Bee | é —Kesponsive Reading “The Birth of Jesus” | Minister: : And she brought forth her firstborn son, and aed him “qi swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for | them in the inn. | Congregation: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in | _the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Minister: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory a the | Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Congregation: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, ! oe | | you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. | Minister: For unto you is born this day in the city of Davida Saviour, which Is Christ the Lord. | Congregation: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall Lisle, the babe | _ | wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying ina manger. | Minister: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Congregation: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will | toward men. | Minister: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto | Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. | Congregation: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. | Minister: And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. | Congregation: And all they that heard it wondered at those things which , were told them by the shepherds. Minister: But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ‘Congregation: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.