Right click on the musical note to turn off the music

The first thing we put up when we are decorating is the old nativity scene. This has been in our family for many years.

We start the story of the nativity with a reading from the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER,
PRINCE OF PEACE.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Then we read the Nativity story in the Book of Luke.
Luke 2:1-20 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 Qurinius was governor of Syria) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there 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 in the inn.

And there were shepherds, living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared unto them and the glory of the Lord shone around 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 will be for all 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 the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared wth 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 the manger. When they has 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 raising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Visit of the Magi, Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house; they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

                                   Text from the New International Version
Song: I Wonder as I Wander


Yahoo!Geocities

sjmayer@mindspring.com