Christmas with A Phenomenal Llama

It has been observed that a lot of stuff tends to lie downstream of culture. Well, here is one way to improve the culture of Christmas, and hopefully mitigate the legacy of one Clement Clarke Moore. If you are looking for a fresh angle on the Christmas story or for new pageant ideas, this is a sweet, delightful, imaginative story that is fun to read aloud. 

Ideas:

1. Check out the good reviews, and order copies early for your Sunday school teachers, educators, pageant planners. Here, under "From the Author," is a bit of background.

2. Order two readers' copies to break it into voices for a dramatic reading at Christmas.

3. Design costumes for one pastor (narrator), a lead llama (Gregory), St. Francis, Noah, a camel, reindeer, a donkey, cows, sheep, any number of other animals (lions, peacocks, monkeys), ... and of course, plenty of extra llamas.

4. Make sure to get a copy of the e-book so you can project the lovely illustrations for the congregation.

5. Schedule a fireside reading at home with the family or for a fellowship night.

6. Consider sending a copy to your families with children, or letting a copy serve as your Christmas card to the congregation. 

7. Visit A Phenomenal Llama on FB, give it a Like, or better yet: "Share."

8. Post a review on Amazon or your favorite online bookstore or book review site.

9. Spread the word to neighboring churches, pastors, parents, and friends.

10. Ask for your local bookstore to carry it.

Time to get a jump on Christmas. I hope you, you family, and your families of faith enjoy A Phenomenal Llama.

The lectionary and the liturgical year can lend shape to all kinds of things

With Year B fast approaching, allow me to reiterate, yea, demonstrate, that I have long found the Revised Common Lectionary a very helpful, valuable, and inspiring tool, not just for preaching, liturgy, and prayer.

But I encourage you to compare the Table of Contents and the titles here with the Sunday lections in Year B:

... and the track list here to the Sundays of the Christmas cycle (Advent through Transfiguration).

More comprehensive than the Daily Lectionary

UPDATE: I see the prequel / sequel to The Spirit at Work is now available, appropriately entitled The Word at Work. It follows the same format: a one-year Bible reading plan with brief devotional commentary on selected texts. This one starts the second Sunday of Easter, but with a bit of subjective adjustment, can be taken up any time of year.

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Students have often asked me if the Daily Lectionary is not sufficiently comprehensive, but in fact its two-year reading plan does not actually cover the entire canon. Here is a source, however, that does include the whole canon in a single year. It also approaches the reading of the Psalter (three per day) in the way I have done (and recommended others do) on numerous occasions. Interestingly enough, though it spans a calendar year, it starts on Pentecost Sunday, so perhaps this would be a good time to try it. [May 28, 2014]

The Spirit at Work

Here's a new thing: a theologically meaty daily devotional that covers the whole Bible in 365 daily readings; starting mid-year (at Pentecost), it focuses in particular on what we can learn of the Holy Spirit.

UPDATE: By the same author, a prequel/sequel. Highly recommended for those who have worked  through similar devotionals (Chambers, Tozer, et al.) and are ready for a rigorous trek through the Bible. [NB: As far as I know, the author is no relation to Sarah Young of Jesus Calling.]

A Phenomenal Llama

OK, this has nothing to do with Year D, but it does — in the end — have something to do with worship. No, the fantastical elements in this story will not be found in Year D, or even in the biblical canon, but if you can bear with a bit of absurdity in the spirit of Christmas, perhaps you will enjoy my new book, beautifully illustrated by artist Danielle Baudouin.

Available at CreateSpace:

A Phenomenal Llama: A Tall Christmas Tale for Children of All Ages

On Amazon:

and Kindle:

 

And make sure to visit, "like," and "share" Gregory's FB page. (It's time to put this reindeer thing to rest, isn't it?)