Reader: “A Savior is born!”
Response: “Who is Christ the Lord.”

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-5

>The people who walk in darkness
>will see a great light.
>For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
>a light will shine.
>You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
>and its people will rejoice.
>They will rejoice before you
>as people rejoice at the harvest
>and like warriors dividing the plunder.
>For you will break the yoke of their slavery
>and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
>You will break the oppressor’s rod,
>just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
>The boots of the warrior
>and the uniforms bloodstained by war
>will all be burned.
>They will be fuel for the fire.

>For a child is born to us,
>a son is given to us.
>The government will rest on his shoulders.
>And he will be called:
>Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
>Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
>His government and its peace
>will never end.
>He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
>for all eternity.
>The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
>will make this happen!

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.