Transpositions Tidbits: Preparing for Christmas

We’re all in the midst of preparing for Christmas and it’s taken us to the ends of the earth. Literally. Today, we are in 3 different countries on as many continents in both the northern and southern hemispheres. So, the last tidbits of the year is going to be a reflection on preparing for Christmas. We did a series of posts on Thanksgiving and the Arts in November, and this post is going to explore some of the posts we’ve written and links we’ve found for thinking about the arts and the meaning and celebration of the Christmas season.

We’ve shared some music that’s been inspiring us: In addition to Over the Rhine – “Snow Angels” and Ordinary Time – “In the Town of David,”  we’d like to suggest that Sufjan Stevens Christmas album is definitely worth a listen to; Wes wrote a review of one of his recent albums here. While Jim Watkins asked what makes The Perfect Christmas Album? Have you got any other suggestions for us?

Hopefully you caught Reno Lauro’s guest post on A Charlie Brown Christmas last week. Reno explored this Christmas staple (at least for those in the US) in an insightful two part post replete with links to clips and the full feature! (Part 1 and Part 2)

If you are seeking some thoughtful and creative ways to mark the Christmas season, then let us heartily recommend an Emily Watkins article which presents a thoughtful and interesting way to mark the twelve days of christmas. Wes also explored Advent and Christmas through this post on “Staging the Incarnation.”

In relation to some other things from around about the place: A post from a couple of years ago by Carissa Smith (from Christ and Pop Culture) on Advent titled “Why I Hate “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”“. For more thought-provoking reading try Richard Clark (also Christ and Pop Culture) “A Christian Defence of a “Secular” Christmas“, while their Guide to Christmas collects all of CAPC’s Christmas (and Advent) related content including an interesting piece by Drew Dixon on Mark Discoll’s comments about talking about Santa with your children.

Taylor Marshall present an interesting “Top 10 Facts about Advent“; Kurt C. Wiesner writes a piece in which he seeks to reframe and refocus Advent;  And finally an article that has caused some controversy – from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC’s) Religion and Ethics features – from Paul Collins titled “Religion is Poetry or it is nothing.”

Also – if you are interested in Twitter – Here is an advent themed #ff follow @Natwivity @Chatbible @tweewisemen @inspirechrist @visualchrist for your run up to Christmas.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Transpositions!

Author

  • Anna M. Blanch is a regular contributor to Transpositions. She is Australian by birth, and inclination, Anna grew up surrounded by the Australian bush, a large extended family, bush poetry, and sport. Anna is currently writing her PhD in Theology and Literature. She finds photography, enjoying her environment and its fruits, and being in community bring her joy.

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