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In December our thoughts are turned to
Christmas and the giving of gifts. The word Christmas
actually comes from two words, Christ Mass. Originally
Christ mass was a worship service remembering the incarnation of Christ
in Bethlehem. Over the years the two words merged together into
the word, Christmas. For the Christmas
story... of the announcement to Mary and to Joseph, Mary's visit with
her cousin, Elizabeth, the census, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth,
the announcement to the shepherds and their visit, the visit of the wise
men from the east, the slaying of the children by King Herod, see...
Matthew chapters 1-2 and Luke chapters 1-2.
John's gospel gives us a clear statement of the incarnation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things
came into being by him, and apart from him nothing came into being that
has come into being. In him was life, and the life was the light
of men. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we
beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth." John 1:1-4, 14 |