News of Great Joy

<p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Each year the Christmas double issue of the Church Times offers a feast of seasonal reading. News of Great Joy draws together the best Christmas writing by outstanding authors and poets over twenty years to create an ideal Christmas gift and a wealth of material for all who preach or lead worship at Christmas.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Its many highlights include:</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• the eminent biblical scholar John Barton on how to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the nativity;</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• Barbara Brown Taylor on the prologue of John's Gospel which is always read on Christmas Day;</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• Margaret Barker on the legends that have become part of the Christmas story;</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• an unpublished short story by Evelyn Underhill;</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• a piece on the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols;</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>• poetry and reflections on the season's lectionary readings and more besides.</span></p>