Merry Christmas! I hope you have a really great one with friends and family. This is from a previous Christmas. The following is without comment. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was very perplexed at the statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "how can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you and for that reason the Holy child shall be called the Son of God." ... Bethlehem ... and she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ... shepherds in the fields keeping watch ... an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them ... behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. ... A baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. ... A multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with him He is pleased." ... they found the baby lying in the manger. ... they made known the statement which had been told them about the Child. ... Many treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. May God richly bless you and your family. May He bring the blessings of heaven upon your household. May you always prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. May you find your future in His word. And again – merry Christmas!

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