Author to Lead Kidtalk on December 11
Sioux Falls author and storyteller Tom Roberts will be at Our Savior’s all morning on Sunday, December 11. He will read his fifth and newest book, The Greatest Gift—The Wise Ones’ Journey, during Kidtalk at the 8:45 a.m. Celebrate and 11:00 a.m. Festive worship services. The book is the timeless tale of the Magi’s quest retold with a poetic perspective that invites readers to make a journey of their own and rediscover the greatest gift of Christmas.
Tom will have all of his books available for purchase in the southwest area of The Gathering Place, near the OSL Library. Tom will be available to sign his books, which sell for $20 each, with 100% of every sale going to support the programs and services that Children’s Home Society provides throughout South Dakota.
Nativity on the Shelf Activity
To keep the birth of Our Savior at the heart of the Christmas season, each Sunday and Wednesday during Advent, OSL Library patrons who find one of the ten nativity figures hidden on the shelves in the Library will receive a prize.
Second Saturday Movie
This month’s feature, on December 10, will be Christmas Grace, a heartwarming and inspirational story about God’s grace during one of the greatest times of the year, the Christmas season. Gary is a young toy store owner who runs an honest business. Everything is running smoothly until a new bigger toy store opens across the street from him. The owner of the new store is a ruthless businessman who will stop at nothing to grow his business and eliminate his competition. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that God is at work in the lives of these two men, and God’s grace and providence work out in ways neither of them could have imagined. Make it a day at OSL with the movie at 2:30 in the Holy Word Theatre, worship at 5:00 in the Sanctuary, and dinner afterward in The Gathering Place.
Monthly Book Club for Adults
Because of the Advent and Christmas season, the Book Club for Adults will not meet in December, but will resume on January 26 to discuss A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.
Join this exciting community of readers! A list of the 2017 selections is available in the Library.
Library Hours
Sunday 8:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Monday 9:00 a.m.–noon
Tuesday 9:00 a.m.–noon
Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m.–noon
Friday Closed
2nd Saturday of the month 10:00 a.m.–noon and 4:30–6:30 p.m.
New Books for Adults
Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado. Max Lucado loves Christmas. Let the sleigh bells ring. Let the carolers sing. The more Santas the merrier. The more trees the better.
He loves it because somewhere someone will ask the Christmas questions: What’s the big deal about the baby in the manger? Who was he? What does his birth have to do with me?
And the answers he’s found give us all hope. God knows what it’s like to be a human. When we talk to him about deadlines or long lines or tough times, he understands. He’s been there. He’s been here. Because of Bethlehem, we have a friend in heaven.
Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. Because of Bethlehem, we have a Savior in heaven. These are the heart-shaping promises of Christmas. Long after the guests have left, the carolers have gone home, and the lights have come down, these promises endure.
Turn on the lamp, curl up in a comfortable spot, and look into the odd, wonderful story of Bethlehem. Lucado has found a lifetime of hope. You will, too.
Additional New Titles
• Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
• A Baxter Family Christmas by Karen Kingsbury
• The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel
• The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere
New for Middle- and High-School Youth
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig. Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. He’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him.
Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. The elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late…
Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould.
Additional New Titles
• Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
• The Martian by Anthony Weir
• Leven Thumbs and the Eyes of Want by Obert Skye
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
New Picture, Early Reader and Chapter Books
The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola. This inventive and fresh nativity story is told from a bird’s-eye view. On the morning of the first Christmas, the birds of Bethlehem gather in the fields—not only to eat but to share the exciting news. People from all over have descended on Bethlehem and an angel has appeared in the night sky. Something extraordinary is coming. The birds agree that they must find this wondrous thing, and off they fly to the stable where a child has been born.
In simple language and dazzling pictures, beloved author-illustrator Tomie dePaola shares the awe and anticipation of the first Christmas. His cast of brightly colored, curious birds will appeal to young children, making this a perfect introduction to the story of Christmas.
New Picture Books
• Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett
• Night of Great Joy by Mary Engelbreit
New Early Readers
• The Very First Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain
• Star Wars: The Legendary Yoda by Catherine Saunders
New Chapter Books
• Ready, Freddy: The Perfect Present by Abby Klein
• The Avengers: Age of Ultron by Chris Wyatt