In the third week of our Advent series, Amanda Wagner leads a conversation focused on the story of angels appearing to shepherds, declaring the birth of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Shepherds are a group of people essential to Israel’s spiritual observance, and yet are systematically excluded by the same religious system due to their ritual uncleanness. And yet, it’s shepherds God sends His angels to. It’s shepherds God invites to be the first eye-witnesses of Jesus’ birth. And it’s shepherds that become the first evangelists of God’s saving work through Jesus.