Bored? Book Recommendations

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Recommended by Ben Coppedge

The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
Recommended by Jamie Hawthorn

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
Recommended by Kelcie Pinick

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Recommended by Jesse Yeager

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
Recommended by Jamie Hawthorn

Merry Christmas Collection

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas with family and friends! It may be the 26th, but the celebration of Christmas need not stop now; after all, it is only the 2nd day of Christmas.  In the church, the Christmas season continues through the Feast of Epiphany on January 6.  That said, here are some classic Christmas poems and verses that you can meditate on as you celebrate the birth of our Savior.

What Can I Give Him?
by Christina Rosetti

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man,
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him?
Give my heart.

from O Holy Night
by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born.

Christmas Everywhere
by Phillips Brooks

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright!

For the Christ Child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great and no cottage too small.

from God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Author Unknown

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Our Brother is Born
by Harry and Eleanor Farjeon

Now every child that dwells on earth,
Stand up, stand up and sing;
The passing night has given birth
Unto the children's king.
Sing sweet as the flute,
Sing clear as the horn,
Sing joy fro the children,
Come Christmas morn:
Little Christ Jesus
Our brother is born.

A Christmas Carol
by G.K. Chesterton

The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His was like a light.
(O weary, wear were the world,
But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star,
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)

The Christ child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing 
by Charles Wesley

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"...

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

from Carol 3

by Sor Juana Ines de la Crus

Today you see in a stable 

the Word speechless,

Greatness in smallness,

Immensity in blankets.

Such wonders! ...

He who had no beginning,

his being of Time begins;

the Creator, as a creature,

is now subject to our griefs, 

Such wonders! 

from The Blessed Virgin Compares to the Air We Breathe

by Gerard Manley Hopkins 

This air...

Minds me in many ways

Of her who not only 

Gave God's infinity 

Dwindled to infancy

Welcome in womb and breast,

Birth, milk, and all the rest...

Made Flesh
by Luci Shaw

After
The white-hot beam of annunciation
fused heaven with dark earth,
his searing, sharply focused light
went out for a while,
eclipsed in amniotic gloom:
his cool immensity of splendor,
his universal grace,
small-folded in a warm, dim
female space-
the Word stern-sentenced to be
nine months' dumb-
infinity walled in a womb,
until the next enormity-
the Mighty One, after submission
to a woman's pains,
helpless on a barn's bare floor,
first-tasting bitter earth.

This Weekend: 4 Ways to Celebrate Advent

Now that you've finished your classes for the fall and are finding yourself immersed in finals and semi-formals, take some time this weekend to be with Jesus.  As we prepare our hearts for Him to come at Christmas, there are many ways you can commune with Him this weekend:

1. Prayer.  Have you visited the Greek IV Prayers and Ponderings blog? We are currently using the Ancient Christian Devotional to guide us through Advent scripture readings and prayers.  Give thirty minutes to God today.  Read through His Word, reflect on what He is saying to you, and pray to the God who loves you and has saved you.

2. Fellowship. We encounter Christ when we fellowship (read: hang out) with other believers.  On Sunday, go to church and celebrate the third Sunday of Advent. Afterwards, join us at the Greek IV Christmas Brunch. All are welcome. Bring a friend, bring some food. If you haven't found a church you call home here at Penn, ask me or one of your friends for some suggestions.

3. Serve.  Jesus said, "34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:34-40)  You can serve Jesus with your time, talents and treasures. The next time you see a Salvation Army bell ringer or are asked to tithe a bit extra at church, remember that the Christ who did not spare anything for you calls you to serve Him and others in this way.  {For those of us who are strapped for cash, certainly there are ways we can serve over Christmas break. Contact your favorite local charity as soon as you get home!}

4. Worship. Turn up the Christmas carols. Trim the tree.  Light a candle. Bake some cookies. Give them out to others with the lyrics to your favorite Christmas hymn or poem or Scripture attached.  Honor Him and others with your mind, body, soul and strength as you study and celebrate over the next few days.

See you all Sunday at 12:30!

Advent Calendar

It's the second Sunday of Advent! If you haven't already, check out this handy-dandy Advent Calendar.  Other ways of celebrating Advent and preparing your hearts for Christmas:

Go to church & invite a friend.
Share a meal with friends and talk about your family's Advent and Christmas traditions.
Give a gift card for food to a homeless person.
Take time each day to pray.