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Mariah Carey - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
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Matthew 1:18-21  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
REFLECT
The Christmas story – the story of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us – is a story of courageous love. A love that emboldens Mary to say “Yes!” to a mysterious God promising the impossible; and a love that emboldens Joseph to trust that he has a role to play in making a nest with Mary and bringing the Child of God more fully into the world!
FUN FACTS
Turns out calling someone a “chicken” as a shorthand for “coward” is completely backwards. Chickens are legendary for their bravery – so much so that in the ancient world, roosters were symbols of military valor. Mother hens will fight tenaciously (against foxes, hawks, you name it!) to defend their chicks. All this puts a whole new spin on Jesus comparing himself to a “mother hen,” gathering Jerusalem under his wings: not only tender nurturing, but also fierce courage!
MORE FUN FACTS
Did you know that roosters don't need the light of a new day to know when it's dawn? They have an internal clock that alerts them to start crowing two hours before the onset of light. It’s called “anticipatory predawn crowing.” Another kind of “dawn chorus”!
Conversation Starters

Do you believe that dreams can give us clues about our lives? Why or why not?

Does your name (or nickname) have a meaning? Does it fit your personality or life story so far?
BE INSPIRED & INSPIRE
 
Act more like a chicken this week!
Look for opportunities to be brave: speaking up for someone who’s being mistreated; reaching out to apologize to someone with whom you’ve had a conflict; or trying to learn a new skill.
 
Tap into your inner chicken!
Share what you do with family or friends, in person or online.
 
In a way, Christians are called to be roosters for the world:
Announcing the coming dawn, calling on all of us to wake up to the most important issues of the day, and just as important, listening to other “roosters” from other faiths or backgrounds.

Grab some post-it notes 
  • Write down three “rooster crows” you’re hearing these days, three ways you want to “wake up.” They could be personal or communal, big picture or little picture: from “patience” to “joy,” “climate action” to “welcoming refugees.”
  • Post them somewhere you’ll see them every day – ideally when you wake up (bathroom mirror). A bonus benefit is that you can also see what other people in your household are longing for and waking up to – roosters all around!
"Go Tell It on the Mountain" by Sara Evans
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