​27th December 2020

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Isaiah 9:2-4 and 6-7
The Birth Foretold
​
The people who walked in darkness
 have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
    but now light is shining on them.
 You have given them great joy, Lord;
    you have made them happy.
They rejoice in what you have done,
    as people rejoice when they harvest grain
    or when they divide captured wealth.
For you have broken the yoke that burdened them
    and the rod that beat their shoulders.
You have defeated the nation
    that oppressed and exploited your people,
    just as you defeated the army of Midian long ago.

A child is born to us!
A son is given to us!
    And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, “Wonderful Counsellor,”
    “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”
    “Prince of Peace.”
 His royal power will continue to grow;
    his kingdom will always be at peace.
He will rule as King David's successor,
    basing his power on right and justice,
    from now until the end of time.
The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this.

Luke 2:1-14
​The Birth of Jesus

At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. 
 Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown.
Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea,
the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. 
He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him.
She was pregnant and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.
 She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger
there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

 There were some shepherds in that part of the country
who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them.
They were terribly afraid,  but the angel said to them,

“Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Saviour was born—Christ the Lord! 
 And this is what will prove it to you:
you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

Micah 5:2-4

The Lord says,

"Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah,
but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times." 

 So the Lord will abandon his people to their enemies
until the woman who is to give birth has her son.
Then those Israelites who are in exile will be reunited with their own people. 
When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord
and with the majesty of the Lord God himself.
His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness,