1st Scripture Reading – Luke 2:1-7
The Birth of Jesus
1
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to
their own towns to be registered. 4
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and
family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was
expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she
gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place in the guest room.
2nd Scripture Reading – Luke 2:8-20
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their
flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I
am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11
to you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let
us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made
known to us.”
16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the
manger.
17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all
these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
3rd Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:1-12
The Visit of the Magi
1
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east
came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we
observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”
3When King Herod heard this,
he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him,
“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6
‘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 my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star
had appeared. 8 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.”
9
When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they
had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that
the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11On 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. 12And having been
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
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