[Uucf-bible] Christmas lectionary samples

[RevRonRobinson at aol.com]

Here are some of the readings for the upcoming fourth Sunday in Advent and  
Christmas season. Check them all out plus links to commentaries and sermons and 
 more at _www.textweek.com_ (http://www.textweek.com)  where you  will also 
find the footnote comments to the texts, etc. 
 
Here in Turley we had bible conversation that focused on the Matthew story  
one week and the Luke story the next, looking at the differences, the intended  
audiences, the meanings for our life from the stories, the difficulties of  
blending the stories and the traditions. And now we will begin the time of  
blending the stories and traditions in our services, plus :). We will have a  
showing of The Nativity Story for the community this Sunday evening, and we will  
hold a Midnight Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols and communion  
and candle-lighting (well actually it starts at 11 p.m. but will be  finished at 
midnight). What's going on where you are?  blessings, Ron  Robinson
 
 
Matthew 1:18-25
 
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah_*_ (javascript:void(0);)  took place in 
this way. When his mother Mary had been  engaged to Joseph, but before they 
lived together, she was found to be with  child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her 
husband Joseph, being a  righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public 
disgrace, planned to dismiss  her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do 
this, an  angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son 
of David, do  not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived 
in her is from  the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name  
him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place 
to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord  through the prophet: 
23‘Look, the virgin shall  conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him  Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the 
angel of the Lord  commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no 
marital  relations with her until she had borne a son;_*_ (javascript:void(0);)  
and he named him Jesus. 
Luke 2:1-20
 
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus  that all the world 
should be registered. 2This was the first  registration and was taken while 
Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 
4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,  to the city of 
David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house  and family 
of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to  whom he was engaged and who 
was expecting a child. 6While  they were there, the time came for her to 
deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in 
bands  of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in 
the  inn.  
8In that region there were shepherds living in the  fields, keeping watch 
over their flock by night. 9Then an  angel of the Lord stood before them, and the 
glory of the Lord shone around  them, and they were terrified. 10But the 
angel said to them,  “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of 
great joy for all the  people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a  
Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign  for you: you 
will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  13And 
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the  heavenly host, praising God 
and saying, 14“Glory to God in  the highest heaven, and on earth peace among 
those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the  
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing 
 that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went 
with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the  child lying in the manger. 
17When they saw this, they made  known what had been told them about this child; 
18and all  who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary 
treasured all these words and pondered them in her  heart. 20The shepherds 
returned, glorifying and praising God  for all they had heard and seen, as it had 
been told them. 






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