Prepare your hearts and minds to celebrate Christ's birth with these selections from George Frederick Handel's great oratorio, The Messiah. Please stand for the final track, the Hallelujah Chorus.

Christmas is the celebration of God's covenant promises faithfully kept across the ages.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. — Gen. 3:15

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. — Isa. 7:14

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isa. 9:6

But you, O Bethlehem Ephʹrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. — Mic. 5:2

But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. — Mal. 4:2-3

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. — Gal. 4:4-5

Rejoice! — Our covenant God has kept faith with us. Let us therefore renew our obedience and worship to our just and faithful King.

Merry Christmas and good Yule, friends! The Mighty God became flesh, a little baby -- wonder of wonders.

And there were in the same countrey shepheards, abiding in the fielde, and keeping watch by night ouer their flocke. And loe, the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and the glorie of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraide. Then the Angel saide vnto them,

Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people, That is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.

And straightway there was with the Angel a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praising God, and saying,

Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will.

"The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things."

~Hans Christian Andersen

Attached is a 2024 reading plan for Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, both in PDF and Excel format if you would like to customize it. Also, there's a PDF of the book itself if you don't have a physical copy.

Calvin's Institutes are far more digestible than you likely think. My best to those of you who choose to read it!