Welcome! We are thrilled you are here for this Christmas Eve celebration. To help you enter into the story of Jesus’s birth we have prepared these Scripture passages. Imagine yourself in the scene – smell the smells, hear the sounds, feel the power of God becoming a human. In the flesh. The Incarnation. Drive away from here changed by the baby Jesus, who would grow up and give his life for you. For us. God with us.
Be sure to tune your radio to FM 99.3!
1
In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. –Luke 2:1-7 CEB
2
Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2:8-12 CEB
3
Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. -Luke 2:13-20 CEB
4
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. –Matthew 2:1-12 CEB
5
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means “God with us.”) –Matthew 1:18-23 CEB
Of Note…
…Communion will be available at the end of the experience tonight.
…Please exit onto Commodore out of our back drive.
…Thank you to Allen Barbee, Kathryn Rodriguez, and all who helped make this night possible!
Upcoming
Tonight! Enjoy a Christmas Eve message from our senior pastor Eric Lee on our website & Facebook
Celebrate online Lessons and Carols on Christmas Day led by our Music Ministry
Would you like to support a church that does things like this? Give at chambleeumc.org/give or text CHAMBLEE & amount to 73256
Email Signup: chambleeumc.org/updates
Poinsettias
Russ & Brittany Dunlap
In Honor of Elizabeth & Katherine Dunlap
In Memory of Bill Robinson
Ann & Les Hammond
In Memory of Loved ones
In Memory of Benjamin Trammell
In Honor of Laura, Matt, Lila, and McKenzie Trammell
In Honor of Adam and Karyn Hammond and Noah Vieira
Tony & Kristine Intveld
Ken & Belinda Owenby
In memory of Dick Owenby
In memory of Bob and Jeanne Day
Wendell & Lee Turner
Kate, Max, and Anna Nabulsi from Lee Turner
Sandra Watts
In memory of Richard Watts, Sr.