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SONGS: | Before
the Starry Universe
 (Congregation;
or Solo on verses and Congregation on refrain)
God
Is with Us! Alleluia!(Congregation)
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| SCRIPTURE READER: |
But you, Bethlehem . . . though you are small,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins
are from of old, from ancient times. He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Lord his God. And they
will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be their peace. (Micah 5:2, 4-5a; NIV)
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| NARRATOR: |
Christmas is the story of a Promise.
For hundreds of years
God had been making
promises to His people.
He had promised
a Prince,
a Shepherd,
a Healer,
a Conqueror,
a Prophet,
a Priest,
a Lion,
a Lamb.
He had promised
Peace.
He had promised
Freedom.
He had promised
Love and Life
without end.
Finally,
one evening,
in the blackness of midnight,
the promises all came wrapped together
as one magnificent Promise.
The Promise was
a Baby.
The Promise was
Immanuel.
The Promise was
God himself.
Christmas is the story of a Promise,
and the Promise is
Jesus.
Christmas Is the Story of a Promise by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com.
Administered by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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SONGS: |
The Promise
(Congregation)
Immanuel,
Immanuel
(Congregation)
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SCRIPTURE READER: |
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that
a census should be taken of the entire Roman world....And everyone went to
his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth
in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to
the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was
pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:1, 3-5; NIV)
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| NARRATOR: |
Christmas is a story of faith.
It's a story of
hardship and sacrifice,
of long journeys and
years of waiting.
Mary, perhaps 14 years old, endured the terrible
shame of
being pregnant
before she was married.
After traveling 80 miles to Bethlehem,
no doubt exhausted and frightened,
far from family and home,
she had her first child
in the dirt and darkness
of a stable.
Joseph stayed by her side,
though the child was not his own.
He willingly shared her shame
and her suffering.
Mary, Joseph, and many others followed God through
long, difficult days.
But because they were faithful, they saw Him
and rejoiced in Him
and became part of His
timeless story.
Christmas is a story of faith, and we, too, are
called to be faithful.
We, too, can be part of the timeless story of
Jesus.
Christmas Is a Story of Faith by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com
Administered by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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| SONG: |
Partners
in the Mystery (Congregation; vv. 1, 2, 4)
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| SCRIPTURE READER: |
While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth
to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7; NIV)
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| SONG: |
All Praise
to You, Eternal Lord (Congregation)
and/or
Jesus Loves Me (Christmas) (Children)
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SCRIPTURE READER: |
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great
joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of a David a Savior
has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”…Suddenly a great company of the
heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14; NIV)
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| SONG: |
Light Is
Shining All Around
(Congregation)
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SCRIPTURE READER: |
God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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| NARRATOR: |
Christmas is a story of Love.
For hundreds of years,
Love had whispered,
"I am coming!
I am coming to be with you
to stay with you forever!"
It was Love that celebrated that night
in the skies over Bethlehem with
angels,
music, and
shouts of praise.
Love was the shining star
high in the sky,
sent to draw people from far away
to come and worship the Baby.
Christmas is a story of Love,
Love that has come to us,
Love that has brightened our lives;
and Love is
Jesus
Christmas Is a Story of Love, by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com. Administered
by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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| SONG: |
Love Has
Come! (Congregation)
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SCRIPTURE READER: |
To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and
the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase
of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7; NIV)
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| NARRATOR: |
Christmas is the story of a King.
When the King was born,
Caesar Augustus was emperor of Rome.
He ruled the world
with great power
and vast military might.
But he died in A.D.14,
and his kingdom passed to another.
Herod the Great was King of Judea.
He ruled with
violence
and cruel jealousy.
He tried to kill the Child King.
The Child lived,
but Herod died,
and his power died with him.
The Child King was
Lord of the Universe,
Almighty God.
He ruled
with humility and self-sacrifice,
with love and forgiveness.
He faced death
and destroyed it.
His kingdom will never end.
Christmas is the story of a King,
and our King forever is
Jesus.
Christmas Is the Story of a King, by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com. Administered
by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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| SONG: |
Infinite
Lord(Congregation)
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SCRIPTURE READER: |
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during
the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where
is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east
and have come to worship him."... They went on their way, and the star
they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place
where the child was…On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother
Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures
and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 9, 11;
NIV)
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| NARRATOR: |
Christmas is a story of worship.
The Scriptures say that
the heavens sing of God's glory,
and the earth tells of the
wonderful things He does.
Jesus said that if God's people are silent,
the rocks themselves will cry out and
praise Him.
When the shepherds heard that
the Promised One had come,
they ran to Bethlehem and
worshiped the Child.
When the wise men knew that
He was born,
distance could not keep them away.
They came and brought Him
precious gifts‒
gifts fit for a king.
They bowed low and
worshiped Him.
How can we do any less?
With all the elaborate celebrating
this time of year,
how much do we truly worship Him?
Christmas is a story of worship.
And this season,
in the privacy of our hearts,
with the wise men,
with the shepherds, and
with all creation,
let us bow and worship Him.
Let us worship
Jesus.
Christmas Is a Story of Worship, by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com. Administered
by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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| SONGS: |
Select several from the following
All
the Angels Worship You
Come
Rejoicing!
Jesus
Jesus,
Joy of Earth and Heaven
My
Soul Exalts You, Lord(Solo)
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NARRATOR: |
Christmas is only the beginning.
It's the beginning of a beautiful Life—
a Life of healing and teaching,
of feeding and forgiving,
a Life of suffering, dying, and
rising again.
This Life shows us the best
and happiest way to live.
This Life still goes on
and will go on forever,
redeeming,
blessing,
creating,
and surprising.
Discover this Life.
Discover the One who is
the Beginning and the Ending,
Life's Source and
its Ultimate Goal,
the One who
lived in time
but fills eternity,
Who was a tiny baby
yet the whole universe
cannot contain Him.
This Christmas,
make the greatest discovery of your life.
Now, today,
come discover
Jesus.
Christmas Is Only the Beginning, by Ken Bible, © 2000 by LNWhymns.com. Administered
by The Copyright Company, 1025 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212.
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| SONG: |
Discover Jesus
Christ(Congregation)
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Optional Staging
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CAST |
Non-speaking
roles for tableau:
Man
Child
Mary
Joseph
3 wise men
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During
Before the Starry
Universe |
Present
this song as an ancient tale told by a bard. Off-stage soloist sings the verses.
Congregation joins on the refrain. On v.3, solo is stronger, more determined.
Sanctuary,
or at least the stage, should be as dark as possible while still allowing
the congregation to sing on the refrains.
Tableau
should take place behind a scrim if available, allowing the actors to be seen
in outline only. Actors freeze in position except where a change of position
is indicated.
A
single bright light or spotlight is seen on stage, representing God.
TABLEAU,
cued by phrases in the hymn text:
v.1,
“In love conceived a man”—A man appears in the light; either the light
moves to focus on the man, or the man comes into the light, or the man blossoms
from a crouching, huddled position to a standing position. Man faces the light,
looking up to it, with arms outstretched to it.
v.2,
“…but in pride he turned away”—Man turns away from the light, takes a
step away, then folds arms in defiance.
v.2,
“He clothed himself in suffering…”—Man huddles in fear, with hands over
his bowed head.
v.3,
“Our Lord is now Immanuel…”—A child walks downstage into the light, toward
the congregation, then turns and faces the man, arms outstretched.
WHEN
THE SONG ENDS, actors hold for a moment in the silence. Then lights up; actors
exit.
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| During All Praise to
You, Eternal Lord |
TABLEAU:
A
manger scene, with Mary and Joseph focused on the manger with the Christ child,
placed between them. Use lighting to highlight the Christ child.
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| During
readings after Infinite
Lord |
TABLEAU, cued to scripture reading:
“On coming to the house…”—Three wise men kneel around
an unseen Christ child, presenting gifts. Use lighting to highlight the place
where the unseen Christ child would be; for example, you might place a bright
light there. Hold position throughout scripture reading and the following
narration, “Christmas Is a Story of Worship”.
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| VISUAL IMAGES |
If
you have access to visual images and a screening system, consider highlighting
selected readings (choose from those without tableau) with images meaningful
to those readings. These might be elements of the Christmas story (the star,
angels, shepherds, etc.), or perhaps people or natural images that convey
the point of the reading. Again, be creative and resourceful.
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