PARISH OF COCKINGTON
Torquay,
The
Christmas Story
Luke 2 vv 1 – 20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a
census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
(This was the first census that took place while
Quirinius was governor of
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged
to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to
be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She
wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory
of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared
with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
to men on whom his favour rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the
baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds
said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered
them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been
told.
Copyright © The Parochial Church Council of the Parish of Cockington