Faith-based books make great last-minute holiday gifts

Who said a Christmas gift can't be food for the soul? Several new books on the market are well worth consideration.

•"Mary and Her Miracle: The Christmas Story Retold" from Church Publishing, Inc., by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, illustrations by Dianne Robbins, hardcover, c. 2007, $18.

For an ordinary girl named Mary, living in an ordinary family in a dusty first-century town, extraordinary things were beginning to happen. From the moment the angel greeted her with the amazing news- a special baby was on the way- a miracle was in the making.

This delightful story imagines the Christmas narrative from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It's Mary's story, and it's told with gentle humor, lively imagination, and a sense of wonder.

Each chapter is beautifully and tenderly illustrated by Dianne Robbins. "Mary and Her Miracle" is a lovely addition to every family's Christmas tradition.

•"A Child's Book of Bedtime Prayers" from the Penguin Group, by Susan Wheeler & Paul Kortepeter, 20 pages, hardcover, c. 2007, $9.99.

When it's time to snuggle down and say their prayers, little ones can join the bunnies, mice, and other woodland creatures from the magical world of Holly Pond Hill as they prepare for nighttime.

Featuring favorite prayers that children will recognize, as well as original poems about pillow fights and imaginative dreams, this charming collection of bedtime verses is illuminated by Susan Wheeler's detailed watercolors. This warm treasure of a book, with its enchanting artwork, sophisticated design, and special gold-edged casebound cover, is sure to become a bedtime favorite.

"Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music" from Baker Publishing Group, by Jeremy S. Begbie, 412 pages, paperback, c. 2007, $22.99

From the iPod to the car radio, from movie soundtracks to Muzak at the shopping mall, from singing in the shower to the concert arena, music is an unavoidable part of our lives.

Not only is music ubiquitous, it is powerful: creating moods, evoking memories and images, uniting people, and providing an outlet of expression for even the most tone deaf among us. Besides its prominent position in culture, music has obviously had a key role in the worship of God's people.

This wellrounded study examines the connections between music and theology by engaging Scripture, musical history, and contemporary culture and exploring how God's truth sounds and how it might "re-sound" in the realm of music. Resounding Truth will help readers develop discernment and wisdom, both for thinking about music in the church and Christian life and for engaging with one of culture's most influential touchstones.

Order these books online at www.episcopalbookstore.org or call 800-903-5544.

This story was provided by Worldwide Faith News.