Irreverently Reverend

  Christmas Eve In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists.  2  This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria.  3  Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled.  4  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.  5  He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant.  6  While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.  7  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. 8  Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.  9  The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  The a...

  Advent IV 18  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  19  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  20  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  21  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  22  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23  “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,     and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”  24  When Joseph awoke fro...