Hello, my name is Scott Brown and my family and I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and your family and invite you to enjoy a slow drive through the luminaria lights for an evening of contrasts. Contrasts of the beauty of light shining in the midst of darkness. This Christmas season we remember how the angels joyfully celebrated such a light from heaven in the birth of Jesus. They celebrated the light of the world, singing glory to God in the highest. My family wants to rejoice with you tonight just like those angels did.

Rejoicing in God's good will toward men in sending Jesus. Rejoicing because he is, as the prophet Isaiah said, wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 61 and 2 says, Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise over you and his glory will be seen upon you.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The Virgin's name was Mary and having come in the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night and behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you.

You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in the manger. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had seen and heard as it was told them and the child grew and became strong in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him in him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth then Jesus spoke to them saying I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. Isaiah 53 verses 4 through 6 says Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.

Then your light shall break forth like morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will rest on his shoulder and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of His peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. So come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all the people for there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men Thank you for joining us for a night of contrasts and a celebration that there is no greater joy in this life than when the human heart can savor and celebrate the light of the world. If you'd like to contact me, please do so at scotbrownonline.com. Goodbye and may the life-giving light of Jesus Christ be with you all.

Thanks for coming.