Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1433252
11 DECEMBER Christ was born of Mar y. The first Christmas was born in a way that didn't make sense to most of the religiously faithful. As a result, many missed that first Christmas, and many have missed Christmas in the centuries ever since. When God doesn't make sense, we can miss Him right in the middle of our moments. Or when He doesn't make sense, as with Mar y, we can take our confusion to Him and allow Him to transform it into astonished wonder. Elisa Morgan, Board Member and Alumna O Little Town of Bethlehem Lyrics by Phillips Brooks (1868), composed by Lewis Redner (1868) Luke 1:26-38 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mar y. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mar y was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mar y; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give bir th to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever ; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.