Let's Keep Christmas

by Peter Marshall

One of the most beloved ministers of this century reminds us that Christmas means the birth of Jesus Christ--the gift of God with us. Marshall also celebrates the family customs that make the holiday so special. Wonderfully illustrated, this Christmas kee

Genres: Christmas, Christian, Nonfiction, Holiday

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Peter Marshall was a Scots-American preacher, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC and was appointed as Chaplain of the United States Senate.

He was called as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, a small, rural church in Covington, Georgia. After a brief pastorate, Marshall accepted a call to Atlanta's Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1933.

In 1937 Marshall became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. In 1946 he was appointed as US Senate Chaplain, serving from January 4, 1947 until his sudden death of a heart attack just over two years later, at age 46.

Marshall is buried at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland.

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to purchase this one for our own collection. We will read this each Christmas Eve from now on. Such a great reminder!

2019: I purchased this book in January. I was so lucky! My copy was signed by his wife Catherine! We read this aloud at our dinner party for Christmas Eve. Such a gem’

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So we will not 'spend' Christmas nor 'observe' Christmas. We will 'keep' Christmas – keep as it is... in all the loveliness of its ancient traditions. May we keep it in our hearts, that we may be kept in its hope."


Beautiful. What Christmas should truly mean to every Christian <3 I would recommend this to anyone.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the delightful thoughts about Christmas from the famous minister, Peter Marshall. One can almost "hear" his Scottish brogue in the choice of words encouraging us not to get caught up in Christmas but rather to keep Christmas.

This short book has become a standard read-aloud for my family on Christmas Eve for the past several years.

[Bradly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short read from 1952, but with a message that is both timely and timeless.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to Susie Davis read this book on the Dear Daughters podcast. It was originally a sermon.

[Ken Bickley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small book contains just the single sermon. I read it annually, and it never gets out of date.

And so, I read it again, 21 Dec 2014. Peter Marshall was a remarkable preacher. Like many of the best, he died far too soon. This is quite simply the best Christmas sermon I've ever read.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this little gem of a book! It's short, but deeply meaningful. I hope to read it out loud to my family as we celebrate Christmas this year.

[Robert Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a sermon that was written back in 1952, it is still amazingly relevant for today.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little book with endearing illustrations.

[Tracy]

I found this several years ago at Care and Share. I’ve read it before, but it hits differently this time around. Definitely one to reread. (And Barbara Cooney’s illustrations are lovely). A call to the connection that comes from tradition, which is driven by the core meaning of Christmas. I’ll *keep* Christmas and the hope that it brings.

Quotes:
The old message: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” is still the heart of Christmas. It can be nothing else.

Angels there must be — but they need not be modernistic angels in evening dress with peroxide permanents.

Maybe you need all the more to read the Christmas story over again, need to sit down with the Gospel of Luke and think about it.

And finally Christmas morning will come. Don’t worry—you’ll be ready for it—you’ll catch the spirit all right, or it will catch you, which is even better.

“Peace on earth and good will toward men.” It was not a pronouncement upon the state of the world then; nor is it a reading of the international barometer of the present time… but it is a promise—God’s promise—of what one day will come to pass.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother mailed me this book, which my grandmother had given her years ago. Since I live thousands of miles away, I didn’t receive it until today—and read it in about ten minutes. There’s not much to it, it’s basically an elaboration on the title, but it was pleasant to read while keeping in mind that generations of my family had read it, even if it seems a little sappy and overly nostalgic. Because of this personal connection, I don’t feel like I can write an unbiased review; without the personal connection I would never have read a book like this.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this little book, a sermon by the beloved Scottish pastor Peter Marshall, every year. It is a timeless reminder of what Christmas really means. "So we will not 'spend' Christmas nor 'observe' Christmas. We will 'keep' Christmas – keep as it is... in all the loveliness of its ancient traditions. May we keep it in our hearts, that we may be kept in its hope."

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, reverently reflective sermon, which might be enjoyed at any time, yet is especially valuable to set your heart on Emmanuel, and remember the purpose of celebrating Christmas. A wonderful gem, as so many of Peter Marshall's books are.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holler for a Marshall #1
Peter Marshall a famous geezer who preached and was chaplain to the US Senate and this is a short talk, almost poetic in structure and style about Christmas.
Not perfect and a little flowery and lacking a bit of substance, but it feels passionate.

[Mel Lockcuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book says everything I feel about Christmas. I love it so much, I want to give copies to friends and family. The message is just so powerful.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book so much as an extract from Christmas sermons, this little collection draws the mind and heart to reflect on the majesty of the holiday. Very short.

[Claire Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest short story to remind us what Christmas is truly about

[Priscilla S. Bengtson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed to read, this close to Christmas, to keep my eyes on what it’s really about. Great sermon (essay)…

[Abby Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny book I look forward to reading each year. It’s perfect.

[Jeslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading every year - an integral part of the Christmas season for me.