Welcome to Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig.

We're so glad you've joined us today.

Throughout history, God has chosen to enter our imperfect world to reveal himself

and draw near to his chosen people in moments where ordinary places become holy ground.

He still meets us in our everyday lives, and when we respond to his nearness with reverence,

the mundane becomes sacred.

Through this message with Pastor Skip, we'll discover how our homes, workplaces, and relationships

can become holy ground.

Would you turn on your Bibles, please, to the Gospel of Luke,

chapter one.

And we're going to be in the Gospel of Luke,

chapter one and two,

all the way leading up to and through Christmas Eve.

In the next few weeks, all the way till then.

Now, Wednesday night, it was mentioned is our friend

Bill Welch. Bill used to be on staff here many years ago. He was our missions pastor. He pastors a church

in Huntington Beach, California, where I used to live. He wrote this piece, The Shepherd of

Bethlehem while he was on staff. This was the very

first place he ever debuted it. He has taken it around the world, and he's coming back. I've asked

him to do it again after many years. We try to make December memorable and something edifying

for the Christmas season for you, so you don't want to miss that.

Now, I love the Christmas story.

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