As Joseph       Steve Norbury

– Before Mary lived with me and she was engaged to me, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, I planned to dismiss her quietly.  However, just when I had resolved to do this an angel of the Lord appeared to me 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.”  This took place in order to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet who said “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.”  After I awoke from my dream, I did as the angel commanded and took Mary as my wife, but we had no marital relations until after she had borne a son.  Oh, and we named him Jesus!