News of Great Joy

Each year, the Christmas double issue of the Church Times offers a feast of seasonal reading. News of Great Joy draws together the best Christmas writing by outstanding authors and poets over twenty years to create an ideal Christmas gift and a wealth of material for all who preach or lead worship at Christmas. Its many highlights include: the eminent biblical scholar John Barton on how to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the nativity; Barbara Brown Taylor on the prologue of John s Gospel which is always read on Christmas Day; Margaret Barker on the legends that have become part of the Christmas story; an unpublished short story by Evelyn Underhill; a piece on the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols; poetry and reflections on the season s lectionary readings, and more besides.