While traditions change over the ages, they remain a way for us to observe special times, to be intentional in reflecting on the meaning of our faith, and even to use the physical to teach our hearts spiritual truths celebrated on a specific holiday. Here are eight ideas for ways to celebrate Christmas this year.

The annual holiday movie season, running from mid-November through the new year, usually offers a smorgasbord of worthwhile films—and 2017 was perhaps richer than most. Here are some cinematic choices from last year to consider for watching at home while we wait for the new releases to hit the theaters later this month.

The one-of-a-kind, cataclysmic, cosmos-altering incident of the resurrection of Jesus Christ fundamentally modified the reality of the world, even if humans fail to recognize it. In Christ’s resurrection a new age came into existence, and the apostle Paul wants to make sure that believers orient their whole selves around this new reality.