A Celebration Of Christian Brotherhood For The Entire Congregation With An Old-fashioned Christmas Pageant
Production Notes
This service may be done by either a large or small number of people. It is designed to involve children of all ages as well as adults. Children three years of age and older may be used as angels and shepherds as long as there is an older child to guide them. There may be as few as three angels or a whole "heavenly host." There are traditionally at least two shepherds, but there can be many more. Some of the younger children may even be dressed as sheep to accompany the shepherds. Mary and Joseph are best played by sixth graders, as they are required to hold their places longer than the others. The readers may be junior high or high school age or adults. The King James translation of the Christmas story has been used; that is the most traditional and universal version.
The only set required is a manger set up in the front of the sanctuary. The costumes may be authentic clothing or simple bathrobes.
The anthem may be sung either by an adult or a children's choir.
The foreign language hymns may be sung by a choir, but they work best when done by a soloist or small group. High school students who are studying a foreign language generally enjoy this chance to show what they have learned. These hymns also give adults who speak another language or who are from another country an opportunity to share something very special with their church family. The bulletin should include a short English synopsis of each foreign language hymn.
This service is very versatile. It may be used as a worship service for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day by simply eliminating the pageant instructions and the last phrase of the welcome. It is also a very good service for community worship that includes several congregations of different ethnic origins.
If the sermon is no longer than ten minutes, the approximate production time is fifty minutes.
Prelude
Welcome
Welcome, and peace to you all! With the gift of his Son, God has joined all believers into one spiritual family. All over the earth, the same familiar story will be read from the same Holy Book as Christians remember our Savior's birth. In every nation, hearts will thrill to the joyous music of the season.
Music is, after all, the one true universal language. It speaks not only to our minds, but to our hearts and our souls as well.
So, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, we will decorate our service with the music of other lands. In this way, we will join our hearts to the hearts of our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. Come and remember the humble birth of our Lord, as our children reenact it in innocence and love.
Introit
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"verse 1
Call To Worship
L: Jesus is God's gift to the whole world.
P: We come together today to remember that gift, and to share his love.
L: Let us gather in joy to worship the God of Love!
Hymn
"Hail To The Lord's Anointed"
Advent Candle Lighting
Call To Prayer
L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Let us pray.
Prayer Of Confession
(Unison) Gracious God, you would have all of your children embrace each other in brotherly love, but all too often we let worldly differences like race, language, and culture come between us. Forgive our lack of understanding and our fears. Help us to see beyond temporal concerns. Open our eyes and our hearts to your limitless love so that it might guide our words and our actions. Nationality and language are not barriers to you. Your Good News rings out clearly all over the world! Let it sing in our hearts and unite our spirits forever! Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Hymn
"Away In A Manger"
Offering
Doxology
The Psalter
L: O sing to the Lord a new song, for the Lord has done marvelous things! God's right hand and holy arm have gotten the victory.
P: The Lord has declared victory, and has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
L: The Lord has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
P: All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
L: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
P: Break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
L: Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
P: With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the Ruler, the Lord!
L: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world and those who dwell in it!
P: Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, who comes to judge the earth. The Lord will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98)
Anthem
"Love Came Down At Christmas"
The Pageant
Reader 1: Luke 2:1-7
(MARY and JOSEPH enter from the back of the sanctuary and proceed to the manger set up in front.)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
(At this point, MARY and JOSEPH should be at the manger. JOSEPH should stand to the right of the manger, and MARY should kneel to the left of it. As the reading goes on, MARY should take the baby out from its hiding place in the manger and hold and cuddle it. She may then lay it back down in the manger if she wishes. JOSEPH should also center his attention on the baby.)
And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Special Music
French Hymn "Il Est N‚ Le Divin Enfant"(or two verses of another foreign language hymn)
(During the song, the SHEPHERDS enter at the back of the sanctuary and proceed to the front. They pause at a point between the front pew and the communion rail where they pantomime watching over sheep.)
Reader 2: Luke 2:8-15
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
(The FIRST ANGEL enters from the side and proceeds to the center of the communion rail, with her back to the manger and facing the SHEPHERDS. Upon her arrival, the SHEPHERDS immediately fall to their knees and hide their faces.)
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
(At this point, the SHEPHERDS look up at the ANGEL, but remain on their knees.)
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
(The other ANGELS enter from the side, and stand on either side of the FIRST ANGEL.)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(The ANGELS proceed to the manger, arranging themselves on either side of it and slightly behind it. The FIRST ANGEL should stand directly behind the manger.)
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
(The SHEPHERDS stand during this passage and pantomime an excited conversation. At the end of the passage, they proceed to the manger and kneel before it, being careful not to block the view of the manger from the congregation.)
Special Music
Spanish Carol "Pastores A Belen"(or two verses of another foreign language hymn)
Reader 3: Luke 2:16-20
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Special Music
German Hymn "Still, Still, Still" (or two verses of another foreign language hymn)
Reader 4
Conclusion
And so it happened on that night many years ago. God gave all people the gift of salvation in the form of a tiny baby humbly born in a manger. From the beginning, God's great gift was universal, offered not only to the local Judean shepherds, but also to three kings from the east.
These three kings were not at all like the people Mary and Joseph were used to. Their dress, their language, their culture, perhaps even the color of their skin must have seemed quite strange to the people of Bethlehem.
None of these things mattered to Jesus. It was their hearts that he was interested in. So, like the familiar shepherds, the three foreign kings were welcomed by the Holy Family. Like the shepherds before them, these powerful men knelt humbly in the straw before the newborn King of kings. Like the shepherds, they received the love, and the peace, and the unspeakable joy that only Christ can give.
We, too, have received the precious gift of salvation, and by receiving it we have been joined to all believers all over the world. Our Savior calls on us to look beyond the differences that separate us, and embrace with love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Then, and only then, will the "peace on earth" that the angels proclaimed become a reality.
(All participants -- soloist, readers, and so forth -- gather around and behind the manger. The pantomime characters remain in their places.)
Christmas Wishes
("Merry Christmas" is called out by all vocalists in their respective foreign languages, and then in English by all.)
Special Music And Hymn
"Silent Night"(The first verse is sung by the children, then each vocalist sings a verse in his/her respective language. The last two verses are sung in English by the congregation. During the congregational singing, the children recess, preferably through a side exit.)
Sermon
Hymn
"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
Benediction
May the love of the Christ child fill your hearts and guide your actions. Go in his peace.
Benediction Response
"Let There Be Peace On Earth"
Postlude