Living the Season Well: Reclaiming Christmas

by Jody Collins

Overview

Living the Season Well is a down-to-earth volume that encompasses the arc of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, introducing a new frame of mind about approaching the holidays. Instead of December ramping up to the pinnacle of Christmas, with a vast let down for everyone the day after, LTSW puts forth some practical ways to reimagine the celebrations and reclaim their generosity with an outward, other focus.
For those whose church background has not afforded them a knowledge of the Church Calendar, its feasts and practices, LTSW also serves as an introduction to the "holy days." Rather than throwing out traditions that are hallmarks of more "high church" celebrations, LTSW puts forth simple ways to adopt or adapt the traditions of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
LTSW is NOT a collection of crafts and recipes to do with your family. It is also NOT a daily devotional for the season with inspirational readings or poems.
Living the Season Well puts forth reasonable, up-to-date steps for this electronic, screen-filled age we live in, a fact that impacts children as young as two. Included are examples and ideas to slowly change, adopt or adapt family practices with the goal of:
Bringing readers and their extended families closer to the heart of God
Infusing celebrations with the joy readers crave
Readers will:
Discover the wisdom of living by the Church Calendar versus the "calenda"' of consumerism.
Be able to model and pass on a joyful, thankful attitude in their homes by shifting the Christmas focus from gifts to God
Learn how to adopt or adapt practices for the season
The Book will:
- Outline the pattern of waiting for, celebrating and sharing Christ's birth
- Provide specific examples of ideas for observing the entire Christmas season
- Provide resources and activities for children ages 3-18 to inspire and replace current practices

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578403625
Publisher:	Newport Press
Publication date:	10/23/2018
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.27(d)

Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction—Finding the Heart of Christmas 13

A Subtle Shift—Unwrapping the Gift of Liturgy 27

Advent—Why Waiting Matters 35

Getting Ready—Preparing Our Homes, Heads, and Hearts 48

What About the Presents?—Changing the Way We Give 60

Christmas—Savoring the Celebration 75

The 12 Days—Spreading Out the Holiday Energy 85

Epiphany—Telling the World 97

Conclusion—Wrapping It Up 111

Appendix—Books & Resources 121

Acknowledgments 126

Editorial Reviews

"Living the Season Well invites readers to slow down and make Christmas about presence instead of presents. Beginning with Advent and extending to Epiphany (and beyond), Jody explains the basic framework of the church calendar, provides historical context for many of our cultural traditions, and offers accessible suggestions to help family members of all ages shift their focus from consumerism to Christ. If you're ready for a frenzy-free holiday season infused with purpose and peace, this little book will show you how to start small and start now."
--Jeanne Damoff, Speaker, Workshop Leader, author of Parting the Waters, Finding Beauty in Brokenness

"I read this book during an especially busy season, when the last thing on my mind was Christmas. But when I finished the last page, I was shocked to discover that I could hardly wait for the season to arrive. Jody Collins is like a real-life, wide-eyed Christmas elf, helping you see the season the way God intended. Living the Season Well is full of inspiration, practical help, wisdom, and humor. It made me long for more of Jesus. This book is a delightful invitation to slow down and savor the season - and the Savior.
--Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare and Love Idol

"Simplify. Slow down. Savor. Set aside fatigue and commercial hype. Jody Collins has created a handbook of meaningful ways to celebrate "the arc of holy days from Advent through Epiphany." Living the Season Well brims with faith, daring, and practical inspiration to help Christian families honor Christmas. Affordable, adaptable ideas include fasting from noise, harnessing electronics for other-centered giving, and exploring ancient traditions, like chalking the door. The key? Start small. Start now."
--Laurie Klein, author of poetry collection, Where the Sky Opens and classic praise chorus "I Love You, Lord."

"If you're anything like me (let's just say my family calls me the Grinch for good reason), you need Jody Collins to help you recalibrate your Christmas. Written with warmth, approachability and humor and filled with practical, applicable suggestions, Living the Season Well will guide you on a journey toward slowing down, simplifying and savoring the moments of the holiday season. This year, give yourself a gift, and let Living the Season Well shift your approach to Christmas from frenzied to fulfilled.
--Michelle DeRusha, author of Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk

From the Publisher