Luke 2:1-21

It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire. This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria. So everybody went to their own city to be registered. Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea. He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby. While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left. Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were scared out of their wits! “Don't be afraid!” the angel told them. “I'm here to bring you good news that will make the all the people really glad. The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord. You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying, “Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those who please him!” After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what's happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about.” They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby. All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them. The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told. After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived.