Christmas Program Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church Rejoice, Christ is Born

Christmas Program Naomi Makemie Presbyterian Church

Rejoice, Christ is Born

Using anthems from “I Hear a Prophet Calling & “A Blest Messiah is Born”

2014 December 21, 2014

Prelude

Call to worship

The heavens are bursting forth with God’s glory!

We are witnesses to God’s mighty acts of power and love!

From the darkness of night, God has brought forth the Light of salvation!

Praise be to God who came as a little child. Let us rejoice for Christ s born!

Opening Hymn             O Come All Ye Faithful   #41

Performance notes are in italics: narrators read these opening words with an electric sense of anticipation-as if the congregation wants to lean forward to hear the story.

The children are waiting in their places ready to come forward and take their place and speak their part.

Props & other notes: chairs needed for narrators to sit down in between anthems and scenes. Manger needed to be placed center chancel. Lights on cross to be off until the wiseman points to the star. We’ll need large cushions or stools for Mary and Joseph to sit on.

Sound: Not sure how the overhead mics can pick up the voices of the children will need to test this.

Narrator 1: Isaiah 40:3-5 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”

Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Narrator 2: Listen to the story, hear the story, see the story, for God is coming to us. God is coming to us today as has been told many times before. Open your ears, open your heart. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.

Come and listen as God’s Holy Word unfolds before us.

Pause-count to 15 then continue with narration

Narrator 1: Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

Choir The People Who Walk in Darkness

Narrator 2: Isaiah 11 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

Trio Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Narrator 1: Luke 2:1,3-7 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.

Narrator 2: 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.

Narrator 1: 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.

Scene I

Mary and Joseph come forth down center aisle. At the first pew they receive the baby and move to the chancel and settle into the stable. They face the congregation as they say their lines, loud and slow!

Joseph: We made it! It’s hard to believe we found a place to stay. And just in time! Our son is here!

Mary: It is a simple stable and that’s a good place for God’s Son to come.

Joseph: It is warm and safe. And now that he is here we will call him Jesus.

Mary: He is here to save all people.

Mary, Joseph and baby sit quietly as the choir sings

Choir Rockin Slow and Even

Narrator 1: Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were sore afraid.

Narrator 2: And the angel said unto them: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Scene II

Shepherd appears with sheep at the bottom of the chancel steps (chancel right) looking around. Angels appear from chancel left and stand on the steps in order at an angle.

Shepherd: Look!! (Said with fear-remember to be loud and slow so everyone can hear)

Angel 1: Do not be afraid.

Shepherd: (looking quite scared) Who are you?! What do you want?

Angel 2: I have good news to share.

Shepherd: (no longer scared but now excited to hear) Tell us the news!

Angel 3: A baby has been born in Bethlehem and his name is Jesus.

Shepherd: Let’s hurry to the stable and see him. Let’s go to Bethlehem!!

Sheep: I’m going too!

The shepherd, sheep and angels go to the stable. They stay there until the end of the program. After they arrive and take their places at the manger the narration continues.

Narrator 1: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the so the shepherds made their way to the stable and as they came to Mary and Joseph they kneeled before him. And all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

Narrator 2: Mary treasured these words and pondered them in her heart.

Hymn                     Angels we have heard on high   #23

Narrator 2: Luke 2:18,20 The shepherds were changed forever and when they left the Christ child they went throughout all of Judea praising God and telling everyone what they seen. They were glorifying God and telling the news as it had been told to them.

Scene III

All of the cast stands at this point and they say together (since our wiseman has not appeared yet-he will be up there during the two songs without cape and crown:

ALL: God sent us salvation. Jesus Christ is born!!

Choir & cast Go Tell it on the Mountain

Following this anthem the cast remains standing for the next song

Narrator 1: I wonder what these animals did in the stable.

Narrator 2: In the stable they felt safe and protected. They were warm and well fed.

Narrator 1: But, if the baby Jesus was there, I wonder what they thought and I wonder if they did something special?

Scene IV

the tiny animals appear. The animals speak if possible or the choir speaks for them:

Donkey: I gave Jesus a home

Cow: I gave Jesus a bed

Sheep: I gave Jesus clothes

Dove: I sang Jesus to sleep

Cast is standing

Choir & cast The Friendly Beasts

As soon as this anthem is finished the wiseman leaves the chancel and goes chancel right to have his cape and crown put on and he goes to the back of the sanctuary. Here he picks up his box of gifts.

Narrator 1: Matthew 2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

Narrator 2: When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Narrator 1: Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 

Narrator 2: When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

        When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  

Scene V

Wise man standing at the back of the sanctuary points to the cross.

Wiseman: look, the star!

Wiseman: It has stopped over the stable.

Wiseman: I must hurry to see the new king

Wiseman comes forward down the aisle and kneels at the manger. He opens the box and lays the gifts in front of the manger

Wiseman: Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh are yours.

Joseph: Jesus is our greatest gift!

Mary: Let all receive him as a gift of love.

Sheep: I like presents!

Cast remains seated

Choir What Star is this, with Beams so Bright?

Finale

All of cast and choir stand

Shepherd: The Lord is come. Let every heart receive him!

Angel: Joy to the world! Rejoice, Christ is born!

Mary: Rejoice, our God is with us!

Joseph: Rejoice, give thanks and sing!

Sheep: I am so happy!

Wise man: Jesus our Lord, he is our greatest gift!

All & Choir: Let us rejoice, Christ is born!

Offering and announcements (children receive a gift during the offering)

Closing hymn Joy to the World 

Benediction

Postlude