Category: Christmas

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What Child Is This?

Enjoy this instrumental version of “What Child Is This?” arranged by Stephanie Jackson.

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Sunday, November 29

Goya-Dream-of-St-Joseph
Goya, Dream of St. Joseph

Our class will deal with Matthew 1:18-25 (the Annunciation to Joseph) and Luke 1:26-38 (the much more famous Annunciation to Mary). We will look at the cultural and religious backgrounds of these stories within Judaism and the wider Greco-Roman world.

I look forward to seeing you at Binkley on Sunday morning!

 

 

 

Matthias_Stomer_-_Annunciazione_-_Google_Art_Project
Matthias Stomer, Annunciazione
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Class Schedule for “The First Christmas”

  • November 15.
    The stories of the First Christmas
    The stories as Parables and Overtures
  • November 22
    The Contexts of the Christmas Stories
    The Genealogies and Jesus’ Destiny
  • November 29
    An Angel Appears to Mary
  • December 6
    Bethlehem in the Stories of the First Christmas
    Light, Darkness, and the Gospels
  • December 13
    Jesus and Prophecy
    Joy, Anticipation, and the Messages of Christmas for Today
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Advent Class: The First Christmas

In the class, The First Christmas, we will look at the two stories of Jesus’ birth found in the Bible, considering their politico-religious context in the first century CE and what they mean for today’s world. We will neither try to defend the stories as factual nor dismiss them as non-factual, but rather read them as narratives with both political and personal meanings for the ancient world and for our own. They presented a strong challenge to the empire of their time. What are their implications for our nation’s role in the world? On a personal level, they offer a challenge to live in communion with God. What does that mean for today’s church and today’s Christians? Join us for a lively discussion!

I recommend the book of the same title by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan as a way to extend your exploration into the topics we sill discuss. There is no need to read it in advance of the class.