From The Voice Bible:
One night, in the nearby fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds was guarding their flock. Suddenly a messenger stood before them, an angel. Darkness was replaced by a glorious light…the shining Light of God’s Glory…and the shepherds were terrified.
Messenger:
Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring you good news, news of great joy; news that will affect all people everywhere. Today in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.
At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers-a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.
Heavenly Choir:
To the highest heights of the Universe, Glory to God!
And on earth, peace among all people
Who bring pleasure to God
So the shepherds ran into town and eventually found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about the child. Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. Mary, too, pondered all these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.
The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger predicted.
Peace to All, Praise God, Happy New Year.
