Herbert, and Rossetti are paired with newer voices: Scott Cairns, Benjamín Alire Sáenz, Susanna Childress, and Amit Majmudar. Readers are invited to experience Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany in its raw strangeness, stripped of sentiment, and to turn toward Emmanuel.
Resources for Families with Young Children
Sacred Seasons: A Family Guide to Center Your Year Around Jesus by Danielle Hitchen
The time-honored traditions of the liturgical calendar guide Christians through a year-long meditation on the life of Christ. Beyond just Christmas and Easter, each season of the church year offers special opportunities to remember and celebrate the work of God.
In Sacred Seasons, Danielle Hitchen helps you incorporate the rhythms and rituals of this ancient Christian discipline into your everyday family life. Part theology, part church history, and part practical spirituality, Sacred Seasons provides an easy-to-use guide to observing the liturgical year complete with fun activities, delicious recipes, and meaningful liturgies.
Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest
The figure of Saint Nicholas stands apart from nearly every other Christian saint: his fame spread across empires and generations to make him one of the most recognizable Christian saints in history. But the popular perception of Saint Nicholas today diverges greatly from his original veneration as a compassionate almsgiver and defender of the poor. Saint Nicholas has been reduced to the pop culture figure of Santa Claus, a jolly old man who brings presents to good little boys and girls. This book reacquaints those boys and girls with the authentic Santa Claus Nicholas, a man who found greatness not simply in spreading "good cheer," but in being a true icon of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
For over sixty years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia—The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle—with interior black-and-white art by Pauline Baynes, the original illustrator.