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Popular speaker and professor Father Michael Himes provides an in-depth look at the spirituality and theology of the season of Avent and Christmas. Five programs focus on : Hope in the Darkness; The Second Coming; the Threat of Grace; the prophets and John, Mary and Joseph; and Christmas as God's eternal Gift. An excellent series for adult faith formation, small group discussions, and sermon preparation.

Hope in the Darkness
We are creatures of time and God is timeless. We look for the timeless one, God, to speak to us. We are constantly restless and nothing on this earth ultimately satisfies us. We wait, and hope, for God. Advent is only one month of the year but as Christians we are always in Advent. Father Himes uses quotes from the great poet W.H. Auden and his favorite theologian St. Augustine of Hippo to delve into the deep issues of what it means to be a human being and what it means to live in time, time that is constantly "slipping away."

The Second Coming is NOW
Himes talks about the second coming of Christ—a major theme in Advent and a topic of much discussion in American culture. Himes tells us that the coming of the Kingdom of God is not predictable but takes us by surprise. The Kingdom is constantly, relentlessly coming upon us in ordinary ways. Himes shows us that the Kingdom of God is among us now, reconciling all people with the living God.

Threatened by Grace
Himes explores what the Last Judgment might mean. He does this by looking at what the "world" means in the Scriptures. Sometimes the world is seen as "good" but in other passages is seen as the enemy of God. Himes invites us to live in this tension and see the world as is transition. The Last Judgment will not mean the annihilation of the world but its transformation.

Prophets: John, Mary, Joseph
Prophets live in expectation of something new. That is why they play such a prominent role in Advent. Something new is about to happen—the Savior will be born and that will change everything. With humor and wisdom, Himes looks at Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and three of the key New Testament figures of Advent—John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph—and shows how they inspire and challenge us today.

The Eternal Giving of God
How can we say anything new about Christmas? Himes offers a Christmas banquet of provocative insights into the feast day. He looks at the early church controversies concerning the divinity and humanity of Christ. He connects Christmas and Easter: God gives life where life could not possibly exist—in a virgin womb and an empty tomb. Christmas is a season of generosity. Himes asks us not to reject the secularization of Christmas but to reinterpret it. Finally Himes talks about what Christmas tells us about the Trinity.

Free leader's guide available on our Web site.

Also available: A Lenten Journey