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. Its many highlights include: * the eminent biblical scholar John Barton on how to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the nativity; * Barbara Brown Taylor on the prologue of John's Gospel which is always read on Christmas Day; * Margaret Barker on the legends that have become part of the Christmas story; * an unpublished short story by Evelyn Underhill; * a piece on the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols; * poetry and reflections on the season's lectionary readings, and more besides. In keeping with the Christ Child's birth in a borrowed stable, all royalties from this book will go to St Martin in the Fields' work with homeless refugees.