{"product_id":"surprised-by-christmas-stories-told-through-advent-christmas-paperback","title":"Surprised By Christmas: Stories Told Through Advent \u0026 Christmas - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRich Reifsnyder\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\" In these stories of Christmas we will discover new meaning and experience God's presence. In short, these stories are not only about incarnation; they become an exercise in the truth that God is with us in Jesus Christ.\" \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWill Willimon \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAuthor, United Methodist Bishop, and Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDuke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003eSo often the good news of the Gospel is communicated best through story. Throughout life, it is in the interruptions and the surprises of life that God most often makes his goodness and grace known. In this season of Advent and Christmas, when expectations are high, these stories are an invitation to be open to the ever surprising ways in which the incarnate Lord may become present to us. \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSurprised by Christmas: Stories Through Advent and Christmas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e consists of twelve heart-warming short stories, using vignettes of Christmastime experience of ordinary people to illustrate the spiritual meaning of Christ's birth for today. These are stories which seek to connect the meaning of the incarnation to people's everyday experiences surrounding the Christmas season, especially in regard to family life. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSurprised by Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e is an excellent resource for clergy and their congregations, as well as other interested readers of Christmas stories. They may also be used in community organizations and workshops. Author Richard Reifsnyder wrote these stories with the intention to provoke thought about the meaning of the incarnation in an accessible, non-theological way. Readers will be able to identify with many of the situations in these stories and find encouragement in their own celebration of Christmas, even with all the messiness of life. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003eChapters Included: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eHomecoming \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Gift \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eReceiving at Christmas \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Christmas Peace \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePondering Christmas\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRichard W. Reifsnyder\u003c\/b\u003e is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Winchester, Virginia. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at Duke University, earning his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has pastored at churches in Schaghticoke, New York, Hopewell, New Jersey, and Oyster Bay, New York. Reifsnyder has served as President of the Board of the Free Medical Clinic, and on the boards of \u003ci\u003eThe United Way\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFaith in Action\u003c\/i\u003e. He has also been very involved in mission experiences with his church having partnerships in Ethiopia and Guatemala. Golf, music, gardening and hiking are some of his hobbies.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.17 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42589309468768,"sku":"9780788028274","price":20.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/1922\/9280\/files\/NWNLdmlxMEdzQlFFVkJTV2ZFbm13dz09.webp?v=1771307739","url":"https:\/\/bijoucc.myshopify.com\/products\/surprised-by-christmas-stories-told-through-advent-christmas-paperback","provider":"CARIBBEAN CONNECT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}