THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS ©
THE ANNUNCIATION
Follows the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias,
Parents of John the Baptist.
   

   Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
  And he came in unto her, and said 'Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women.'
   But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her, 'Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.'
Painting William M. Hole
     And Mary said unto the angel, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. For no word from God shall be void of power.'
  And Mary said, 'Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her.
                                                                      ST. Luke 1.26 - 38
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