On Christmas Day, a core Gospel reading is Luke’s account of how an angel of the Lord brought the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Luke locates Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and identifies that location with David the shepherd boy whom Samuel anointed as king. As the birth narrative unfolds, Luke proceeds to give prominence to the shepherds. The birth of Jesus went neither unnoticed nor uncelebrated, because the shepherds were there to pay homage. In the Christmas tradition the shepherds have come to represent the ordinary people of first century Palestine, the people whose lives the Saviour was born to change.

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for the Christmas Day services during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of the shepherds. In today’s picture from his book, Christmas Time with Teddy Horsley, Teddy Horsley and Betsy Bear join the shepherds who followed the dusty road to Bethlehem to find the infant Jesus wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

Lord Jesus Christ,

the shepherds rejoiced at your birth.

Today you invite us to join

with the shepherds in celebration.

Accept the praise of our hearts,

as we offer ourselves in your service;

this Christmastide and always.

Amen.

On Sunday 4 January 2025 we are keeping the Feast of the Epiphany (advanced from 6 January). The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates Matthew’s account of the visit of the wise men from the East who saw Jesus’ star at its rising and travelled to pay him homage. The image to help prepare for this event is Christmas star. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.

Preparation Resources

Family Resources