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Show The story of Christ's birth By REV. ERIC V. KAELBERER Pastor of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church As we enter Christmas week, we are just a few days from the blessed event of Jesus' birth. The present which the people of Cross of Christ would like to give to the community is God's Holy Word. We give to you the Christmas story as recorded in Luke 2: 1 -20. Read it and enjoy it, ponder anew the joy and the reason for this blessed season. "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judca, to Bethlehem the town of . David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register . with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels "And there were shepherds living liv-ing out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. terri-fied. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor jests.' "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' "So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Taken from the New International Interna-tional Version the Holy Bible. International Bible Society, used by permission) |
