First Sunday of Advent December 3 Advent 2023 is Here-Rejoice Today is the first day of Advent as well as the beginning of a new Christian year. It is a distinct season which should not be confused with Christmas. Advent is relatively new to the United Methodist Church, which began to observe it in 1947. The Advent season ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent comes from a Latin term which means coming, that is the coming of our Lord Jesus. It is a time of preparation for us. The liturgical color is purple, symbolic of the royalty of Christ and identifying the season as one of inward look for the Christian. Some churches have opted for blue. There are four Sundays of Advent, each one bearing a theme given to it by the tradition of centuries; each one highlighting a biblical text-all four from the great Old Testament book of Isaiah. December 3: From Darkness to Light - The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined (Isaiah 9:2). The people at the time of the prophet Isaiah faced the darkness of fear-fear over the threat of powerful neighboring nations that sought to destroy Judah. The prophet sends a message of hope, of God’s intervention. All the people needed to do was to have trust and confidence in Him. We all have encountered times of spiritual darkness and we have relied on the coming of the light to sustain us-the light that God sends to us. Jesus is the light of Advent! December 10: Messenger – A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3). The prophet announces the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way to facilitate our access to God. In our daily walk with God, He sustains us with His peace and grace as He gently leads us to Himself through Christ, the incarnate God. Jesus is the messenger of Advent! December 17: Gaudete – The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the rose, it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing (Isaiah 36:1a). Gaudete is a Latin word for rejoice. The desert would be the least expected place in which a rose would bloom! When our lives go-and many times they do-it is wonderful to know that in the midst of our dryness, God can present us with a rose at which to rejoice. Jesus is the rose of Advent! December 24: Rorare – Shower, oh heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth (Isaiah 45:8). Rorare is the ancient Latin word for shower. The prophet visualizes his salvation descending from heaven in the form of showers-showers of blessing! Thank God for the showers of blessing that fall upon our lives in our everyday walk! Jesus is the Rorare of Advent! The Late Rev. Jose Bove
December 4, 2023 JOSEPH, A Vignette Devil- Well, I guess you didn’t see that coming. Joseph- I cannot believe what Mary just told me. Devil- If it weren’t so serious, it would be laughable. Joseph- It’s just impossible. Devil- You’re certainly right. Joseph- I don’t know what to do. Devil- Yes, you do. You’ll do what the law requires. Joseph- But under the law she must be stoned. Devil- She should have thought of that before. Joseph- When I looked at her face when she told me, there was no look of guilt, or remorse, only confusion and innocence. Devil- It just means she’s practiced in her deceit and made up that ridiculous story to cover her betrayal. Joseph- No, I refuse to believe that. I have known her too long and too well. I would have seen it before. Devil- You have to be strong and carry out the law, Joseph. Joseph- I will not put her through that, but how can I ever trust her. Her story cannot be true. How can I raise another man’s child. Even though I believe she betrayed me, I will forgive what has happened, and I will just quietly divorce her. Mercy will be shown to her. Devil- I think you’re making a mistake. Joseph- I did not ask either for your opinion or advice. Now leave me. I must rest. (Pause and an Angel appears to Joseph) Joseph- I cannot believe what has happened. I know an angel of the Lord has spoken to me. It told me what is conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit. That means she is telling the truth. Devil- You’re just trying to find a way to justify ignoring the law. Joseph- I now understand her look of confusion and innocence. They were real. Her child is of the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus. All this is to fulfill the Isaiah prophecy that a virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son. I shall take Mary as my wife. Devil- How are you going to handle what people will say? Joseph- I care little about that. God is my strength. Devil- And you’re believing all this nonsense you’re spouting? Joseph- I know I have been given the greatest honor of any man. The responsibility of caring for God’s son. Devil- Riiiiiight. God gave it to a simple carpenter. Joseph- I know the honest labor of wood, and this child will learn of its lessons his whole life. Devil- You are in way over your deluded head. Joseph- These rough hands, accustomed to wood, now raise to praise the Lord and will soon caress His son. Devil- You are making the biggest blunder of your life. Joseph- No, Mary and I will not fail, for God is with us. Therefore, failure is impossible. Go find a rock to hide under. Praise and thanks be to God. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) Father give me the courage of Joseph to follow what I hear from Your voice as we talk together about Your will for my life. In Jesus precious name. Amen James Higginbottom
December 5, 2023 Prepare-Wait-Anticipate-Trust-Faith To prepare is to harness that usually unlikeable practice of waiting, for you don’t need to prepare for something already here. Preparing leaves in its essence the unknown. To prepare is to be in the darkness before the light is switched on. Preparing is filling your oil lamps and keeping them filled. To prepare for a future hope is to trust. You may not know when or how exactly it will happen, but you trust that which you are preparing for will come. Trusting leads to faith-faith in what you may not be able to see. We have but faith: we cannot know; For knowledge is of things we see And yet we trust it comes from thee, A beam in darkness: let it grow. (Alfred Lord Tennyson) Advent is a season of waiting. The Latin “veni” in Advent speaks of ‘coming’, which invokes an invitation to prepare and then wait in an eager expectation of the coming. For Advent, imagine yourself in the unknown pre-Christ’s birth time of history when the people of the world were in a darkness because the Ancient of Days was coming, but had not yet come. They could not see. That which was ‘yet-to-come’ was left to images and metaphors, the only way was to imagine in ways humans can. The O Antiphons are prayers/poems that lead us up to Christmas, each one describing Christ from ancient days without ever naming Him. They call Him by other names in their expectations and understanding of Him being all these things. These are poems of anticipation, of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. They are prayers of hope and longing at the same time. The names of each one: -Sapientia (wisdom) -Adonai (Lord) -Radix Jesse (root of Jesse) -Clavis David (key of David) -Oriens (day spring) -Rex Gentium (king of nations) -O Emmanuel (God with us) In the spirit of preparing I read poems. Poems that cause me to pause. Words that squeeze so much meaning into very few lines. Poems that encourage imaginatively living before Christ’s birth to better understand the Advent hope. The Advent miracle of Love-the freely given Love that came down to meet us where we are. Poems allow a hidden divine presence to dance in light between the words and carefully coined phrases. Poems invite us to dive into their words and images, in anticipation of what is to come – If thy first glance so powerful be, A mirth but open’d and seal’d up again; What wonders shall we feel, when we shall see Thy full-ey’d love! When thou shalt look us out of pain, And one aspect of thine spend in delight More than a thousand suns disburse in light, In heaven above. (George Herbert) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness-on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2) Lord, You are our Lord, You are wisdom, the root, the key, the day spring, the king of all nations, and You are with us. May we seek You in all our preparation and through any darkness that surrounds us. May we pause with poetic words that draw us closer to You. To seek You always, in all things. Amen. Kacie Rogers
December 6, 2023 Gifts of Love As soon as Thanksgiving is over, children who celebrate Christmas begin to think about the presents they will receive at Christmas. The ads on television and on the internet are designed to excite the children and adults about the many options for gifts. It is a time of great anticipation. As we mature in our Christian faith, we come to realize that the concept of gifts is not about what we receive but more about what we can give. In planning for Christmas, we begin to make lists of gifts we will provide for friends and loved ones. Our kitchens come alive with the aromas of cookies and cakes being baked to give neighbors. Giving becomes a center of our plans-giving in love. In the midst of the planned giving, we decorate with the light and brightness of a coming birthday party. Trees are ablaze with many colored lights and our faces are wreathed with smiles that grow wider and wider as the décor becomes brighter and brighter. The lights of the season remind us that we are about to receive a light, the one that comes to us again and again, as we remember the gift of Jesus. The Magi who followed the light of the Messiah’s star provided gifts for the young child in appreciation for the promises of God anticipated in his birth. “We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, ” The story tells of people who believed that Jesus came as a light to point us to the love of God. Their gifts are given in thanksgiving for the gift of love. For this reason giving is central to our celebration of Christmas. Who is on your list to receive gifts of love this year? After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him… and having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12) God of joy, as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth, flip on the lights of the season for the world to see. Bring a smile to our lips as we bask in the delight of lights, tinsel, musical programs and lists of gifts to be given in the name of love. Amen. Koinonia Sunday School Class
December 7, 2023 How I Prepare for Christmas My family prepares for Christmas with fun Christmas Eve traditions. My favorite is when we pull out the living room’s hide-a-bed, make hot cocoa and watch the animated movie, “The Star”. I like sitting with my family, watching together how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. This tradition of being with my family and learning the story of Jesus makes me feel comfortable, joyful and loved. One final tradition we have on Christmas morning is singing “Happy Birthday, Jesus” before opening our gifts. These traditions help me to remember that the gifts and gatherings are to celebrate Jesus’s birthday, our Savior who was sent to save us from our sins. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Dear Lord, thank you for sending your only son and everlasting love. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen Olivia Rowell, age 9 Daughter of Steve and Mollie Rowell
December 8, 2023 Getting Ready to Get Ready I have to confess: I never think about Christmas in the summer, which is the time of this writing. To get this wonderful devotional book ready, we have to submit these writings fairly early, so that by Fall they’re ready to be edited and collected. But I also have to say, for reasons I don’t fully understand, I have caught the Christmas bug. I am so excited for Christmas, this year, I feel like a kid, again. But it’s more than that. I don’t just have the anticipation of Christmas-for the celebration, and lights, and carols; but that is part of it. For a long time, I wasn’t really excited about Christmas. I enjoyed it, I looked forward to it, but it didn’t give me much energy. Then when my family and I moved to Florida and I discovered what the Christmas Season was like in shorts, my whole outlook changed. And being here at First Lakeland, there is nothing like celebrating Advent at this church. You all helped me fall in love with Christmas, again. And so, now, I feel this realization upon me, even already at this point, that it’s not just a love of Christmas….but I need Christmas. Two years ago, when we had our first Christmas after the pandemic, and it was more back to the way we remembered, I thought we needed Christmas-for it to be back to the way it was. Last year was a full year after being “back to normal,” and we had an even “more normal” Christmas, but we seemed to need it even more. So, this year….do you feel the need, more, as I seem to? And if we need Christmas that much….we also need Advent. Advent is the season of getting ready, of preparing. We anticipate the coming of Christ into our world, of the angels proclaiming to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy!” Maybe that’s why I’m feeling the need for Christmas; the need to once again hear the good news of great joy, the story of Christ arriving in our midst. With news this great and joyous, we need to get ready, to prepare, and do so with celebration. So get out those lights, turn on the music, sing those carols, re-read the Story, and show love to your neighbor. Tell the Christmas Story through your actions of giving and service. It’s going to be a great Advent Season at First UMC Lakeland! The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.” (Luke 2:10-14) Gracious God, thank you for the gift of celebration. May our anticipation be found in the practice of being the people you have called us to be, that we may gather together and prepare our hearts as much as our surroundings. Amen Pastor Andy Whitaker-Smith
December 9, 2023 Finding Jesus From the Nativity that our family displayed on the sofa table, I would always take baby Jesus out of the manger, (He’s not supposed to be there until Christmas morning anyway) and I would hide him somewhere to be found by my young son before Christmas. He was only two or three when we started this game. I would often have to give him hints as to where baby Jesus might be. This was a wonderful tradition that we started for us to tell the story of Christ’s birth and get ready for Christmas. As we trimmed our tree and placed other Christmas decorations out, we would have time to talk about why Jesus came to earth and how Mary and Joseph were chosen to be His earthly Mama and Daddy, as told in the scriptures of today. We would often go to the Nativity, sans baby Jesus, and talk about the others there. The animals, donkeys, cows, sheep and even chickens were there, because it was a place that the owner kept his livestock. The man who owned it had given them permission to be there, because there was no room for them in the Inn. The shepherds came to see this miracle that angels proclaimed to them. And of course there were angels everywhere, even one floating from on high to proclaim the Holy Birth. There may not have been a roof or wooden structure, probably just a big hole cut out of the rock on the side of a hill so the animals could get out of the cold, but it was all they had. One of my favorite places that I hid baby Jesus was in a big red bow that I made to attach to the greenery at the mantel. It seemed a good place for the tiny baby to be safe and warm while He waited for our young child to find him and return Him to the manger where He was expected for Christmas morning! In the sixth month God sent, the angel, Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27) Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your Word. It gives us vision of what Mary and Joseph could have experienced and has taught us that when Jesus was born, he had no castle although He was the King. He had no beautiful bassinet, although He was God’s only son. But what He had and what He did for us showed us how very much He loved us, even then. Amen Janice D. Morris 1951-2023 Written in October 2023
Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2023 The Family Room One summer we decided to take a historic trip to the past and drove to Williamsburg for a tour of iconic American history. We visited Jamestown and Yorktown as well. After a week discovering our past history, we headed to North Carolina and Maggie Valley to enjoy the Smokey Mountains and cool weather before returning to Florida. We did not make hotel reservations because we wanted to get the most of a day’s travel. In the late afternoon we started looking for a room for the night. We stopped and tried several of the motel chains in our price range and they were all full. We drove to the next town and they were all full. The same at the next two towns until a motel owner suggested he call ahead and find us a room. We got the last room at a less than desired motel chain and were glad for his assistance to find a place to stay on a frustrating night that might have been spent sleeping in the car. Have you ever had a night that looked like there was going to be no place to stay? In the Luke version of the birth of Jesus most Bible translations end these verses saying there was no room for them at the Inn. Inns were a Roman concept usually along major highways not in cities. When you traveled to a city you planned to stay with family or friends. One of the places Jesus stayed when traveling to Jerusalem was Lazarus, Mary and Martha’s house. Joseph would have looked to stay with family from the house of David. Modern translations like the Common English Version say, “There was no place for them in the guest room…” One scholar suggests when the guest room was full, they had to stay in the family room with everyone else. The family room was where they kept the animals in villages like Bethlehem so with the sheep, cows and extended family Jesus was born. Jesus is born into the historic family of David and the family took Mary and Joseph, not the innkeeper, took them into the only place there was to stay. As we prepare for the birth of Jesus, I think it is important to feel the family of God connection. When there was no room apart from family members, he was born in the family room with everybody else. We are born into the family, baptized into the family, nurtured by the family, and loved by the family which we call the church family. Just like Jesus was blessed to be born within the family of the house of David, so are we. Prepare your hearts this Christmas for the family activities and church family activities. Christmas is meant to be spent with family and if you travel I hope there is no room for you in the Inn and you stay in the family room, the best place to be when you travel. In those days Caesar Agustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…..She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:1-7) Lord, as we look at our lives the best place to find love is when we are with family. Remind us like Jesus we are a part of your family and there is always room for us in your house and your family room. We are never alone in a cold world of a busy season because there is a warm fire of love and joy that awaits us on our journey with you as our innkeeper. In the joy of your love, we pray. Amen.
Rev. Jim Rosenburg
December 11, 2023 Anticipation! Ah-a cool (below 70 degrees), crisp morning arrives. Will there be more of those? Wait! That means autumn and I need to change seasonal decorations... I am anticipating a time for looking forward – ANTICIPATION! How Mary felt when she visited Elizabeth... A child to soon enter her world. It was so helpful to have a relative with whom she could share her joys and hopes. So it is with us as we look forward to laughter, love, and joy as we anticipate the wonder and arrival of the Christmas season. As a child, I remember my brother and myself making plans for the autumn holidays followed -FINALLY! – by Christmas celebrations. There was cereal mix for snacking, special candies to be made, and treats for relatives, friends, and neighbors. Decorating the TREE - always a live one purchased when Mother, a school teacher, purchased a classroom tree - was a fun time. MUSIC - always a part of my life, meant special concerts and presentations. A community group performed a section of The Messiah, school concerts were presented, and carols were sung in church. Where there was music, Dad was always a participant, if not the leader. Any time we live with anticipation of events and traditions there comes a time when the event is realized and we wonder what to do with ourselves. As Christians, we are able to channel our thoughts to future calendar events as we celebrate the life and teachings of Jesus. Our guide book, the BIBLE, gives us more thoughts for more anticipation in our lives. Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit… (Luke 1:39-41) Lord - let us share the wonder and greatness of anticipation! Amen “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Harriet Warren
December 12, 2023 Morning Devotion In Giving There is Receiving Recently, seven of our church members traveled to Southwest Florida on a Disaster Recovery Mission Trip for families who had survived Hurricane Ian. With much anticipation, we gathered our supplies and our team members then traveled to Cape Coral to share our gifts of our skills, time, and encouragement. This particular family, with small children, was so close to being back in their home you could feel the energy and excitement. After over a year of moving to various homes of friends and family, to landing in a small travel trailer parked in their driveway, the family had to be weary. Anxiously they watched while weekly teams began the process of undoing what the storm had done to their home and repairs crept forward. The mother was almost in tears when she realized that she could no longer see where the old ceiling ended and the new ceiling repair blended in. At Christmas, we often hear the hymn, O Holy Night, and the words, “the weary world rejoices.” That refrain became very real as we worked with this family. How tired and hopeless the world must have been without the Messiah. With the birth of Jesus, hope was restored, hearts were repaired, and His people are challenged to share the news. As we prepared to leave our work site, the oldest daughter left us a beautiful picture and a heartfelt note in first grade lettering that said, “I can’t thank you enough for helping our house.” And there was the lesson, even in the hustle and bustle of preparation and noisy activities; ultimately God just wants us to help with his house. We received an amazing gift in the form of a simple letter. One of the team members said, “In giving there is also receiving. You cannot out-give God.” This year, as we prepare for Christmas, how can we extend hope and restoration to the world around us, and help God with His house? How also will we receive His wonderful gift to us? Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9) May God’s precious gift of love and hope fill you during this holiday season, and may you find ways to share that gift of hope to others as together we strive to help with His house. Amen. Barbara, Eric, Gary, Judi, Moe, Susan and Susie October Disaster Recovery Mission Team December 12, 2023 Evening Devotion Gifts for the King In Russian folklore, there is a beloved children’s tale called Babushka (Grandmother). In this story, the Wise Men stop at a village peasant woman’s cottage for the night. They tell her they are on their way to seek the Holy Child and invite Babushka to join them. She demurs as she has so much cleaning to do. After they leave, she reconsiders and decides to follow them. She puts some gifts in a basket and heads out in search of the Magi and the Child. As she travels, she passes out her little gifts and when she finally arrives at the manger, she is sorry to see that she has no gifts left to give him. Yet, she sees that He, in fact, already has the gifts she had given out. Mary explains that as she did these things for others, it was as if she had done them for the Holy Child. As we enter the Advent season with joy, let us remember those around us who may need our help, comfort or love. May we always have the spirit of Advent in our hearts and remember that as we give to others, we are giving to Him. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 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, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2: 1-2, 11) Father God, thank you for your gift of your precious Son. May we always have a heart of gratitude and care for others. Susan Cornnell
December 13, 2023 Morning Devotion But the Santas! As the dishes from Thanksgiving are just about dry and the leftovers have been neatly dispersed into tidy containers, it begins. We Floridians are familiar with the drill. We literally pack up fall with all its plastic pumpkins, brightly autumnal colored fake greenery, and Hobby Lobby scarecrows in order to usher in winter. For us, this entails a trip or three to the storage unit in our TRUCK, the sorting and loading of a multitude of marked boxes, ‘Christmas Decor-YES,’ ‘Jim’s homemade childhood ornaments-NO,’ and the annual cries of ‘would someone help me with the four boxes of SANTAS!’ Some days later, I can be found under a tree in a heap; but the house is ready! I’m sorry to say that for too many years that is the only thing ready for Christmas. Like my sister Martha, I paid attention to all the wrong details. I fluffed, puffed, and blew my chance to celebrate the birth of my rebirth. I ordered, wrapped, spent, and sent, without a thought of that precious baby who came to save us all. I sang a song or two, attended church, continued my Bible study, but truth be told, my priorities were a mess. Things looked good, but here, inside, where it counts, not so much. Have you ever looked back on a holiday season and said, man where did that time go? Or ponder as you swept away the decorations including a Santa or two, what it was all for? Martha and I have been in that boat, and we aren’t talking about the one Jesus filled with fish, we’re talking about the empty, exhausted, powerless boat adrift on the Sea of Galilee. It all seems so pointless, doesn’t it? This year, with God’s grace and provision, I will make the celebration of the birth of my Savior my priority. I will sit at His feet, next to Mary, and listen to what He has to teach me. I will set aside my many worries and remember that it is Jesus’ birth, life, and resurrection that matters. I will choose better because without Him I am an empty vessel with a few too many Santas. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-41) Heavenly Father, help me to celebrate your birth in a way that glorifies you. Lead me towards your precious light and provide opportunities for me to share that light with others. Grant me the peace of your love and allow me to focus not on the material things of the holidays, but on the miracle that is your birth. A miracle that changed my life and continues to change the world. Amen Jill Steinbauer
December 13, 2023 Evening Devotion A Mother’s Preparation As a mother of a daughter born on December 13th, the Christmas season is a combination of waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus and celebrating the birth of our daughter. It isn’t always easy as we juggle Christmas parties, school recitals and other demands of the season. I often feel rushed, overwhelmed and stressed. One year, at the height of my stress during the season, I found myself wondering how Mary felt as she carried Jesus in her womb alongside a man who wasn’t his father. I began to think of how she endured possible judgement, looks or questions of her physical state. It caused me to reflect on how I would have responded, and I know if I were Mary, those behaviors from others would have worn me down, made me question why I was chosen, and would have made me annoyed, possibly even angry. I also pondered the uncertainty Mary felt as she traveled nearly fully pregnant to Bethlehem for the census. I can’t fully imagine being in my third trimester and traveling any distance without the comfort of modern technology. Of course, the stress of giving birth in the elements and using an animal feeding trough as a bassinet would have given me tremendous anxiety. Yet the Bible doesn’t mention Mary’s mental state or her hardships during this time. As a result, I’m left to generate my own conclusion. I choose to believe God calmed her fears and reassured her each step of her faithful journey. This conclusion helps me on my hardest days during Advent, as I juggle planning for and celebrating my daughter, teaching my children the importance of Christmas and it’s true meaning, all while shopping, gift wrapping, attending holiday parties, and creating memories and traditions in our home. Amongst the chaos and stress, thinking of Mary and her struggles during the first Christmas grounds me and helps to put my man-made chaos into perspective. Mary’s faith, courage and stamina encourages me during the Advent season. Joseph 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,be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.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. (Luke 2:4-7) Dear Lord, thank you for choosing such a wonderful mother for Jesus. Please let us remember during this Advent season that the first Christmas was filled with uncomfortable hardships and stresses. However, the birth of Jesus still covered the world with joy, light and hope for better days. Thank you for giving us joy, light and hope. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen Mollie Rowell
December 14, 2023 Ready for Comfort For me, getting ready for Christmas has always been more about remembering the gifts which God gives than all the shopping and decorating. Comfort is one of the gifts from God. Christmas reminds us that God has come and God has come bringing a comforting love with no strings attached. Through no effort on our part, Christ has come bringing the gift of his presence and his love to aching hearts. God's comfort is a gift which transforms lives. Years ago, Tom Ehrich, an Episcopal priest, attended a church conference where he heard the priest and author Henry Nouwen speak. Nouwen had dedicated much of his life to working with mentally handicapped people. At this conference, Nouwen brought one of his mentally handicapped friends, Bill, up to the podium to help him with his speech. But Bill, in his nervousness, just laid his head on Nouwen’s shoulder and began to cry. Ehrich wrote that at this moment, all the conference attendees were reminded of the real purpose of a church. It was not about budgets, building programs, or fancy sermons. He wrote, “Comfort begins to dissolve our loneliness, when someone manages to reach into our private pains and to say: I care!” And that is what God did for us in Jesus Christ. God has brought us the comfort of salvation, the loud affirmation that the Creator cares for each and every one of us. God loves you and getting ready for Christmas means remembering that great truth, then basking in the comfort it brings. The prophet Isaiah writes, “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. (Isaiah 40:1, 9-11) Loving and comforting God, thank you for preparing our hearts with your gifts, so that when Christmas dawns once again, we can truly appreciate your love for us. Amen David McEntire
December 15, 2023 Advent Through Someone Else’s Heart or How to Store a Bad Attitude The Advent-Christmas season has traditionally been my wife’s favorite time of the year. She has great joy in decorating our home and discovering the perfect gifts for others, not to mention her delight in hearing, seeing and tasting the delights of the season. I on the other hand, can sometimes be a Scrooge. Instantly I think of lugging those heavy tubs out of the attic when she announces it is time to decorate the house! So, I did something about my attitude a couple of years ago. I rebuilt the storage cabinets in the garage and hung floor-to-ceiling barn doors on them that roll with the touch of a finger. No more pushing or pulling heavy tubs of decorations up into the attic. We now have storage tubs for every occasion easily stored at eye level. The problem disappeared along with my negative attitude. This revelation made me consider what other challenges keep me from enjoying the pure joy of Advent preparations? So now I isolate a problem so I can join the world with light and sound and the smells of the pure joy of a babe entering our world once again. Now, admit it, who doesn’t enjoy a baby, especially one who will save the world? For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; rests upon his shoulders; he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Prince of Peace, Almighty God, lead us to prepare our hearts to receive you fresh once again with pure joy. Where there are challenges to joy in relationship with you and this season, enable us to let go of our stress and give us to have the joy of a child. Amen Dale Golden
December 16, 2023 My Advent Wreath I love Christmas! I have boxes and boxes of decorations. After Thanksgiving the decorating begins, and the tree is assembled. The first box that is opened has the Advent Wreath, candles of all lengths in purple and pink, and artificial greenery from a wreath we made years ago. The wreath is assembled by the First Sunday in Advent on the coffee table in the living room. Three purple candles and one pink are set in the wreath with the white Christ candle in the center. Each candle represents a theme for the week: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each Sunday I take the time to read a devotion with scripture, pray, and light the candle or candles for that day. When my son was living at home, we would do this as a family. During Advent, the candles on the Advent wreath are lit during worship, and it sets the tone for the service and for the Advent season for the congregation. There is also something about the Advent wreath lighting time in the home that is meaningful as well. Each week the light of the candles grows brighter with the promise of the Christ Child who will be born. Amidst the busy time of the holiday season, the Advent candles remind us that Jesus the light of the world is coming! My hope is that as you light your own Advent wreath this year you will experience the light and hope of the Christ Child in your life. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it! (John 1:5) Holy God, you came into the world that was in great darkness. In this season, your light breaks through the darkness of our times and our lives to shine so brightly! Transform our lives so that we may share your light, hope, peace, joy, and love with all we meet this Advent and Christmas! Rev. Betty Batey
Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2023 Preparing for Christmas Because I dislike getting caught in a whirlwind of activity at year’s end, I try to prepare for Christmas all during the previous year. If I see something at any time that I think would please someone on my gift list, I will purchase it and stow it away. Keeping this cache of gifts keeps me from having to deal with last-minute shopping. Around Thanksgiving I begin my Christmas preparations in earnest by working on my Christmas card list that I keep on an Excel spreadsheet, and by getting my gifts ready for sending. I also start putting out Christmas decorations while listening to Christmas music. One of my favorite rituals is setting up the crèche on the fireplace in the living room. This manger scene was hand made by my mother’s sister and half-brother. My Aunt Rose painted the ceramic figures and Uncle George made the stable. I can’t help remembering them and Christmases past when I complete this task. The week before Christmas, I start preparing food. The grocery shopping is done, the turkey gets put in a brining solution, and the cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are made. I dislike baking, so I do not bake cookies, but I don’t mind making my mother’s pumpkin pie recipe. My husband Terry may bake a pecan pie or a shoo-fly pie or cake. Once Advent begins Terry and I read the devotions from the church’s Advent booklet, one each day until Christmas. This helps keep us focused on what Christmas is really about, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On Christmas Eve we generally attend the candlelight service at church. Then it’s home to bed for a long winter’s nap and well-deserved rest. And everyone went to their 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 to register 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 guest room available for them. (Luke 2:3-7) Heavenly Father, help us, in this season’s busyness of preparing for Christmas, not forget what the season is really about: welcoming your son and our savior Jesus into our lives. Amen Georgiana Kurtz 1944-2023 Written in September, 2023
December 18, 2023 Be a Light that Shines One of my favorite parts of preparing for Christmas is adorning the outside of our home with Christmas lights and illuminated inflatables. Of course, it is hard work getting all the decorations perfectly put into place-but seeing the Christmas cheer our home illuminates as we turn into our neighborhood brings joy to my heart over and over again. But the reality is about outdoor Christmas lights and decorations-you don’t just take care of them once and that is it. You must maintain them. Something inevitably falls, and you must take out the ladder and fix the lights again. A stake holding one of the inflatables gets knocked off, and you have to re-set it again. Maintaining those shining lights is a process. Christ also tells us to be a light of the world-as he is the light of the world-and that is a process, too. Our journey of discipleship does not end at baptism, confirmation, or our membership vows. As a pastor, it did not even end for me at my ordination service! Just like those Christmas lights, I must maintain this process of loving God and loving others to be a light of the world. But just like all that effort of maintaining the lights on my home is worth it, I believe our work in being lights of the world, in service to God’s world, is worth it too. We can make positive differences in our lives, and in the lives of others, by loving God and loving our neighbors well, by seeking to be more like Christ. The season of Advent, as we prepare for the birth of the Christ child, the light of the world, gives us the perfect opportunity to prepare our hearts and lives to be lights that shine in the world, too. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16) God, help me to be a light that reflects your love and grace into the world, in this season of Advent and beyond. Amen Pastor Nicki Taylor
December 19, 2023 Enjoying Christmas…All Year long Our family Christmas preparations were established during our years as a family with young children, committed to heavy involvement in our church music program, especially at Christmas, making alternate trips to spend time with out-of-town parents and family, Christmas parties, school programs, purchasing the perfect gifts for those we love, and anything else we could cram into the empty crevices of time left over. Before we realized it, we had succumbed to the incessant busy-ness of “the holidays” with all the trappings, and had little energy left to enjoy the elusive “silent, holy night” we sing about each year. All of these were good and fun things to share with family and friends, but as the visits slowed down, and packed away our decorations, we seemed to pack away our “Christmas spirit” along with them. A question grew inside me - “If all this holiday activity is so good for me, why do I feel so let-down and tired when it’s all over?” Wondering how I could stretch the spirit of Christmas over the entire year, I began to reflect on how to cultivate more beauty, peace, and meaning in our Christmas experiences, simplify and de-stress valuable time with family and dear friends, reduce my expectations of others, rely less on traditions for tradition’s sake, and extend the riches of Christmas from seasonal occurrences to year-long experiences. I am discovering that Luke 10:27 may be the authentic and essential outlook for “Christmas all year round” because it calls us away from unsatisfying self -or- tradition-absorption to investing in the interests of others. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” If I am to first love the Lord with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, I must spend time with Him, get to know Him in his selflessness, graciousness, compassion, generosity, and love, and commit myself to being like Him. As He grows in me, He shows me how to share himself with those around me. Day by day, person by person, through words or deeds, as I ask Him to help me share His light with others, He provides opportunities to make Christmas perennial; when I give my full attention to someone who needs a listening ear, encouragement by true and sincere words or a quick note, a simple smile, or maybe a tangible gift. With family members or store clerks, we find that, with His help, we can leave a lingering impression of the joy, hope, and peace of Christmas all year long. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27) Dearest Jesus, thank you for providing us with everything we need to reflect your grace and goodness to others, and we ask that you would help us to make the most of every opportunity you open to us throughout the year to share your unspeakable Christmas gifts with those around us. Amen. Karen Gagnon
December 20, 2023 How do you get ready for Christmas? First UMC is blessed to have a fantastic youth group under the passionate direction of Emily Felgenhauer. The Student Connectors, leaders of the youth program, graciously shared their time to answer the question posed in the title. Their responses… We do a devotion as a family and light our Advent wreath each Sunday in preparation for Christmas. Evan Coppolo, Grade 12 My family bakes cookies and delivers them to our friends to prepare for Christmas. Will Corl, Grade 12 To get ready for Christmas, my family will decorate the tree and set up the lights. We have a tree with all of our regular ornaments as well as the ornaments that are from places we visit. On Christmas Eve we have a tradition where we open up two gifts. One has a new ornament, the other has new Christmas pajamas. Nathan Offutt, Grade 12 My family decorates our house and a Christmas tree and we make Christmas treats. Abby West, Grade 11 We make a bunch of different desserts, and we go to Publix and ring the Salvation Army bell. We also watch “Prep and Landing”. Warren Mayes, Grade 11 To get ready for the holidays my family normally sets up our nativity scene in the dining room and we listen to a lot of Christmas music. Addison Morris, Grade 11 I get gifts for those I love so I can show them my love. Madeline Coppolo, Grade 9 We figure out a theme (blue and white or brown and gold) and decorate our tree as a family. Then we decorate our house with decorations we have had for years from many people's gifts. Each person gets two decorations to put in their room. We attend the Christmas Eve service. Chloe Warren, Grade 8 On Christmas Eve we make different Christmas cookies, we go to Publix to ring the bell and on every Christmas Eve, we go to our family’s house in our Christmas pajamas and exchange gifts. Then every Christmas morning, we go to our grandmother’s house to exchange gifts with them. Harper Mayes, Grade 8 My family sets up an Advent calendar, a nativity set and other decorations to prepare for Christmas. My parents gather firewood in case we are lucky enough to have cold weather on Christmas. Alex Michel, Grade 7
We bake our food like a day before then we put it in the fridge or freezer. Emmet Joyner, Grade 6 A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) Awesome God, thank you for our family’s Christmas traditions. Amen Youth Leaders of STUDENT CONNECTORS
December 21, 2023 Jesus, Come Be Our Guest When I was a little girl, the Advent Bear Calendar was a very serious daily activity in my house. Each day, my sister, Jennifer, and I would sweetly argue about who would move the little brown, stuffed bear around the bear house. So, we finally settled on a solution: her birthday was the 16th and mine was the 31st. She would move the little bear on the even days of the month of December and I would move the bear on the odd days of the year. It was a solution and it worked pretty well. Advent is a comforting time. It is a time when the world seems happier. Though there is still turmoil, unrest, and struggles for peace, the expectation that our Lord and Savior is coming helps soothe hearts in the midst of uncertainty. Fritz Vincken writes of this account from a humbling, beautiful moment during World War I when soldiers, from America and Germany came to his home for a warm meal during Christmas Eve of 1914 entitled, “Christmas Truce”: “Relaxation was now beginning to replace suspicion. Even to me, all the soldiers looked very young as we sat there together. Heinz and Willi, both from Cologne, were 16. Their German Corporal, at 23, was the oldest of them all. From his food bag he drew out a bottle of red wine, and Heinz managed to find a loaf of rye bread. Mother cut that in small pieces to be served with the dinner; half the wine, however, she put away, ‘for the wounded boy.’ Then Mother said grace. I noticed that there were tears in her eyes as she said the old, familiar words, ‘Komm, Herr Jesus. Be our guest.’ And as I looked around the table, I saw tears, too, in the eyes of the battle-weary soldiers, boys again, some from America, some from Germany, all far from home. Just before midnight, Mother went to the doorstep and asked us to join her to look up at the Star of Bethlehem. We all stood beside her except Harry, who was sleeping. For all of us during the moment of silence, looking at the brightest star in the heavens, the war was a distant, almost-forgotten thing.” We know that there is much aggression and fighting in parts of our world. We cannot deny this. However we can pray for these people who live in areas of strife. We can hope that in their homes Jesus is their guest, that there is peace even though outside their windows they are experiencing horrific travesties. Let us pray that peace will come. Let us remember that God can bring peace and light into the darkest of places and find solutions. There is hope. There is hope even when it seems unlikely or impossible. That is the beauty and the overwhelming unexpectancy that is Advent. A little baby was born in a stable who would become King of the Universe. A little baby would be born to a Virgin and then, conquer death and sin. A little baby would challenge the strongest of earthly forces and win and also challenge the depths of the evil one and win.
Let us remember that even with the darkest parts of our world right now, we can take a moment and embrace all that is Advent and live in the joy and hope that is the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7) Dear Jesus, You come to us every day. You are there in the dark and the light. Help us keep leaning on you when the news story rocks our hearts. Help us to know that you are with us no matter what is happening around the world and keep us mindful of our brothers and sisters who need your love and hope. You are our Light. You are the One who can carry us through and help us find the way through life’s struggles and who embraces us wholeheartedly in life’s joys. We love you. Amen Judi New
December 22, 2023 Morning Devotion How do I prepare for Advent and Christmas? Our preparations for Advent and Christmas begin on the Monday before Thanksgiving. We put up the 7’ pre-lit tree and two Fiber-Optic trees and check the lights and let them fluff out. The day after Thanksgiving, we bring out the totes of Christmas Garland, ornaments and the Nativity sets we collect. Our favorite is the Olive Wood rough-hewn Nativity set that my husband’s parents brought back to us after their trip to the Holy Land thirty years ago. We surround it with the smaller Nativity sets and angel figurines on a shelf in the family room. Our pre-lit Holiday wreath goes on the front door and our garden flag is placed in the flower bed by the front door. I collect all my Christmas music books and have them on my piano so I can sit down any time and play the old familiar Christmas carols and songs I have known since my childhood. The Advent Devotionals from First UMC that I have collected over the years along with devotionals I have bought or have been given are displayed on a Christmas plate on the coffee table. We have had the honor for the past few years to buy Christmas presents for some of the children of the Called to Serve Migrant Ministry and this brings a lot of joy to us. All these traditions, opening the boxes and finding old friends in the ornaments, cardinals (in honor of my sister Jean), doves and Crosses we hang on the Christmas tree are reminders that we are honoring the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We want our home to be a welcoming presence to others that Jesus is honored and celebrated here. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16) (Part of the Salt & Light Parable). Dear God, may we see our lives each day in the light of your calling on our lives. May we show your love in all we say and do as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen Jane A. Warren
December 22, 2023 Evening Devotion This Light Shines In preparation for Christmas, we light the candles of the Advent wreath and read the familiar scriptures and devotions that remind us why we celebrate. The prophet Isaiah comforts us and assures us that a Messiah is coming. Isaiah writes that the name of the Messiah will be Emmanuel which means “God with us”. The Christian faith teaches that this Emmanuel is in the person of Jesus. Jesus walked into a world that hungered for knowledge that God is always with us and will never leave. As we read these same scriptures year after year, we prepare our hearts and minds for the continuous assurance of God’s promise to be with us. The lights of the Christmas trees reflect the words of Isaiah 9:2 that we no longer walk in darkness but we see a great light - the light of the world. This light shines forth in our homes, in our hearts, and through the joyous hymns of the season. We cannot resist the holy music, the programs in our church, in our community, and on the television. The words of the hymns, light up our hearts as we sing, “The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.” Will you let the light into your heart this Advent season? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders...The zeal of the Lord almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7) Loving God of eternal presence, shine your light into the hearts of all humanity. Bring you peace and love to all that wars may end. Nudge us through the prompting of the Holy Spirit to love one another at all times. Shine in our hearts. Amen Koinonia Sunday School Class
December 23, 2023 How do you prepare for Christmas when your heart is heavy and it doesn’t feel festive and joyful? A friend and or a family member dies during December. A recent divorce is still painful. A family member is out of relationship. Your child is lost to drugs. Finances are not able to support holiday shopping. A loved one’s serious illness affects the whole family. You are worn out as a caregiver. You are far from home and facing a “Blue Christmas”. The reasons are many that may bring on sadness for the holidays. Where do you go and what do you do when Christmas traditions are painful or seem not possible? Who do you talk to when you don’t feel like sharing? In times of hardship and we feel alone, it is comforting to remember GOD IS WITH US in every circumstance. Through Jesus HE demonstrated love and experienced pain and suffering of every kind. He promised His Spirit to be with you always. There are two things that can calm and lift your heart feelings: (1) Gratitude: acknowledging what you are grateful for (2) Altruism: random acts of kindness Both of these bring your focus away from yourself and toward others, and allows you to relax and simplify. Start a list of all that you can be grateful and add to it every day. Your gift to others can be as simple as your smile or a kind and thoughtful word. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2Corinthians 1:3-4) Gracious God, you have blessed me in so many ways for which I am grateful. You have forgiven my sins and daily you help me to see your world and your people in light of your love. Help me to be a blessing to others. Amen Jane Wood
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas Eve December 24, 2023 O Little Town of Bethlehem It is interesting that at the time of Jesus’ birth there was a real sense of expectation in the air, awaiting for the coming of the King. The prophecies were ready to be fulfilled. People were looking to Bethlehem where Scripture said the Messiah would be born. Years later, a Pastor from Philadelphia, told the story of how God fulfilled that promise. Phillip Brooks was a dynamic preacher, but he had lost his enthusiasm. After years of war, when it seemed the nation was ready to heal, Lincoln was assassinated. Brooks was asked to preach at the funeral. Afterwards, he was so spiritually drained that his Church gave him a sabbatical. He took a trip to the Holy Land. Christmas Eve, 1865 in Jerusalem, he borrowed a horse and rode to the tiny village of Bethlehem. “I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born. The whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God. Again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth.” He captured those moments in a poem for Sunday School children. First, he described Christmas: peace, light, hope, love. Then he shared the meaning of Christmas: God’s wondrous gift of grace given with the coming of Christ into the human heart. “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.” How can we prepare to meet the Christ Child? Like the angels, we can sing, “Glory to God in the highest”. Like the Magi, we can prepare gifts for Christ. Like the shepherds we can go and tell our friends, glorifying and praising God for all we have seen and heard. Then our hearts will be ready to receive Him. When Herod had called all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they replied, for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Matthew 2: 4-6) Advent God, you enter time and lives, and transform both to the glory of your name and the benefit of all people…we praise your name for angel voices and obedient hearts. Amen (John Birch, England) Marilyn Beecher
Christmas Day December 25, 2023 The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-21) 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 Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their 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 to register 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 first-born son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those 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 had 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 praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Merry Christmas