Too often we make the Christmas season into a time for things that distract us from the true meaning of Christmas. The purpose of this program is to focus on joyfully receiving the Gift of God's Love and sharing it with others. You are welcome to use it and to change it as you want to make it easy for your group to work with. You can easily save this and edit it with a word processor to make custom copies for your group.

Music for all of the songs is readily available. Much of it may be in the hymn books already in your church. The rest is available in Christian Book Stores.

Using cassette tapes or cd recordings. If you do not have a pianist or other musician to play, consider using taped music. Click here for: some help with taped music and related topics

Some of the songs may be very familiar to the congregation. Especially in those areas where you are singing praise to God, you may want to encourage the congregation to join in. You may want to spot some people through the congregation with instructions to begin singing along. This will encourage the congregation to take part. If your congregation works well with projected words, you can project the words when you would like the congregation to join in.

Feel free to change the arrangements. It can be especially effective to repeat parts of the songs and you may want to sing additional verses in some cases.

* Alternative songs are suggested at the end of the program. There are many other songs that could be used as alternatives. Just make sure the words of the song and the mood of the music are in keeping with the message that is being presented and it will work out fine.

Settings: This play works well with the layout of many churches. The choir is located across the back of the stage area. In front of the choir are two areas where action can take place.

Right stage area. To the right side of the choir is the manger scene. A very simple manger filled with hay will be enough to set the scene. If talent, time and resources come together, you can do a very elaborate area.

Left stage area can be left plain or can be decorated as the exterior or interior of a home in New Testament times. It is used when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and again as the field for the shepherds.

If the area has a centered podium, it may be left in place as a divider between the scenes. The program is written with the narrators to read from the choir area. If you prefer, they can read from the podium area instead.

Lighting: If possible, keep the light over the choir section bright enough so that they can read. Try to keep the left and right stage areas darkened when no action is taking place in them. When action is taking place in a stage area, a soft spot light should be used to illuminate the area. Directions in the program tell you when to bring the light up on one of the stage areas.

Microphones

One microphone should be available for the scene with Mary and Elizabeth unless both are able to speak loudly and clearly enough to be understood at the back of the seating area. The remainder of the scenes to the left and right of the stage do not require microphones. If the narrators stand in the choir area, test the microphone setup while the choir is singing to be sure the microphones used by the narrator do not cause one section of the choir to overpower the others.

Cast & Costumes

Mary - Simple costume from Bible times

Elizabeth - Simple costume from Bible times

Joseph - Simple costume from Bible times

Shepherds - Consider using the youngest group of participants here. It will let them take part in the program without worrying about learning songs or "lines". Assign someone who works well with the children to bring them on stage at the correct time and direct them through their actions. This individual (called director of the shepherds) can hold extra rehersals with the children helping them react in accordance with the narration. Keep the costumes simple and avoid anything that they can hurt each other with. A few of the children may carry stuffed sheep or sheep made from craft supplies. Unless you are holding your program outdoors live sheep (or other animals) are probably not going to be popular with the people who clean up after the program.

Male Narrator - Select someone with a very clear speaking voice. The lines can be read but the reading should be practiced thoroughly to be sure it is smooth. The readings can be divided between several men.

Female Narrator - Select someone with a very clear speaking voice. The lines can be read but the reading should be practiced thoroughly to be sure it is smooth.

Choir - There are musical selections and responsive readings by the choir. The program as it is written here assumes that you have an adult choir and a children's choir. If there are more choirs available, you may want to combine them or divide the music up more. You could also designate a group to do the responsive readings rather then having the entire choir respond. Smaller churches may want to use a single choir for all of the music and readings.

Offstage Action: Mary and Elizabeth are off stage ready to come into the left stage. Joseph is waiting to come into right stage. The baby Jesus doll is right stage with Joseph. Shepherds are off to the left. Since they may not wait quietly, you may want to have them in a side room with their director.

Male Narrator: In times past, the prophet spoke the word from God saying, "Inasmuch as these people draw near to Me with their mouths

And honor me with their lips

But have removed their hearts far from Me

And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men;

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among these people

A marvelous work and a wonder.

Responsive reading from choir: This is the story of that marvelous work.

The marvelous work and the wonder of Jesus

Female Narrator: In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book

And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord,

And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Responsive reading from choir: The humble shall increase their joy in the Lord

The poor shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel

Music Selection #1: If That Isn't Love

Suggested arrangement:

Solo from choir area: He left the splendor of Heaven

Knowing His destiny was the lonely hill of Golgatha

There to lay down His life for me

Combined choir: If that isn't love, the ocean is dry

There's no stars in the sky

And the sparrow can't fly

If that isn't love, then Heaven's a myth

There's no feeling like this

If that isn't love

Choir and congregation: If that isn't love, the ocean is dry

There's no stars in the sky

And the sparrow can't fly

If that isn't love, then Heaven's a myth

There's no feeling like this

If that isn't love

Male Narrator: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the Prophets:

Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight.

Lighting and action: Bring the lights up on the left side as Mary and Elizabeth walk in

Female Narrator: Now Mary arose in those days

And went into the hill country with haste,

To a city of Judah.

And entered the house of Zacharias

And greeted Elizabeth.

And it happened, then Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary

That the babe leaped in her womb;

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

Elizabeth - Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears,

The babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things

Which were told her from the Lord.

Mary - My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me

And holy is His name.

Responsive reading from choir: He who is mighty has done great things

Holy is His name

Action and lighting: During the hymn which follows, the lights go down on Elizabeth and Mary as they embrace and then walk arm in arm off the set.

Offstage action: Mary moves to the other side ready to walk on with Joseph

Music Selection 2: What Wonderous Love Is This (American Folk Hymn. One arrangment is done by William Jensen Reynolds. Words are available on line at: http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/whatwond.htm

Begin softly and reverently. Grow louder as the joint choir (and perhaps the congregation) joins in.

Male solo: What wonderous love is this? Oh my soul, oh my soul

What wonderous love is this? Oh my soul

What wonderous love is this? That called the Lord from bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul

Joint Choir: What wonderous love is this? Oh my soul, oh my soul

What wonderous love is this? Oh my soul

What wonderous love is this? That called the Lord from bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul

(repeat 2 more times with the congregation joining in)

Male Narrator: God, who at various times and in different ways

Spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets.

Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son;

Whom He has appointed heir of all things;

Through whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory

And the express image of His person,

And upholding all things by the word of His power,

When He had by Himself purged our sins,

Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Choir responds: In these last days, God has spoken

To us by His Son, the brightness of His glory

Action and lighting: Lights go to the manger scene as Mary and Joseph walk into the scene. Mary lays baby Jesus in the manger. Both kneel beside the manger looking at the baby. Hold the lights up on this scene until they spot the shepherds.

Male Narrator: So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clohs, and laid Him in a manger, because there was not room for them in the in the inn.

Musical selection 3 - Behold the Lamb of God

Joint choirs: Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb

Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb

Behold the Lamb of God

Who takes away my sins

Behold the Lamb of God

Who makes new life begin

Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb

Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb

Behold the Lamb of God

Who takes away my sins

Behold the Lamb of God

Who makes new life begin

Repeat both verses twice more encouraging congregation to join in

Lighting and action: Move lighting to the left stage where the shepards are gathering. Let some of the shepards sit and others stand. They can look around like they are watching over sheep.

Male Narrator: Now there were in the same country

Shepherds living out in the fields

Keeping watch over their flocks by night

Action: Director of the shepards should try to get as many of them as possible to look toward the sky when the female narrator says "And behold"

Female Narrator: (speak in an urgent, excited manner)

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,

And the glory of the Lord shone around them

And they where sore afraid

Action: Try to get some of the shepherds to look afraid. Perhaps hide their faces from the sky.

Male Narrator: Then the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

Which shall be to all people.

Action: Have the shepherds stop hiding their faces and look with smiles toward the sky.

Male Narrator: For unto you is born this day in the city of David

A Savior who is Christ the Lord

Female Narrator: When He again brings the firstborn into the world,

He says "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Responsive reading from choir: Let all the angels of God worship Him

Action and lighting: As the choir sings, the lights should follow the shepherds as they walk across the stage to join Mary and Joseph at the manger. Shepherds take turns peering into the manger. Some of them may want to touch the baby. Mary may want to "show off" Baby Jesus a bit. After looking, the shepherds kneel at the manger.

Musical selection 4 - Angels We Have Heard On High - Arrangements are available in most hymn books. For words and information, see: http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/onhigh.htm

Joint choir: Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o'er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their glorious strains

Glor-or-or-or-or Glor-or-or-or-or Glor-or-or-or-or-oria

In Excelsis Deo

Glor-or-or-or-or Glor-or-or-or-or Glor-or-or-or-or-oria

In Excelsis Deo

Repeat choris at least 3 more times encouraging congregation to join in. This should turn into a very joyful choris and last while the shepherds all have time to admire the baby and then get still before the manger. Add more verses if you like. There are 2 translations available at the web site listed above. Encourage "big voices" on the Gloria

Male Narrator: Let Israel rejoice in their Maker.

Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Female Narrator: Let them praise His name with the dance;

Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;

He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Choir responds: Let them sing praises to Him.

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.

Musical selection 5 - Hallaelu, Hallaelu, Hallaelujah, Praise Ye The Lord or any other enthusiastic song of celebration.

Children's choir or joint choir. (shepherds can stand up and join in if desired)

Repeat 3 or 4 times with the congregation joining in. If tamborines and other instruments are available, you may want to add them during this part.

Male Narrator: (use excited, commanding voice)

Let the saints be joyful in glory;

Let them sing aloud on their beds.

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth.

Responsive reading from choir: We are joyful in glory

The praises of God are in our mouth

Male Narrator: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world

But that the world through Him might be saved

Responsive readng from choir: Through Jesus we are not condemned

Through Jesus we are saved

We are joyful in glory

The praises of God are in our mouth

Musical selection 6 - Joy To The World - Available in most hymn books or on line at http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/joyworld.htm

(sing joyfully - very uptempo)

Choir: Joy to the World, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains

Repeat their sounding joy

Repeat their sounding joy

Repeat, repeat their sounding joy

If a trumpet player is available, you may want to add a trumpet solo of Joy to the World here

Male Narrator: Then ... the whole multitude began to rejoice and praise God

With a loud vioce for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

Responsive reading from choir: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

Male Narrator: And some of the Pharisees called to Jesus from the crowd,

"Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent,

The stones would immediately cry out."

Musical selection 7 - Ain't no rock gonna cry in my place

Adult choir and congregation join in second and third time through

Male Narrator: And Jesus said, "These things have I spoken to you that you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."

Responsive reading from choir: We can have peace and good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.

Male Narrator: And Jesus said: "The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me,

and have believed that I came forth from God."

Responsive reading from choir: We are His beloved children. The Father Himself loves us.

Male Narrator: And Jesus said. "Your heart will rejoice and your joy no one can will from you."

Responsive reading from choir: We are His beloved children. We rejoice. We have peace and joy.

Male Narrator: And Jesus said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing."

Responsive reading from choir: The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep. He carries it home, rejoicing.

Male Narrator: And Jesus continued, "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"

Responsive reading from choir: We are his lost sheep. He has found us and carried us home on his shoulders. The Good Shepherd rejoices over us.

Male Narrator: Then Jesus said, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Responsive reading from choir: Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. When one soul is saved, it's party time in heaven.

Male Narrator: And Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Choir (speaks or sings): This can be spoken or sung - it is from the hymn, The Light of the World Is Jesus which is on line at: http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/thelight.htm

Come to the light, it's shining for thee

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me

Once I was blind but now I can see

The light of the world is Jesus

Male Narrator: And Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved."

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me.

Musical selection 8 - Jesus is Tenderly Calling You Home - in most hymnals or on line at http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/jitcyhom.htm

Sing several verses, your choice

Scripture References

In the order that they appear in the script, the references are:

Isaiah 29:13-14

Isaiah 30:18-19

Mark 1:1-3

Luke 1:39-41

Luke 1:42-45

Luke 1:46-49

Hebrews 1:1-3

Luke 2:6-11

Hebrews 1:6

Psalm 149:2-6

John 3:17

Luke 19:37-40

John 16:30

John 16:27

John 16:22

Luke 15:4-7

John 8:12

John 10:7

Alternate selections. This section is in progress. Please check back for more suggestions and information. Your suggestions are very welcome.

Musical selection 1

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emanuel has come to us Oh Israel (I need the reference for this one)

Hope in God - Dennis Jernigan - Shepherd's Heart Music www.shepherdsheart.com

Musical selection 2

How Great Our Joy http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/hgreatoj.htm

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/thoudltt.htm

Musical selection 3

What Child Is This

Away In The Manger

Musical selection 4

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Musical selection 5

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/praisegf.htm

Musical selection 6

For God So Loved The World

Musical selection 7