Good News of a Great Joy

Minister: I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord, our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:1-2)

People: For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand, I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(Psalm 84:10)

Minister: Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. (Psalm 122:9)

People: Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.
(Psalm 92:13)

Minister: Blessed are they that dwell in thy house. Lord, I have loved thy habitation, the place where thy honor dwelleth. (Psalm 26:8)

People: For the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

Minister: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

People: O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord; all the earth sing praises. (Psalm 98:1, 4)

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 

² This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. 

³ And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 

⁵ to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 

⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.

⁷ And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 

¹¹ for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

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

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

¹⁶ And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 

¹⁷ And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 

¹⁸ and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

From all that dwell below the skies, Let thy Creator’s praise arise; Let thy Redeemer’s name be sung, Through every land by every tongue.

Minister: And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Nearer my God, to thee! Nearer to thee, E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me; Still all my song shall be. Nearer my God to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee.

Minister: Hear what Christ our Savior saith. Thou shall love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments, hang all the law and the prophets.