Merry Christmas! Today, I'm re-airing a favorite episode featuring my friend Haley Stewart. Christmastide is a season of festivity—carols, parties, decorations, and food. But do we understand the real meaning of festivity and its divine origins? In this conversation, Haley offers us a Christian understanding of festivity that begins and ends with who God is and what He's done.

Show Notes:

Mouse Nuns series by Haley Stewart and Elizabeth Wallin:

The Pursuit of the Pilfered Cheese

The Curious Christmas Trail

Strange Sound by the Sea

"The Sham Practice of Christmas" by Haley Stewart

Advent Resources from the Strong Women podcast:

In Tune with the World, a Theory of Festivity by Joseph Pieper

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander

Advent Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, O Come Divine Messiah, People, Look East, Handel's Messiah

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson

Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas

The Church today is often seen as irrelevant. But this couldn't be further from the truth. At the Colson Center, we believe the Church is God's gift to the world, called to be present and active in this cultural moment without being taken captive by it. In other words, the Church is meant to "move the world," not move with the world. That's why we equip believers with a Christian worldview through our media, training programs, and events—because a Church that "moves the world" starts with one faithful Christian. We need your help to continue strengthening the Church in 2025. Thanks to a generous matching donation, every gift between now and December 31 will be DOUBLED until we meet the full match. Help us strengthen the Church to move the world in 2025. Make a gift with double the impact at colsoncenter.org/swdecember.

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