Walking Backwards to Christmas - Softcover

Cottrell, Stephen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0664261868 ISBN 13: 9780664261863

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015

Synopsis

Congregations are often confused or uninspired by the emphasis on Old Testament themes during Advent and too over Christmas by December 26 to pay much attention to the gospel stories that follow Jesus birth. Walking Backwards to Christmas starts at the end of the story, with Jesus presentation to Anna and Simeon at the temple, and moves backwards through Herods slaughter of the innocents, the wise mens visit, Jesus birth in a stable, Marys pregnancy, and finally to the much-earlier hopes and dreams of Isaiah and Moses.

Telling the Christmas story through the eyes of both famous figures like King Herod and imagined characters like the innkeepers wife, Stephen Cottrell invites readers to experience Jesus birth anew, with greater appreciation of the dark themes and ancient figures relevant to the Advent story.

About this title

About the Author:

Stephen Cottrell is the Bishop of Chelmsford and was formerly Bishop of Reading.

Review:

"Cottrell truly 'gets inside' the characters, including their sorrow and anger and uncertainty as well as their hope and faith. Youll want to read this book again each Christmas (and other times of the year) as an insightful and moving portrayal of the familiar story."

Paul Stroble, author of Walking with Jesus through the Old Testament

About this edition

• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0664261868
• ISBN 13: 9780664261863
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 130