1. The Christmas Story
BY MARIA GUYRE

2. An angel visits Mary. She tells her that she is going to have a baby.

3. Mary and her husband Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem to be counted
Mary and her husband Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem to be counted. Mary's special baby is nearly ready.

4. Bethlehem is FULL of people. There is nowhere for Mary to have her baby. A kind innkeeper lets them stay in a stable behind his inn.

5. That night the baby is born. Mary and Joseph call the baby ... Jesus.

6. The first people to hear the news are the shepherds
The first people to hear the news are the shepherds. They are amazed at the news that the Angels bring and set off to see the baby for themselves.

7. They take gifts with them. The best gift of all is a baby lamb
They take gifts with them. The best gift of all is a baby lamb. Even the animals are fascinated by the baby lying in a simple manger.

8. Three Wise Men heard that a special baby was going to be born
Three Wise Men heard that a special baby was going to be born. They set off across the desert to try and find him. They followed a very bright star

9. But nobody knew where the baby was. The Wise Men asked King Herod
But nobody knew where the baby was. The Wise Men asked King Herod. He didn't know either, but he would be very pleased when they had found him!!!

10. The Wise Men found the baby and gave him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrhh. They decided not to tell Herod where the baby was.

11. Mary and Joseph were frightened that Herod wanted to harm Baby Jesus
Mary and Joseph were frightened that Herod wanted to harm Baby Jesus. So in the night they went away quietly to hide in far away Egypt.