Long, long ago in a tiny Italian Village, a little boy and a monk helped create a Christmas tradition that lives on today. This beautiful story reminds each one of us that God came to us as a child, and was born in a humble stable.

Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? Many might be surprised to learn that Saint Francis of Assisi, is credited with creating the first nativity scene. The Living Nativity introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of Jesus' birth.The Living Nativity explores how nativity sets, Advent wreaths, candles, carols, Christmas cards, and other traditions help prepare our hearts for the God "who bends low to enter our world and our lives." Prayer poems for each day of the season lead readers to deepen their spiritual journey, and the book provides a guided pattern for individuals and small groups to share reflections and experience activities that open their hearts to the Christ child.The Living Nativity offers a prayer, meditation, and reflection questions for each day of Advent. The Leader's Guide includes suggestions for worship, discussion questions focused on the readings, and guidance for a mini-retreat on a theme of the week

Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? Many might be surprised to learn that Francis of Assisi, the well-known thirteenth-century saint, is credited with creating the first nativity scene. The Living Nativity introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of the birth of Jesus, complete with a manger and animals. The Living Nativity explores how nativity sets, Advent wreaths, candles, carols, Christmas cards, and other traditions help prepare our hearts for the God "who bends low to enter our world and our lives." Prayer poems for each day of the season lead readers to deepen their spiritual journey, and the book provides a guided pattern for individuals and small groups to share reflections and experience activities that open their hearts to the Christ child. The Living Nativity provides a prayer, meditation, and reflection questions for each day of Advent. The Leader's Guide includes suggestions for worship, discussion questions focused on the readings, and guidance for a mini-retreat on a theme of the week.

The people and animals present during the birth of Christ each explains what happened during the Nativity, from their own point of view.

The people of the original Advent become powerfully and often triumphantly real as they respond to God's plan. Meet Anna, Joseph, Mary and others in this true-to-the-Scripture narrative, which includes thoughtful questions, prayers and suggested actions that resonate with the reader's own experiences -- Back cover.

Martin Luther's conception of the Nativity found expression in sermon, song, and art. This beautiful gift edition of a classic collection combines all three.

This is the first comprehensive guide book written about Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, based on the latest scholarly research, yet designed for a popular audience. Jerusalem's legendary photographer Garo Nalbandian provides color photographs of every section of the church complex, its mosaics and painted columns, artifacts from different eras, and glimpses of sites not usually available for public viewing. The church, one of three built under the direction of the emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, is recognized for its commemoration of Jesus' birth, and, as one of the oldest in the world, provides a microcosm of the whole of Christian history continuing today with the living stones, the local worshiping Palestinian Christian community.