An Unfinished Story: The Sixth Lesson

And now, after a brief interlude of family and food, I will continue with the unfinished story.  It seems to me appropriate to continue this after Christmas, after the commercialism has reached it's peak, after our attention moves away from lights! sweets! gifts!  Although it is still the same story that has been broadcasted for the last six weeks, year after year, don't allow yourself to become tired of it.  It is so important, no matter what time of year we tell it!

The sixth lesson: Luke tells of the birth of Jesus

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, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

(Luke 2:1-7, NLT)

Away in a Manger

Casting Crowns

Away in a manger, 

No crib for His bed 

The little Lord Jesus 

Laid down His sweet head 

The stars in the bright sky 

Looked down where He lay 

The little Lord Jesus 

Asleep on the hay 

The cattle are lowing 

The poor Baby wakes 

But little Lord Jesus 

No crying He makes 

I love Thee, Lord Jesus 

Look down from the sky 

And stay by my side, 

'Til morning is nigh. 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, 

I ask Thee to stay 

Close by me forever 

And love me I pray 

Bless all the dear children 

In Thy tender care 

And take us to heaven 

To live with Thee there

"An Unfinished Story" is based off of a bulletin from a church service I attended in South Africa.  I will give credit to individuals throughout the series, but the bulletin is from St. Thomas' Anglican Church, Linden, from the 18th of December 2011 at 6:30 pm.  I edited to make it more modern.