In staff meeting yesterday, we spent time together simply reflecting upon the Christmas story. We used a compilation of the Christmas story texts from the Gospel accounts in Matthew, Luke and John. Each of us took a turn around the table reading one of the paragraphs and then when we were done we shared our reflections about how the story resonated with us in a new way this year. I wanted to share this with all of you and encourage you in this week to find a few moments to read the Christmas scriptures in the same way and reflect for yourselves.
May you experience the incredible power and presence of God this week as we encounter the One in the Manger!
Blessings
The Christmas Story in Scripture
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and
the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being
through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into
being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
In those days, the Emperor 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. And so everyone
went back to his hometown to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee
where he lived, back to Bethlehem in Judea, which was the town of David,
because he belonged to the house and line of David. Joseph went there to
register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and who was expecting
a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and Mary
gave birth to her firstborn child, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed
him in manger in the stable, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)
That same night, out on the hillsides of Bethlehem, there
was a group of shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Suddenly,
an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not
be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that shall be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in
cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
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 rests.”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 a manger. (Luke 2:13-16)
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this child and all were amazed at what the shepherds
said to them. The shepherds returned to their fields, glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had
been told. (Luke 2:17-20)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd by people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." (Matthew 2:1-8)
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the start that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:9-12)
He was in the world and the world came into being through
him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own and his own
people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his
name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or
of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13)
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have
seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was
given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever
seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has
made him known. (John 1:14-18)
3. Be In the Know! - One of the great things about Community is all the options and choices you have to help make disciples and build the Kingdom. And we want you to know about as many of them as possible. The best way to do that is for you to sign up for any of the various ways we have set up to communicate with you. Here is a list of them and how you can sign up or follow them:
