Christmas Short Stories

"Joseph's Letter Home," Home Life, December 1989, pp. 32-33. Also in Purpose, December 29, 1991, pp. 2-5. Translated into Norwegian for Visjon, December 1996. A letter written by Joseph to his mother from Bethlehem telling of Joseph taking Mary to be his wife. Recorded by Derek West, Caleb's Mission, Whitney, Oxfordshire, UK, Oct 2001 (7:19, mp3). Included in The Greatest Christmas Stories of All Time (Standard, 2006). Basis of the video "From Joseph's Quill" (2004, 5 min.)

"The Angel Gabriel's Most Sensitive Mission," poignantly describes the angel's mission to announce to Mary that she would bear the Son of God, the Messiah. Audio (6:50)

"God's Shepherd," a short story about one of the original Bethlehem shepherd boys who meets Jesus later in life.

"Shepherds, Angels, and a Manger," The Joyful Heart, Issue 23, December 20, 1999. The story of the shepherds outside of Bethlehem and their angel visitation.

"Old Zechariah's Promise," The Joyful Heart. A short story of Zechariah's angelic visitation in the Temple, and the promise of a son -- John the Baptist.

"Mary, Servant of the Lord: A Story of the Annunciation," The Joyful Heart, Issue 4, December 4, 1996. A short story to help you imagine what the annunciation might have been like. For another story on the same topic, see "Virgin Mary, Handmaiden of the Lord" below.

"Christmas Hardships," The Workman Quarterly, Winter 1988, pp. 4-5. A story of the hardships faced by the Holy Family.

"When Magi Camped in Bethlehem," Horizons, in press for December 1995. The story of the Wise Men as told through the eyes of a neighbor woman.

"The Innkeeper's Tale," Acorns, December 1993, pp. 1-3. The story of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the innkeeper. Broadcast over HCJB World Radio in Quito, Ecuador, Christmas 2004 (6:31, mp3).

"The Cradle," Purpose, December 21, 1986, pp. 1-3. Reprinted in Standard, December 14, 1986, pp. 6-7. A touching story about Joseph building a cradle for the baby-to-be and then understanding God's cradle, the manger.

"The Virgin Mary, Handmaid of the Lord," a short story of the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary.

 Christmas Incarnation -- a four-week Advent Bible study series includes:

1. Mary, The Virgin Mother (Luke 1:26-45)

2. Joseph, the Stand-In Father (Matthew 1:18-25)

3. The Shepherds' Sign of the Manger (Luke 2:1-20)

4. Wise Men and the Christmas Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12)

From the Gospels

• Announcement to Mary (1:26-38)
• Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem (2:1-7)
• Shepherds in Bethlehem (2:8-20)
• Meeting Simeon and Anna in the Temple (2:21-38)

Christmas Articles

"Fear Not! A Savior Is Born," The Joyful Heart, December 18, 2008. A meditation on fear, economic woes, and a Savior.

"Who Are You, Little Boy?" The Joyful Heart, December 21, 2006. A wondering, thoughtful poem that asks the key question of the baby in the manger. (en Español)

"The Story of Silent Night, Stille Nacht," The Joyful Heart, Issue 50, December 21, 2004. Traces "Silent Night" from its author Fr. Joseph Mohr, its composer Franz Gruber, its first performance in Oberndorf, Austria, and the reasons for its popularity.

"A Flesh-and-Blood Christmas Miracle," The Joyful Heart, Issue 30, December 24, 2000. Enumerates the various miracles that attended Jesus birth, and focuses on one especially, the miracle of the incarnation. Broadcast Dec 2004 by Christian Indie Radio  (mp3, 9:37).

Child of Promise: A Prayer for Christmas Morning, a meditation based on Isaiah 9:6-7. December 25, 1998.

"Burlap, Boys, and Christmas," The Joyful Heart, Issue 10, December 23, 1997. Why boy shepherds in their burlap costumes communicate the Christmas story much better than girl angels in their white satin.

"The Real St. Nick," Evangel, December 4, 1988, pp. 4-5. Also in Message of the Open Bible, December 1989, pp. 10-11. Looks back at the real St. Nick, Nicholas, Bishop of Myra.

"Travelers," The Pentecostal Messenger, September 1989, p. 5. Brief vignette about the wise men. Point: we too must travel on Christmas to draw near to Jesus.

"The Extra Electric Train," Evangel, December 21, 1986, p. 7. A brief Christmas piece focusing on the greatest Gift of the season.

"A Gift All Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes," Evangel, December 13, 1992, p. 7. Also as "Gift in Swaddling Clothes," Vista Holiness Digest, December 20, 1992, p. 7. Troublesome, obligatory gifts at Christmas, contrasted with the often-rejected Gift of the Christ-Child.

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing: The Gospel in Charles Wesley's Christmas Carol." Here's a Bible study based on the Scriptural allusions and references in Wesley's wonderfully rich Christmas carol. The Joyful Heart, Issue 50, December 21, 2004.

"Bum Deal at Christmas?" We complain about our lot, but we didn't face the hardships the Holy Family did.

"The Tyranny of Giving." Tired of the Christmas present-buying frenzy? Look again at the greatest Gift.

"They Call Him Immanuel," a glimpse at the theology of Jesus' title that means, "God with us."

"Emmanuel, God With Us," examines Emmanuel from Mary and Joseph's point of view.

Christmas Art & Painting

• General Christmas Paintings and Art
• James J. Tissot, Birth and Childhood of Christ paintings
• Paintings of the Annunciation and Angels
• Madonna and Child Paintings and Christmas Postage Stamps

2009 Christmas Stamp Giovanni Battista Salvi (1609-1685), also known as Sassoferatto, "Madonna and Sleeping Child," Hearst Castle, California. Larger image.