(gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a Virgin, a spouse to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, 'Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.' And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said him to her, 'Fear not marry, for thou has found favor with God and behold thou shall conceive in womb and bring forth the son and shall call his name Jesus. And he shall be great. And shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord, God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, there shall be no end.' And Mary said,' Bbehold, the handmade of the Lord, be it unto me according into thy word.' And the angel departed from her." Thanks be to God. (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - The Christmas story is unfolding before us tonight by readings from the holy scriptures and by carols and special musical numbers. Our next lesson, we will read together. So will you please turn to the canticle section of your hymnal to of number 612? And we will read together the magnificent, which tells about the blessed virgin Mary rejoicing before God. The translation which we are using here is even older than the king James being the Coverdale translation. The type indicates that we would read responsibly, but let us read it in unison from beginning to end. "My soul does magnify the Lord, - And my spirit had rejoiced in God, my savior for he had regarded the loneliness of his handmaiden for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty had magnified me and holy is his name. And mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He had showed strength with his arm. He had scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He had put down the mighty from their seat and had exalted the humble and meek. He had filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent empty away. He remembering his mercy have helped his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers Abraham and his seed forever." Thanks be to God. (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - Saint Matthew, tales of Christ nativity. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. When as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband being a just man and not willing to make her a public example was minded to put her away prevelly. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.' Now, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.' Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him, his wife. And knew her not till she had brought forth her first born son. And he called his name Jesus." Thanks B to God. (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - "The shepherds go into the manger and hey were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shown up round about them. And they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear, not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye, shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was the angel with the multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.' And it came to pass as angels were gone away from them into heaven. The shepherd said one to another, 'Let us now even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the Lord has made known unto us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the (indistinct) was told them concerning this child. And all they that had heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them." Thanks B to God. (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - "The wise man are led by the star to Jesus. Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, 'Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.' When Herod the king had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priest and scribes of the people together he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea and thus it is written by the prophet.' And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people, Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search diligently for the young child. And when ye have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.' When they had heard the king they departed and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh." Thanks be to God. (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - St. John unfoldeth the mystery of the incarnation, "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 were made through him. And without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life. And the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. And the world became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. And we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only son from the father." Thanks be to God. And may blessed to us this wondrous record of his love. And to his name, be praise. (gentle pipe organ music) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) - Let us pray. We commit unto thee oh, God in this glad hour, in this holy place, all our Christmas plans, our hopes, our days of leisure, our family reunions, our (speaks faintly) and our griefs, asking thy blessing upon every thought and endeavor. Thy control over every enterprise. Thy spirit of charity in our hearts and wisdom in our minds. That when thy son, our Lord cometh, he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself through the same Jesus Christ. Thy word become flesh even our savior and our Lord. And now as our savior, Christ has taught us we pray together saying, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory forever. Amen. And the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ be us all. Amen. (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (gentle pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly) (bright pipe organ music) (choir singing faintly)