Matthew Dyer - December 4, 2022

Christmas with Old St. Nick

The Culture of Christmas

This week, we look at the cultural significance of Santa Claus, and feature Tolkien's book "Letters from Father Christmas" as we explore the Advent theme of love.

From Series: "The Culture of Christmas"

It’s something of a cliché: Christmas comes earlier and earlier each year. Long before the Halloween candy has been moved to discount, Christmas decorations emerge on supermarket shelves. “The holidays” permeate our culture for several months, but what exactly are we celebrating? Are there spiritual truths to be gleaned from the myriad cultural references to an event that took place over two thousand years ago? Must Christmas cards feature a nativity scene? What meaning can we find in tinsel and candy canes? And did Grandma really get run over by a reindeer? This Advent, we will unpack some popular Christmas movies, books, poems, and even commercials, as we explore the birth of Jesus and the traditional themes of hope, love, peace, and joy. We will round off the series with an all ages, candle-lit Christmas Eve service of readings and carols.

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