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CONTENTS<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong><br />

Advent<br />

Nativity Plays<br />

Festivities<br />

Carol Services and Worship<br />

2<br />

3<br />

7<br />

19<br />

29


1


CHRISTMAS<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> is a wonderful, joyful time of year. A<br />

festival and holiday celebrated across the world.<br />

The traditions around <strong>Christmas</strong> have evolved<br />

over centuries focussing on the core historic<br />

event, the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years<br />

ago. This is why <strong>Christmas</strong> holds such deep<br />

significance for Christians around the world.<br />

In this beautifully illustrated <strong>book</strong>, we will<br />

explore various <strong>Christmas</strong> traditions as we<br />

prepare to celebrate the extraordinary birth<br />

of Jesus Christ, God’s son. Jesus is called<br />

‘Emmanuel’ or God with us. Christians believe<br />

that Jesus Christ is God; God himself who came<br />

to live on Earth and to rescue all people through<br />

his birth, his death, and his resurrection.<br />

Matthew 1:21<br />

She is going to have a<br />

son. You must give him<br />

the name Jesus. That’s<br />

because he will save his<br />

people from their sins.<br />

2


ADVENT<br />

Isaiah 7:14<br />

The Lord himself will give you a sign.<br />

The virgin is going to have a baby.<br />

She will give birth to a son. And he<br />

will be called Emmanuel.<br />

3


The season of Advent, which begins four weeks before<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong>, is a time of preparation and anticipation for the<br />

birth of Jesus. There are many prophecies in the Bible about<br />

Jesus’ birth, written years and years before it came to pass.<br />

They spoke to the people of Israel, about the birth of the<br />

Messiah, Jesus, before anyone knew when he would be born<br />

or exactly how God would bring this about. God’s people<br />

then were waiting for their Messiah, and now he is everyone’s<br />

Messiah or Saviour or Rescuer. During the <strong>Christmas</strong> season,<br />

the waiting of Advent prepares current followers of Jesus to<br />

receive Christ into their hearts again. Advent wreaths, with<br />

their four candles representing hope, peace, joy, and love,<br />

are commonly used to mark the progression of this period.<br />

The lighting of each candle during Advent underscores the<br />

growing anticipation of Jesus’ arrival.<br />

4


9<br />

Isaiah 9:6<br />

A child will be born to us.<br />

A son will be given to us.<br />

He will rule over us.<br />

And he will be called<br />

Wonderful Adviser and<br />

Mighty God.<br />

He will also be called Father<br />

Who Lives Forever<br />

and Prince Who Brings Peace.<br />

6<br />

11 23<br />

5


Today, Advent is often marked with<br />

chocolate treats received each day<br />

from a simple advent calendar. Advent<br />

calendars would have traditionally held<br />

depictions of the nativity scene: Mary and<br />

Joseph, the baby Jesus, and the animals<br />

in the stable. Now, with the growing<br />

commercialisation and secularisation<br />

of <strong>Christmas</strong>, Advent calendars come<br />

with very different illustrations. Yet,<br />

the simple exercise of counting the<br />

days to <strong>Christmas</strong> is still core, and this<br />

anticipation can help us all reflect on the<br />

true meaning of <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />

6


NATIVITY PLAYS<br />

One of the most memorable <strong>Christmas</strong> traditions is school<br />

nativity plays. These retellings of the <strong>Christmas</strong> story<br />

portray the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and help us pass<br />

on the centrality of this important historic event to the<br />

next generation. These plays often involve simple scripts,<br />

shepherds in tea towel headdresses, and competition over<br />

who gets to play the central part of Mary, or who gets left<br />

playing the donkey! Children enjoy them, and as adults watch,<br />

they are poignant reminders of childhood. Yet, even in the fun<br />

and chaos of small children and amateur acting, the emphasis<br />

remains on the message of God’s love and redemption for<br />

humanity. The memorable story and central characters, like<br />

the shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in<br />

the manger, remind us each year of how a seemingly ordinary<br />

couple were in the middle of the most important moment in<br />

history, the divine purpose of Jesus’ birth.<br />

7


Luke 2:4-7<br />

So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth<br />

in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of<br />

David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to<br />

the family line of David. He went there with Mary to be<br />

taxed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a<br />

baby. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came<br />

for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It<br />

was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then<br />

she placed him in a manger. That’s because there was no<br />

guest room where they could stay.<br />

8


MARY<br />

Let’s look at those key characters and what they tell us about the<br />

first <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />

Mary was a young Jewish woman living a normal life when God<br />

broke in and changed her future choosing her to be the mother<br />

of God’s son - Jesus. The angel Gabriel appeared to her, which<br />

must have been terrifying enough, but his message would change<br />

Mary’s life and the course of human history. Mary was going to<br />

conceive and give birth to a baby boy who would be God’s Son: one<br />

who would rescue and save all people. Mary must have realised<br />

how difficult this was going to be, explaining her pregnancy to her<br />

fiancé and being an unmarried mother in a culture where that was<br />

unacceptable. She shows extreme faith as she accepts the call to<br />

follow God’s plan for her life and we get to follow her example and<br />

renew our faith in God each <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />

9


Luke 1:26-28<br />

In the sixth month after Elizabeth had<br />

become pregnant, God sent the angel<br />

Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He<br />

was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged<br />

to a man named Joseph. He came from<br />

the family line of David. The virgin’s name<br />

was Mary. The angel greeted her and said,<br />

“The Lord has blessed you in a special way.<br />

He is with you.”<br />

10


GABRIEL<br />

The angel Gabriel as we have seen is key to the<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> story. Often in our nativity plays, the<br />

angels are young girls with tinsel around their<br />

heads, but the angel Gabriel would have been a<br />

mighty figure of strength and glory appearing,<br />

as we have seen, to the startled Mary. He is the<br />

divine messenger from God bringing the good<br />

news of God’s plan to rescue the world to the key<br />

people who were to be involved. He is central at<br />

the birth nine months later announcing to the<br />

shepherds on the hillside that the moment has<br />

come where heaven has touched earth in the<br />

birth of the Messiah - the chosen one! Gabriel’s<br />

message resonates through the years and<br />

centuries to us today inviting us to discover this<br />

good news for ourselves.<br />

11


You must call<br />

him Jesus!<br />

Luke 1:30-35<br />

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very<br />

pleased with you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a<br />

son. You must call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called<br />

the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a<br />

king like his father David of long ago. The Son of the Most High<br />

God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family<br />

line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.”<br />

“How can this happen?” Mary asked the angel. “I am a virgin.”<br />

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The<br />

power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that<br />

is born will be called the Son of God.”<br />

12


JOSEPH<br />

Joseph was a young Jewish man betrothed to Mary:<br />

a carpenter living an unextraordinary life. His world<br />

is turned upside down when he discovers that his<br />

fiancée is pregnant! Though he loves Mary, he plans<br />

to separate from her quietly. But once again, there<br />

is divine intervention. An angel appears to him in a<br />

dream and he too accepts the call of God in his life to<br />

become the earthly father of God’s son. Together with<br />

Mary, he faces the social stigma of her pregnancy<br />

pre-marriage and the wonders of this supernatural<br />

birth. He keeps listening to God and is ready to act<br />

decisively to remove the child and Mary from danger<br />

when King Herod threatens the baby’s life. He and<br />

Mary end up as refugees escaping to Egypt. His was<br />

another life of obedience and trust in God’s plan even<br />

though it meant challenges and change.<br />

13


Matthew 1:19-21<br />

Her husband Joseph was faithful to the law. But he did not<br />

want to put her to shame in public. So, he planned to divorce<br />

her quietly. But as Joseph was thinking about this, an angel of<br />

the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph,<br />

son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.<br />

The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have<br />

a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That’s because he<br />

will save his people from their sins.”<br />

14


SHEPHERDS<br />

Every nativity play has Shepherds in their<br />

makeshift outfits and we are so used to this<br />

that we can overlook how unusual these<br />

visitors would have been to the bedside<br />

of a newborn baby and his mother! The<br />

Shepherds came to Bethlehem because<br />

they too were visited by the angel Gabriel<br />

and vast numbers of heavenly angelic<br />

beings. Imagine how this lit up the dark sky<br />

above them whilst they rested with their<br />

sheep? What a sight and what a memorable<br />

night! They were chosen to be the first to<br />

hear the good news about God’s Son: that<br />

he had come to rescue all people. They<br />

show us that God calls all regardless of their<br />

social status or occupation.<br />

15


Luke 2:8-12<br />

There were shepherds living out in the fields<br />

nearby. It was night, and they were taking care<br />

of their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to<br />

them. And the glory of the Lord shone around<br />

them. They were terrified. But the angel said to<br />

them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It<br />

will bring great joy to all the people. Today in the<br />

town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is<br />

the Messiah, the Lord. Here is how you will know<br />

I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby<br />

wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”<br />

16


WISE MEN<br />

The Wise Men were also surprising visitors to the young baby Jesus<br />

because they were learned scholars and astrologers or stargazers<br />

from a faraway land. God sent a brilliant new star into the night sky,<br />

another messenger to speak to a different audience. The Wise Men<br />

followed this star and they knew that there were prophecies about<br />

a new king of the Jewish people and that this star was announcing<br />

his birth. They followed the star, firstly looking for Jesus in King<br />

Herod’s palace, but then finding him in humble surroundings<br />

instead. There they brought him costly gifts of gold, frankincense,<br />

and myrrh, which were significant indicators of his future. Gold<br />

was given to show that Jesus is a King; frankincense was a gift for a<br />

priest, showing Jesus as the high priest; and finally, myrrh used to<br />

embalm the dead speaks of the death that Jesus would die to save<br />

us all. The arrival of The Wise Men must have signified to Mary and<br />

Joseph the importance of the child they had the duty to raise!<br />

17


Matthew 2:1-12<br />

After The Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their<br />

way. The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them.<br />

It finally stopped over the place where the child was. When<br />

they saw the star, they were filled with joy. The Wise Men went<br />

to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary.<br />

They bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their<br />

treasures. They gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. But<br />

God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they<br />

returned to their country on a different road.<br />

18


FESTIVITIES<br />

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong>, for many of us, would not be complete without <strong>Christmas</strong><br />

decorations, including a <strong>Christmas</strong> tree covered in lights. While for<br />

some, this includes festooning the whole house in lights and creating a<br />

magical, bright, winter wonderland. All the lights brighten up this dark<br />

time of year and remind us that Jesus was born as the light of the world<br />

bringing light to all. The <strong>Christmas</strong> tree, a German tradition adopted in<br />

the UK, is often completed with a star on top. This star reminds us of the<br />

first miraculous star that guided The Wise Men to Jesus. It encourages<br />

us to follow Jesus the light who is showing us the way for our lives and<br />

leads us on a journey, just like The Wise Men, towards faith and salvation.<br />

Decorations help us mark this time of year as a special celebration,<br />

creating spaces of joy and light in the darkness.<br />

19


Matthew 2:2<br />

They asked, “Where is the child who<br />

has been born to be king of the<br />

Jews? We saw his star when it rose.<br />

Now we have come to worship him.”<br />

20


CHRISTMAS PARTIES,<br />

FOOD, AND DINNER!<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> is a time to rejoice, which translates to<br />

parties, dinners, and feasts! Yet, more important than<br />

how we celebrate is the company we keep – our family<br />

and friends. It’s a <strong>Christmas</strong> tradition for families to<br />

come together and, if living apart, to travel to see<br />

each other. Whether it’s an office <strong>Christmas</strong> party or<br />

a festive dinner with family and friends, food is a focal<br />

point. Turkeys have become a staple of the traditional<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> lunch, dating back to the 16th century when<br />

Henry VIII first introduced them to the <strong>Christmas</strong> feast.<br />

21


In its earliest forms, the medieval tradition of<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> pudding might seem unfamiliar to us.<br />

Interestingly, <strong>Christmas</strong> pudding has sparked<br />

debates, with Puritan Christians aiming to ban<br />

this rich dessert and transition <strong>Christmas</strong> from a<br />

feast to a fast! Some believe the brandy set alight<br />

on top of the pudding symbolises Jesus Christ’s<br />

passion for the world, while others suggest<br />

the pudding once contained 13 ingredients to<br />

represent Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles.<br />

22


Historically, <strong>Christmas</strong> food has been opulent and<br />

lavish compared to what’s consumed the rest of the<br />

year. It used to be the grandest feast, marking the<br />

most significant time of the year – the celebration of<br />

Jesus Christ’s birth. Nowadays, as many have access<br />

to abundant food, its significance might not seem as<br />

pronounced. However, with growing concerns about<br />

the cost of living crisis, <strong>Christmas</strong> could regain its role<br />

as a time to feast in the face of scarcity. Numerous<br />

churches extend a helping hand to those unable to<br />

afford <strong>Christmas</strong> celebrations or food by providing<br />

special <strong>Christmas</strong> hampers or hosting festive<br />

lunches, inviting all those in need.<br />

23


Luke 14:13-14<br />

But when you give a banquet, invite those<br />

who are poor. Also invite those who can’t<br />

see or walk. Then you will be blessed. Your<br />

guests can’t pay you back. But you will be<br />

paid back when those who are right with<br />

God rise from the dead.<br />

24


CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING<br />

25


One of the most widely practised traditions during<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> is that of gift giving. Although this can be overcommercialised<br />

in our modern consumer world, its origins<br />

are back to The Wise Men we have just looked at as they<br />

gave gifts to the young baby Jesus. Ultimately, the greatest<br />

gift of all that we can receive at <strong>Christmas</strong> is the gift God was<br />

giving to the world of His son Jesus Christ. We give presents<br />

to those we love and God loved us so much that he gave us<br />

the most precious thing he had: his own son. By giving gifts<br />

to one another, we echo God’s love and show our love and<br />

appreciation for family, friends, and neighbours.<br />

26


The true worth of a gift, its real value, isn’t<br />

just in how much it costs, in fact, when a gift<br />

is handmade with love and care it can be<br />

so much more than a quick purchase from<br />

Amazon. When someone knows you really<br />

well and they give you a gift that speaks to<br />

you and is so perfect for you, it shows the<br />

depth of friendship and love between the<br />

giver and receiver. A gift can show you how<br />

well you are known, understood and valued.<br />

It’s the overwhelming, immeasurable value<br />

of Jesus and the realisation of how much we<br />

desperately needed Him that shows us the love<br />

of God for us.<br />

John 3:16<br />

God so loved the world that<br />

he gave his one and only<br />

Son. Anyone who believes<br />

in him will not die but will<br />

have eternal life.<br />

27


CHARITY<br />

Continuing with the theme of giving, <strong>Christmas</strong><br />

is often considered a season for charity. There<br />

is something about the <strong>Christmas</strong> season that<br />

helps everyone to be more generous. Inspired<br />

by God’s example of the first <strong>Christmas</strong> and the<br />

warmth and love of the season, individuals and<br />

communities willingly help others less fortunate<br />

than themselves. From campaigns to raise funds<br />

to actual practical help in feeding or housing<br />

people, there is a burst of sacrifice modelled<br />

on God’s great gift. These traditions go back to<br />

medieval times and the practices of almsgiving<br />

at this time of year. It has become a hallmark of<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong>, and many people, regardless of their<br />

religious beliefs, choose to give or volunteer<br />

during this time of year.<br />

1 Tim 6:18<br />

Command the rich to do what is good.<br />

Tell them to be rich by doing good<br />

things. They must give freely. They must<br />

be willing to share.<br />

28


CAROL SERVICES<br />

AND WORSHIP<br />

CHRISTMAS CAROLS<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> carols become so familiar to us as we get to hear them year after<br />

year. They can be significant in helping us to celebrate <strong>Christmas</strong>. They<br />

focus us on the birth of Jesus and repeat to us each year the news of God’s<br />

salvation in Jesus. There are so many carols from “Silent Night”, that were<br />

sung in the trenches of World War 1 or “Away in a Manger” that the majority<br />

of children learn and sing at school nativity plays.<br />

Carols resonate through the streets, played by street musicians and<br />

Salvation Army bands, or sung door to door by charity carol singers.<br />

These familiar melodies also find their place in local pubs and serve<br />

as accompaniments to our <strong>Christmas</strong> shopping. Regardless of one’s<br />

perspective on Jesus’ birth, many people have a favourite carol. Even today,<br />

these timeless songs continue to be sung and enjoyed at Christian events.<br />

In churches nationwide, thousands gather, joining their voices in concerts<br />

and <strong>Christmas</strong> services. Together, our voices echo the wonder of the first<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong>, expressing gratitude to God for the incredible gift of Jesus. Our<br />

united songs recall the angelic verses that once filled the Bethlehem skies.<br />

29


Luke 2:14<br />

May glory be given to God<br />

in the highest heaven!<br />

And may peace be given<br />

to those he is pleased with<br />

on earth!<br />

30


CANDLELIGHT SERVICES<br />

Candlelight services are a beautiful tradition in churches<br />

up and down the country. They feature the carols<br />

we have just discussed. They take place in the weeks<br />

leading up to <strong>Christmas</strong> and especially on <strong>Christmas</strong><br />

Eve. The candles remind us again that Jesus brings<br />

light to the world. As the light is shared from person to<br />

person and candle to candle, the darkness disappears<br />

and this points again to the hope and light that Jesus<br />

brings. The carols are sung, the events of the first<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> are read from the Bible for all to hear and<br />

prayers are said as we enter into God’s presence to<br />

celebrate <strong>Christmas</strong> together.<br />

Jesus arrived to defeat our greatest enemy: the<br />

deepest darkness of death. This is celebrated during<br />

the other great Christian festival of Easter when<br />

we commemorate Jesus’ death and rejoice in his<br />

resurrection. Through the sacrifice of His Son, God<br />

has given us His light, granting us the choice to follow<br />

His path and dwell with Him for eternity. The flame<br />

we share with the candles at <strong>Christmas</strong> serves as a<br />

poignant reminder that Jesus is the ultimate source of<br />

light and life both now and forever.<br />

31


John 8:12<br />

Jesus spoke to the people again.<br />

He said, “I am the light of the world.<br />

Anyone who follows me will never<br />

walk in darkness. They will have that<br />

light. They will have life.”<br />

32


CHRISTINGLES<br />

Christingles constitute a cherished <strong>Christmas</strong> tradition<br />

that helps children better enjoy <strong>Christmas</strong> worship. In<br />

fact, the Christingle was fashioned by a German pastor<br />

in the 1700s who aimed to help children grasp the<br />

meaning of <strong>Christmas</strong>. Evolving from a simple candle<br />

to an adorned orange. The orange of the Christingle<br />

symbolises the world, while the pivotal element is the<br />

candle inserted in the orange which represents Jesus,<br />

the light of the world. A red ribbon is fastened around<br />

the circumference of the orange, signifying Christ’s love<br />

and sacrifice. Four small sticks, filled with sweets and<br />

fruits, stand for the four seasons; the sweets and fruits<br />

symbolise God’s gifts to us, his people, and are soon<br />

eaten by the children!<br />

Jesus himself, during his time on earth, was keen to<br />

encourage children’s faith and the Christingle helps<br />

them understand this special time of year.<br />

33


Mark 10:13-16<br />

People were bringing little children<br />

to Jesus. They wanted him to place<br />

his hands on them to bless them.<br />

But the disciples told them to stop.<br />

When Jesus saw this, he was angry.<br />

He said to his disciples, “Let the<br />

little children come to me. Don’t<br />

keep them away. God’s kingdom<br />

belongs to people like them. What<br />

I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone<br />

who will not receive God’s kingdom<br />

like a little child will never enter<br />

it.” Then he took the children in his<br />

arms. He placed his hands on them<br />

to bless them.<br />

34


MIDNIGHT MASS<br />

Attending midnight mass on <strong>Christmas</strong> Eve is a deeply<br />

meaningful custom for many people. This solemn and aweinspiring<br />

service the night before <strong>Christmas</strong> Day encourages us<br />

to pause and contemplate the profound moment of Jesus’ birth.<br />

For many of us, the holiday season often becomes a bustling<br />

period filled with parties, gatherings, visits from relatives, and<br />

extensive planning and hospitality. Midnight mass offers a<br />

reflective and wonder-filled moment to pause and reflect before<br />

the lively festivities of <strong>Christmas</strong> Day.<br />

The Mass, Eucharist or Communion has its origins in the<br />

Passover, a significant Jewish festival, marking their rescue by<br />

God from slavery thousands of years before Jesus. It was the last<br />

meal that Jesus ate with his Disciples before he was arrested<br />

and then crucified. He asked his followers to use the meal to<br />

remember him as the ultimate rescuer of all people from the<br />

slavery of sin and death. The bread, being like the body of Jesus<br />

broken for us, and the wine, like his blood poured out, for our<br />

forgiveness. It serves as a visual representation of the death of<br />

Jesus; His offered life the ultimate atonement for our sins. It is<br />

particularly poignant to take Communion on <strong>Christmas</strong> Eve as<br />

Communion points again to the incarnation: God as Emmanuel<br />

coming to save his people.<br />

35


Luke 22:15<br />

He said to them, “I have<br />

really looked forward<br />

to eating this Passover<br />

meal with you. I wanted<br />

to do this before I suffer.<br />

I tell you I will not eat<br />

the Passover meal again<br />

until it is celebrated in<br />

God’s kingdom.”<br />

36


Romans 15:13<br />

May the God who gives hope<br />

fill you with great joy. May you<br />

have perfect peace as you trust<br />

in him. May the power of the<br />

Holy Spirit fill you with hope.<br />

CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP<br />

This is why we celebrate so much, especially on <strong>Christmas</strong> Day<br />

itself. On this day, all the church bells chime to announce the birth<br />

of the Saviour. Everyone wants to join in, to worship and rejoice,<br />

marking this extraordinary day in history – the birth of the Son<br />

of God. Once again, we come together to sing carols, revisit the<br />

passages from the Bible that explain the history of Jesus Christ’s<br />

birth, offer our prayers, and partake in Communion, Mass or the<br />

Eucharist. Here, as a unified body, the Christian church can gather<br />

in awe and wonder around the central message of our faith –<br />

Emmanuel, God with us. He was born among us, bringing light,<br />

love, hope, forgiveness, and salvation to our broken world.<br />

37


The significance of this message is more profound<br />

than ever in our current world. So, let’s celebrate<br />

with all that we have and share this wonderful<br />

message of light and hope with everyone we meet.<br />

38


If you are celebrating this year, remember that<br />

<strong>Christmas</strong> encompasses more than just the<br />

festivities; it’s about the wonder of God’s love, made<br />

tangible and real to all of us through Jesus Christ.<br />

May the <strong>Christmas</strong> season continue as a time for<br />

contemplation, appreciation, and celebration of<br />

the gift of God’s son, who came to bestow light and<br />

salvation upon the world.<br />

If you’re interested in delving deeper into the life<br />

events of Jesus Christ – why He came to Earth, how<br />

His death and resurrection can bring you abundant<br />

life now and eternal life forever – you can visit<br />

www.christianity.org.uk and pose any questions<br />

you might have. You could also have a chat with the<br />

person who gave you this <strong>book</strong> or consider attending<br />

one of the many <strong>Christmas</strong> services in your local area.<br />

39


“Father God in Heaven,<br />

Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be<br />

born on that first <strong>Christmas</strong>. I want to know and<br />

experience your love, forgiveness, hope, and joy<br />

this <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />

Help me, to worship like the Angels and discover<br />

the awe of knowing you, the living God.<br />

To listen to you like Mary and Joseph and follow<br />

your purpose for my life.<br />

Guide me, like the shepherds and wise men,<br />

towards the places where I can find<br />

Your truth and peace<br />

Forgive me for not following you in the past,<br />

I want to be a part of the family of God<br />

and understand the true meaning of <strong>Christmas</strong><br />

for now and eternity.<br />

Amen.”<br />

40


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:<br />

Written by: Dr Rachel Jordan Wolf<br />

Design and illustration by: Imogen Hunter<br />

Printed by: Halcyon Print Management<br />

This <strong>book</strong> is created and produced in<br />

partnership by <strong>Hope</strong> Publishing and Biblica.<br />

Read Luke’s<br />

iwitness account of<br />

the <strong>Christmas</strong> Story<br />

hopeforall.org.uk/<br />

christmasstory<br />

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engages people with God’s Word so that their<br />

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with Jesus Christ. www.biblica.com<br />

Copyright © 2020 Biblica Unless otherwise<br />

stated all Scripture quotes are taken from<br />

the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL<br />

VERSION® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984,<br />

2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of<br />

Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.<br />

English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)<br />

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version<br />

Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a<br />

division of Good News Publishers.<br />

Copyright © 2023 <strong>Hope</strong> Together<br />

Published by <strong>Hope</strong> Together<br />

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hopetogether.org.uk<br />

All rights reserved. No part of this <strong>book</strong><br />

may be reproduced in any form or by any<br />

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ISBN: 978-1-7393628-5-0<br />

Printed in the United Kingdom

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