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The
Blessing of Christmas

Luke 1
Christ's Birth Announced to Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to
a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28And
having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly
favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among
women!"
29But when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of
greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His
father David. 33And He will reign over the house
of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no
end."
34Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this
be, since I do not know a man?"
35And the angel answered and said to her,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of
the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy
One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 2
Christ Born of Mary
The Birth of Jesus
1 And it came to pass in those days that a
decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be registered. 2This census first took
place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So
all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the
city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of
David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed
wife, who was with child. 6So it was,
that while they were there, the days were completed for her
to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her
firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid
Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
inn.
   
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds
living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 9And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then
the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all
people. 11For there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And
this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped
in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying:

14"Glory
to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward
men!"

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