cover image REDEEMING THE SEASON: Simple Ideas for a Memorable and Meaningful Christmas

REDEEMING THE SEASON: Simple Ideas for a Memorable and Meaningful Christmas

Kim Wier, Pam McCune, Suzy Ismail, . . Tyndale, $16.99 (144pp) ISBN 978-1-58997-110-3

Think of this book as an evangelical Christian version of Unplug the Christmas Machine, Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli's classic how-to guide to slowing down and creating a more meaningful, less commercialized Christmas. "The heart of Christmas is in savoring the Savior Himself and understanding that the tiny Baby in the manger had an enormous, eternal purpose," explain Wier and McCune. Christmas, they say, presents unique opportunities for telling others about Christ, and they include suggestions for various activities to spread that message. The holiday also offers chances for families to experience an unusual amount of togetherness, and is a time to create new traditions, such as reaching out to friends or family members who are facing their first Christmas after the death of a loved one. There is both tenderness and humor here, and evangelical readers who want to learn new ways to help others understand how "Jesus is the reason for the season" will greatly appreciate this book. (Oct.)