Make Christmas Real

About the Book

Read this book and experience a more loving celebration of ‘God with us’ than you ever thought possible.’ Gregory Spayd, Pastor serving St. Genevieve Parish, Corpus Christi, Texas This is one of the finest--if not the finest---books I have read about the birth narratives of Jesus. Wow. Great job! Thanks. Rance Darity. Graduate University of Kentucky, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mennonite Seminary. An Anabaptist 'follower of Jesus'. 'Creative, challenging, provocative, and scholarly, John Henson takes us on a journey that cuts through the Christmas traditions of the centuries, enabling us to hear afresh the radical story of the birth of Jesus.' Revd Dr Simon Woodman Co-minister: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, London; formerly tutor at Cardiff Baptist College, Wales. 'John Henson and Ray Vincent present us with the humanity of the Christmas story, and show us why it matters. I cannot thank them enough for making Christmas real to me again, and restoring true meaning to one of the most powerful, scandalous, and beautiful narratives of our shared faith.' Kevin M. Rodriquez, Founder and Administrator 'Progressives for America.'. 'In this thought provoking book, John and Ray, grounded in a faith that touches real people in the real world, invite the reader to expand their knowledge and imagination and to reflect on the message at the heart of the Christmas narratives.' Sue O'Hare, Methodist Minister, Caerphilly, Wales. 'John Henson's work is for a large part of the "religious" public a well-kept secret.' Rowan Williams (Baron Williams of Oystermouth) Archbishop of Canterbury 2002-2012

About the Author

John Henson is a native of Cardiff and a son of the Manse. He graduated in history and theology at the universities of Southampton and Oxford (Regent's Park) respectively and was ordained to the Baptist ministry at Carmel Baptist Church, Pontypridd, Wales in 1964. He was responsible for a union between his own church and the United Reformed Church in 1969 (now St. David’s, Pontypridd) and has since given assistance to other churches seeking to make similar unions at the local level. He taught history in Cardiff High School from 1970 - 1973 and then resumed ministry at Glyncoch, Pontypridd in cooperation with the Anglican Communion. During this time he was also the organizer ('Admiral') in Wales for 'Pilots', the children's movement of the United Reformed Church, which included summer holiday camps. Since 1980 he has been largely freelance, acting as pastoral befriender to people in minority groups while continuing to assist in the conduct of worship in the churches. His interests include music, left-wing politics, penal reform, peace, the quest for truly contemporary and inclusive worship, and gender issues. A member of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement from its early years, for many years he assisted the movement as the contact person for the South Wales group and as a counsellor. For five years he was chairperson of 'ONE for Christian Renewal' which has now been succeeded by The Progressive Christian Network (UK) of which John continues to be an active member. John has lectured on faith and gender in Strasbourg and Oslo at the invitation of the European Union and the World Student Christian Federation. He has lectured in the U.K. at universities, ecumenical conferences and retreat centres, at Greenbelt, and at St. Michael's Anglican college Llandaf, Cardiff. He is also a member of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptist Churches of the USA. John has been happily married to Valerie, his partner for fifty years. They have three adult children, Gareth, Iestyn and Rhôda, and nine grandchildren- Aidan, Bleddyn, Carys, Gwenllian, Dyfrig, Iona, Isobel, Tomos and Ffion-Medi.