The beginnings of the stories for this design.
From one of The Heavenly Host,
“Hello, I don't seem to have startled you as much as we did the shepherds. Did we give them a fright? We most certainly did. I'm not quite sure what they were up to, but they were probably arguing over who should take the next watch or maybe who should go and check for wolves. There again, out on the hill, in the dark of the night, isolated as they were, perhaps they were having one of those deep, questioning conversations which night time can sometimes produce…..”
The Annunciation
“Imagine an angel appearing to you and saying that. Makes you wonder what Mary thought. No, don't worry, or as we angels often have to say, "Do not be afraid," I'm not the angel Gabriel and I certainly don't have the kind of message for you that Gabriel delivered to Mary. That was the kind of delivery that happens once and once only. Bet you're relieved at that.“