The Christian Calendar on Jesus' Birth

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Luke 2:6-7, Philippians 2:6-7, Matthew 2:1-12, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 5:3-10, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 61:1

Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog.

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Lord Jesus Christ, you are loving and

Author

Chip Hardwick

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Scripture

Colossians 1:15-16, Luke 9:23-24, Romans 7:18-19, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 51:10

Lord Jesus Christ, you are loving and merciful. Forgive us for being so captivated by Christmas that we forget that you, the little baby in the manger, grew up as the Lord over all creation. It is som...

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Gracious God, with joy and thanksgiving we gather as Your people

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Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 1:18-25, Galatians 4:4-6, Luke 2:1-20, Philippians 4:7, Romans 5:1, Micah 5:2, John 1:14

Pastor: Gracious God, with joy and thanksgiving we gather as Your people to ponder anew the timeless story of Christ’s birth. For at just the right time, You worked in the most unlikely ways to fulf...

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The Humanity of Jesus’ Birth

Author

Eugene H. Peterson

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Scripture

Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:23, Colossians 1:15-17, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-8

By stating that Jesus is “born of woman”—this Mary (as both St. Matthew and St. Luke attest)—St. Paul insists that Jesus is most emphatically human, the “firstborn of all creation. That this Mary is a...

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Author

Larry Libby

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Scripture

Luke 2:8-14, Luke 2:1-7, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:46-55, Micah 5:2, John 1:14, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:25-38, John 10:10-11

Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, those angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a...

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On this holy night we come to worship and adore

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Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, Galatians 4:4-6

Pastor: On this holy night we come to worship and adore the One we have been waiting for – Christ the Lord! As we prepare to hear once again the story of that first Christmas, let us come to the light...

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At just the right time, when all was still, and it was midnight

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:5, Isaiah 9:2b, John 1:14, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:4

Following the lighting of candles, this prayer may be prayed by the congregation. Suitable songs include "Silent Night." Pastor: At just the right time, when all was still, and it was ...

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Lord, you came among us, not in a way

Author

William H. Willimon

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Lord, you came among us, not in a way we expected, but as a baby. We had great difficulty seeing you in so small a form, so vulnerable an incarnation. Lord, you came to us where we least expected. Yo...

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A Christmas Creed (2)

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:1-15, Romans 8:14-16, Acts 1:8

Pastor: As the shepherds told everyone what had happened in Bethlehem on that first Christmas, we declare what we know and believe about God. People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,...

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A Christmas Creed

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Scripture

Luke 2:22-35, Romans 8:14-16, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14

Leader: Today, we declare what we know and believe about God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the words of a special creed, known as the Christmas Creed. People: I believe in God, the Fat...

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Prayer of Confession for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 2:22-35, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 2:1-12, John 1:14, Matthew 1:18-25

Leader: Today, we celebrate that Jesus has come, and that He promises to come again! We know He came to bring light and hope, People: but our hearts are often shrouded by darkness and despair. ...

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God, you come to us and meet us in the

Author

Ruth C. Duck

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Scripture

1 Kings 19:11-12, Isaiah 41:10, Luke 2:19, Isaiah 52:7, Micah 6:8, Acts 2:17

God, you come to us and meet us in the strangest ways: sometimes in the stillness at the eye of the storm or in the midnight of our lives; sometimes in the raging whirlwind or in the high noon of our ...

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Christmas: A Tradition of Gift-Giving

Author

Emily Hunter McGowin

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Scripture

Matthew 2:11, James 1:17, Matthew 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Proverbs 22:9, 1 Timothy 6:18, John 3:16

While Christmas traditions vary the world over, gift-giving is a central practice just about anywhere Christ's birth is celebrated. Sometimes gifts are exchanged on December 6, the feast day of S...

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A Christmas Prayer of Intercession

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 9:6, John 16:13, Psalm 72:11, Psalm 133:1

Leader: On this Christmas [morning/eve], let us pray to our incarnate Lord Jesus, who has brought us out of darkness and into His own marvelous light. Jesus, you were born for us and given to us: ...

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7 Christmas Sermon Quotes to Inspire Your Last-Minute Prep

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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'Twas just two days before Christmas and the reverend was stressing. There's a sermon to write and prayers of confessing... If that's you—we see you. You're definitely not alone, and...

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Author

Robert Herrick

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Scripture

Luke 2:13-14, Luke 1:46-49, Luke 2:20, Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 9:6-7, Revelation 5:9-10

What sweeter music can we bring, Then a Caroll, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly king?

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Author

Charles Wesley

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Scripture

John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 2:9, Revelation 21:3, Hebrews 1:3, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel

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Assurance of Pardon for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Malachi 4:2, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:16, Titus 2:11, John 1:16, Isaiah 9:6

Leader: People of God, rejoice! The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in His wings. To us a Child has been born; to us God’s Son has been given! His eternal reign has broken throug...

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Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born;

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 2:11, John 1:5

Pastor: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born; People: He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:11 Pastor: Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of G...

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Author

O.P. Kretzmann

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Scripture

Luke 2:6-7, Philippians 2:6-8, Isaiah 53:2-3, Micah 5:2, Exodus 2:1-10, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Revelation 21:3-4

One of our troubles, is that we have romanticized and sentimentalized the stable and the manger…We see them through the warm glow of our comfortable homes, our candles and our well-fed bodies....Perha...

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Author

Luci Shaw

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Scripture

Luke 1:30-33, Isaiah 7:14, Hebrews 2:14-15, Luke 1:38, Luke 2:19

And when she, birth-giver— her ordinary vision arrowed down between her legs, through pain and straw, to her son’s dark, slime-streaked hair, to his very skin, red with the struggle of being born—she ...

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Author

Augustine of Hippo

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Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:6-7, John 1:1-3, 14, Luke 2:8-20, Colossians 1:15-17, Luke 2:22-35, Philippians 2:6-7

He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.

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Author

Augustine of Hippo

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Scripture

John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 1:16-17, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:12, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Luke 2:11-12

He by whom all things were made was made one of all things. The Son of God by the Father without a mother became the Son of man by a mother without a father. The Word Who is God before all time became...

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Author

Vicki K. Black

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Scripture

Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 8:3-4, Colossians 1:15-16

“In historical time, Christmas happened over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem; in theological time, Christmas happens now, in the mystery of God choosing to dwell within humankind, a mystery that t...

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Adapted from John Francis Wade’s "O Come, Let Us Adore Him"

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

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Scripture

Luke 2:10-11, Psalm 100:2, Luke 2:8-20, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-2, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:15-16, Revelation 19:16, Luke 2:8-20, Psalm 95:6, Philippians 2:10-11, Luke 2:25-38, John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:11

Leader: O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, People: O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Leader: Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us ador...

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Mary at the Nativity

Author

Tania Runyan

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Scripture

Luke 1:32-33, Isaiah 9:6-7, Psalm 139:13-14, Luke 2:9, Matthew 2:11

The angel said there would be no end to his kingdom. So for three hundred days I carried rivers and cedars and mountains. Stars spilled in my belly when he turned. Now I can’t stop touching hi...

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Author

Augustine of Hippo

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Luke 2:4-7, Matthew 4:1-2, John 4:6-7, Mark 4:38-39, John 4:6

Man's maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; th...

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Author

Eugene H. Peterson

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The wise men were experts in the movement of the stars and signs in the heavens. Their inquiry thrusts the provincial village into a cosmic concern. It is not the scientific data they are searching ou...

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Author

C. S. Lewis

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Scripture

Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:10-12, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-11

"Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world."

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Author

C. S. Lewis

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Scripture

Colossians 1:15-17, John 1:14, Micah 5:2, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Isaiah 57:15, Hebrews 1:3

“It seems, then,” said Tirian, smiling himself, “that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places.” “Yes,” said the Lord Digory. “Its inside is bigger than it...

the christian calendar on Jesus' Birth

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