For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
On this Christmas Day we light the center candle, the Christ Candle.
We light this candle as a symbol of God’s mercy and grace.
Send, O God, into the darkness of this troubled world, the light of Your Son.
Let the star of Your hope touch the minds of the people with the bright beams of mercy and truth;
and so direct our steps that we may ever walk in the way revealed to us,
as the shepherds of Bethlehem walked with joy to the manger where He dwelled,
who now and ever reigns in our hearts, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
(John Suter, U.S.A., 20th CENT., ALT.)
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:8-20
The season of Christmas begins at sunset on December 24th and goes until January 6th, the Epiphany of the Lord. Twelve days to celebrate God’s mercy and grace as we ponder the plan of salvation God put into motion that long ago day in Bethlehem. A baby born in a manger under the shadow of the Cross. Jesus would live among God’s people. He would preach. He would teach. He would heal. He would suffer. He would die. All for God’s people. He would rise from that tomb victorious over death with the promise of eternal life for all who would believe and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Are we, like the shepherds, eager to come and see what God has for us?
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Can we, like the shepherds, come away from an encounter with Jesus, glorifying and praising God for everything He makes known to us?
And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
as it was told unto them.
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