Come celebrate the birth of Jesus at worship!
Christmas Eve Candlelight worship – 5:00 p.m. Family Worship
8:00 p.m. – Traditional worship with Holy Communion
Christmas Day worship with Holy Communion – 10:00 a.m.
Devotions: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.
Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.
Emmanuel, God-With-Us, Heaven Born on Earth, let us wonder and dream with you. Place peace and hope, love and joy within us. Let us hear the sacred story of the nativity as a fresh gift on this night. Amen.
Reflect: Reflect on the key verse from today’s reading.
And 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. (Luke 2:7)
Study: Study the reading and consider the background.
This passage has been told in Christmas specials and children’s books. It has been sketched, painted, and versified. Even those not familiar with the scripture may find themselves familiar with the words. “In those days, a decree went out…” putting the holy family on the move. Mary gave birth to her child in an unlikely place. Angels bore witness to “good news of great joy,” and called the shepherds to their own witness and worship. Make haste to the manger. Treasure all these things. Ponder them in your heart.
Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.
Sunday, Luke 1:5-13 (57-80), Zechariah’s Song
Monday, Luke 1:1-4, Dedication to Theophilus
Tuesday, Luke 1:14-25, Zechariah’s Encounter
Wednesday, Luke 1:26-38, The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Thursday, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), The Birth of Jesus
Friday, Luke 2:8-20, Shepherds Visit
Saturday, Matthew 2:1-12, The Magi
How are John’s birth announcement and Jesus’ birth announcement similar? How are they different?
Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”
What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
Who in your community is in need of extra care and attention this season? What could you do to bring joy into their lives?
Have you ever experienced a message from God in an unusual way? What happened? How did you know it was God speaking?
Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.
Make a special gift to your church in honor of the day. During your household’s Christmas meal, share what you are grateful for.
Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.
May God bless you with all the joy and fullness of Christ’s birth. Amen.
