Christmas Cantata - Let Heaven and Nature Swing! (Date 12/13/2020)

The Virgin Birth and Mary’s Response

Mary asked the angel, how can this be since I have not been intimate with a man? The angel replied to her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

And consider your relative Elizabeth, even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who is called Charles, for nothing will be impossible with God. She said, I am the Lord's slave, may it be done to me according to your word, and then the angel left her.

I want to be with Charles from now until the Son of David.

Joseph, Jesus, and Mary’s Song of Praise

Do not fear to take Mary as your wife. Call his name Jesus for a good place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken about. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the crowd and the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

And Mary remained with her for about three months. To be registered with Mary, a time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to a firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over the flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

The Angelic Announcement of Good News

And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord, and this will be a sign for you.

You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men, those with him who is pleased.

The Shepherds Visit the Manger

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them, but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told to them. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Grace and Truth Through Jesus Christ

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

He is a remembrance of Israel in our God's victory.

Joyful Praise for the Lord’s Coming

Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Be jubilant. Shout to the Lord and sing. Sing to the Lord with the lyre, the lyre and the melodious song, with the trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn. Shout triumphantly in the presence of the Lord our King.

Let the sea and all that fills it and the world and those who live in it resound. Let the rivers clap their hands and the mountains shout together for joy. For he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly.