But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.'

For many people, it's not Christmas without a Christmas carol service - hearing the familiar story of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the three wise men is guaranteed to get you feeling festive.

In The Christmas Story, all the Nativity readings are gathered in one place in an easy to use eBook, so there is no need to flick through the whole Bible. These extracts are taken from the Holy Bible, NIV 2011 translation - the most popular translation in modern English. The NIV is also available as an eBook, and enhanced eBook narrated by Poirot actor, David Suchet.