Christmas Eve Service

Carols by Candlelight

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 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 firstborn, a 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.