Galatians 4:4-7

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son,  born  of woman, born  under the law,  5  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive  adoption as sons.  6 And because you are sons, God has sent  the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then  an heir through God.

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Matthew 2:12-15

12 And  being warned  in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

13   Now when they had departed, behold,  an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod.  This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,  “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)

Matthew 2:1-11

Now  after Jesus was born in  Bethlehem of Judea  in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men  from  the east came to Jerusalem,  2 saying, “Where is he who has been born  king of the Jews? For we saw  his star when it rose  and have come to  worship him.”  3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where  the Christ was to be born.  5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6   “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will  shepherd my people Israel.’”

7   Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”  9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,  they offered him gifts,  gold and  frankincense and  myrrh.

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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)

Luke 2:15-20

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.”  16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby  lying in a manger.  17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  19 But  Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  20 And the shepherds returned,  glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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(Daily Advent readings adapted from those originally compiled at Parish Presbyterian Church, references listed at this website .)