By Rob and Maria

Beyond the joy, the sparkle, and the Audubon’s bird counts, the season is still about a baby. In honor of the holiday, we wanted to share some familiar words, a story told far better in its original form than we could ever re-tell.

We do want to add…maybe you are reading this as a believer, someone who has walked in faith for years. Or maybe you’ve never particularly been interested in the Christian faith, or worse, been hurt by someone inside the church. If the former, we hope the season has been full of the Joy of the Spirit, plus some excellent gingerbread cookies for good measure. If the latter, we hope this season will bring you love, and we wish your wrongs would be righted in the new year. There is little worse than to have your trust violated. We can’t pretend to know your situation so we can only pray for your peace.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:1‭-‬20 NIV

Merry Christmas, everyone! We wish you all the love and joy in the world.