Key :directions
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Other information :There are some notes on our production of the service. A rough plan of the church is available. A note on copyright. |
| Trainer enters, carrying a Bible, coming up the centre aisle from the back. He turns to face the congregation, and waits for silence. | |||
| Trainer | Hello !
( Wait for response. If none, repeat "Hello !" and mime listening. Continue until there's a good response. ) I'm the Trainer. I'm a good trainer, too - I've already trained you to say "Hello". But I'm really here to train you to sing a song, and you need a trainer because you probably haven't heard the song before. God does a lot of training too, and a lot of it is in the Bible, even way back in the Old Testament. The Old Testament isn't just Adam and Eve, and creation stories; it's also about training God's people for the time when Jesus would come. The Old Testament prophets are God's messengers - or, as you might say, trainers - getting the Jewish people ready. So most of them write about good things to come in the future, and how God will come to the people, and bless them with great joy. Listen to what the prophet Isaiah said - ( Reads from Bible, Isaiah 52.7-10 ) How wonderful it is to see a messenger coming across the mountains, bringing good news, the news of peace ! He announces victory, and says to Zion, "Your God is king !".
Those who guard the city are shouting, shouting together for joy. They can see with their own eyes the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break into shouts of joy, you ruins of Jerusalem ! The Lord will rescue His city and comfort His people.
The Lord will use His holy power; He will save His people, and all the world will see it. And the song's all about joy - the joy that God brought when He did return to His people, as Jesus, the Baby in the manger in Bethlehem. Listen to the music for the verse, and you can follow the words on the screen or in your service sheets if you like. ( Organist plays verse ) Now try singing it. It doesn't matter if it isn't quite right - you'll get plenty more practice. Ready ? After "Three" - One, Two, Three .... | ||
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| Trainer | Now the music for the Chorus :
( Organist plays chorus ) Now try singing that. After "Three" again - One, Two, Three ... | ||
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| Trainer | Well done ! Haven't I trained you well ? ! ! Don't forget the tunes ! | ||
| Trainer returns to the back. | |||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn
"Good Christians all rejoice" | ||
| Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth ready at back. | |||
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| Narrator | Please sit. | ||
| Mary comes hurrying up centre aisle saying excitedly - | |||
| Mary | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! | ||
| Mary turns to face congregation | Jesus is coming ! | ||
| Narrator to Mary | How do you know that ? | ||
| Head Angel starts towards Mary from beside organ. | |||
| Mary | Well, it happened like this -
One day when I was busy and day-dreaming about my marriage to Joseph suddenly I heard a voice. I looked around and saw an angel. | ||
| Mary looks round and notices Head Angel coming from organ side; Mary looks surprised and frightened. | |||
| Head Angel | Greetings, Mary ! You are highly favoured ! The Lord is with you. | ||
| Mary | I felt really frightened and wondered what sort of greeting this might be. | ||
| Head Angel | I am the Angel Gabriel ! Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus. | ||
| Mary to Head Angel | How can this be since I am a virgin ? | ||
| Head Angel | The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will become pregnant. The child to be born will be the Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is going to have a baby. Though she was thought to be barren, she is now sixth months pregnant.
For nothing is impossible with God ! | ||
| Mary to Narrator | I felt joyful yet frightened both at the same time.
Unmarried girls get stoned to death in our culture if we become pregnant. Although Joseph is a very kind man, he would be very upset. It was a really scary situation to be in - but then I thought, surely if the baby is God's Son, God will look after us ! So I said to the angel - | ||
| Mary to Head Angel | I am the Lord's servant. May it be as you have said. | ||
| Head Angel returns to beside organ. | |||
| Mary to Narrator | It was just as I thought. I met Joseph that night - | ||
| Joseph comes up centre aisle and they meet in front of altar. | |||
| Mary to Joseph | Joseph, something very strange has happened. I've just seen an angel and he said I was going to have a baby through the power of the Holy Spirit and the baby would be God's Son. | ||
| Joseph | That's impossible. You ! Have a baby ? Well, that's nothing to do with me; I must think about this. | ||
| Joseph walks agitatedly to and fro in front of altar, Mary stands behind lectern.
Pause. Mary comes to the front centre as Joseph moves towards altar. | |||
| Mary | A few days later Joseph came to me and said : | ||
| Joseph | Mary, you'll never guess what happened last night. I'm so excited ! I had a dream, and an angel came to see me and said - | ||
| Angel from beside organ | Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the baby conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save the people from their sins. | ||
| Mary | I was so full of joy, for now I knew that God was looking after us. | ||
| Joseph goes to back down organ aisle. | |||
| Mary | Then I remembered what the angel had said about Elizabeth, so I decided to visit her.
She lived in the hill country of Judea. | ||
| Elizabeth comes up Hospital aisle; Mary moves towards Christmas tree. They meet near the Christmas tree. | |||
| Mary | As soon as she saw me she was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said in a loud voice - | ||
| Elizabeth | Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear
As soon as your joyous greeting reached my ears the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord said to her would be accomplished ! | ||
| Pause | |||
| Mary to Narrator | That is how I know that Jesus is coming. | ||
| Narrator | So God brought great joy to Mary.
Please remain sitting as we sing the next verse of "Joy at Christmas". | ||
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| Narrator | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, for the many promises we find in the Bible.
Thank You that Mary was willing to be Your servant and be the mother of Your Son Jesus.
Help us to be Your servants too.
Thank You for Your Son Jesus; may He fill us with Your joy this Christmas time. | ||
| ALL | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! The saviour of the world is coming ! | ||
| Narrator | Luke's Gospel tells us that Mary was so joyful that she replied with a song that the Christian church has used for hundreds of years to show its joy for God's wonderful love and care for His people. Please stand to sing just a few lines from Mary's song now - it's called "My soul does magnify the Lord", and we'll sing it twice. | ||
During this song :
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| Narrator | Please sit. | ||
| Innkeeper comes hurrying up centre aisle. | |||
| Innkeeper ( excitedly ) | Joy ! Joy ! Joy !
Innkeeper turns to face congregation Jesus is born ! | ||
| Narrator to Innkeeper | How do you know He is born ? | ||
| Innkeeper | He was born in my stable. | ||
| Narrator | In your stable ? | ||
| Innkeeper | Yes ! It's so exciting ! It was like this. ( Mimes moving a piece of furniture ) When Caesar ordered the census ( Picks up a sheet from altar rail ) he said that all the Jews were to be counted and pay taxes according to their families. ( Places sheet on carpet in front of screen ) He said they were to go to the town where their ancestors came from. ( Places another sheet on floor in front of altar )
Now King David was born in Bethlehem ( moves another sheet to floor between front pew and altar rail ) so I realised a lot of people would come here ( lays out another sheet in front of other front pew ) and I'm getting ready for the crowds. ( Gestures towards the sheets. ) | ||
| Narrator | You certainly have plenty of rooms ready ! | ||
| Innkeeper | Yes, Yes. I'm sure there will be crowds coming. | ||
| Innkeeper looks down centre aisle as Family 1, Family 2, Family 3, Mary and Joseph begin to move up centre aisle. Mary and Joseph move VERY SLOWLY up the centre aisle; the others follow. | |||
| Innkeeper | So I saw an opportunity to make a lot of money and made these extra rooms. | ||
| Family 1 push their way past the other families and Mary and Joseph as they go up the centre aisle saying : | |||
| Family 1 | Excuse me ! excuse me ! | ||
| to each person they pass.
When they reach front step, Innkeeper welcomes them and shows them to a mat in front of screen. Family 2 now push past Mary and Joseph who are by second pew from back. | |||
| Family 2 | Hi, Mary ! | ||
| Member of Family 2 | Hi, Joseph ! | ||
| Another Member of Family 2 | Can't stop, must hurry. | ||
| Innkeeper welcomes them and shows them to sheet by lectern; Family 2 sit down on sheet. | |||
| Family 3 hurry past Mary and Joseph who are now by middle pew. As they pass : | |||
| Member of Family 3 |
Must get to Bethlehem quickly ! | ||
| Member of Family 3 | There'll be no room left. | ||
| Member of Family 3 | Come on - we must hurry ! | ||
| Innkeeper welcomes them and shows them to sheet by front pew; Family 3 sit down on sheet. | |||
| Meanwhile Family 4 come up organ aisle and settle themselves on sheet in front of pew on organ side, and Family 5 and Servant come hurrying up Hospital aisle and settle on sheet in front of altar. | |||
| Innkeeper | I was right - all my rooms are now full ! | ||
| Joseph and Mary reach the altar rail and "knock at the door". | |||
| Innkeeper | Oh no ! There's someone knocking at the door ! ( to Mary and Joseph ) No room !
( to the congregation ) - but I was sorry for them, they looked so tired and she was very pregnant. What could I do ? I thought of my crowded inn, definitely no room for them there - then I thought of my cattle shed. It would give them some protection from the wind. So I said : ( to Mary and Joseph ) the only space I have is with the cattle. Will that do ? | ||
| Joseph | Yes ! | ||
| Innkeeper takes them to the stable ( Hospital side of altar ) by coming altar side of family group and to the manger.
Innkeeper returns to centre front. Baby Jesus is placed in manger. Servant visits stable; he goes to the manger, and "speaks" to the baby. | |||
| Narrator | Then what happened ? | ||
| Innkeeper | I forgot about them. There was so much to do.
The next morning one of the servants came to me. | ||
| Servant hurries from stable to innkeeper, via the congregation side of the altar rail. | |||
| Servant | Have you heard about the baby ? | ||
| Innkeeper | What baby ? | ||
| Servant | The baby that was born in our stable last night - and they're saying that He's the Messiah, the promised Son of God - and they've named Him Jesus. | ||
| Innkeeper | I ran round to see ( Innkeeper hurries to the stable on congregation side of altar rail ) and there He was - asleep in my stable.
I was so excited. Jesus born in my stable ! It was amazing. | ||
| Innkeeper ( to Narrator ) | That is how I know Jesus is born. | ||
| Narrator | So God brought great joy to the Innkeeper. Please remain sitting as we sing the next verse of "Joy at Christmas". | ||
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| Narrator | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, for the birth of Your Son, Jesus.
May we understand more fully the wonder and glory of this wonderful birth as we celebrate Christmas this year.
Thank You, God, for Your Son Jesus.
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| ALL | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! Jesus, the Saviour of the world, is born ! | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the carol | ||
| During this hymn Innkeeper, servant and Family 1, Family 2, Family 3, Family 4, Family 5 return to back down side aisles.
Stagehand puts camp fire in front of altar and turns it on. Shepherds ready at back, Angels ready at back. | |||
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| Narrator | Please sit. | ||
| Shepherds come hurrying up centre aisle saying excitedly : | |||
| Shepherds | Joy ! Joy ! Joy !
( Shepherds turn to face congregation. ) We've seen Jesus ! | ||
| Narrator to Shepherds | Where did you see Him ? | ||
| Shepherd 1 | One evening we were sitting around our camp fire when - | ||
| Shepherds sit around camp fire. | |||
| Shepherd 1 to Shepherd 2 | Is that sick sheep better tonight ? | ||
| Head Angel starts towards Shepherds from beside organ. | |||
| Shepherd 2 | Yesss.
( Looks round, and notices Head Angel approaching ) Oh ! - look - what's that ? | ||
| ( Other Shepherds look to see what he's looking at; all shrink back from the angel. ) | |||
| Shepherd 3 | I'm scared ! | ||
| Shepherds | So'm I ! | ||
| Head Angel | Don't be afraid ! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all people. Today in Bethlehem your Saviour was born - Christ the Lord ! | ||
| Shepherds look at one another. | |||
| Shepherd 1 | Joy ? | ||
| Shepherd 2 | Saviour ? | ||
| Shepherd 3 | Christ ? | ||
| Shepherds | What does he mean ? | ||
| Head Angel | And this is what will prove it to you : you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger. | ||
| Angels come "flying" up centre aisle and stand behind Shepherds. When Angels are in place : | |||
| Shepherds | A manger ? | ||
| Shepherds look in amazement at the Angels. | |||
| ALL ( Twice ) | All glory be to God on high
And to the earth be peace Good will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease. | ||
| Head Angel and Angels "fly" to around stable. | |||
| Shepherd 1 | I've never heard such joyful singing ! | ||
| Shepherd 2 | They were so beautiful ! | ||
| Shepherd 3 | Do you believe them ? | ||
| Shepherd 4 | Do you think it's true ? | ||
| Shepherds | Yes ! | ||
| Shepherd 1 | We can easily prove it. | ||
| Shepherd 2 | How ? | ||
| Shepherd 3 | By going to Bethlehem - | ||
| Shepherd 5 | - and looking for the baby. | ||
| Shepherds | Let's go ! | ||
| Shepherds get up and come out of the altar area, along by the altar rail, past the Christmas tree and to the stable.
They point at the baby and kneel down and say to Mary - | |||
| Shepherd 1 | We were sitting around our camp fire - | ||
| Shepherd 2 | - and an angel came and told us about Jesus's birth - | ||
| Shepherd 3 | - then the whole sky was full of angels. | ||
| Shepherd 4 | They were praising God ! | ||
| Shepherd 1 | It was awe-inspiring ! | ||
| Shepherd 2 | Amazing ! | ||
| Shepherd 3 | Stunning ! | ||
| Shepherd 5 | Joyful ! | ||
| Shepherd 1 | So we came to see Him - | ||
| Shepherd 2 | And it's all true ! | ||
| Shepherd 3 | We must go and tell our families ! | ||
| Shepherd 4 | We must go and tell our neighbours ! | ||
| Shepherd 5 | We must go and tell all the world ! | ||
| Shepherds | Let's go ! | ||
| Shepherds come out from stable and across to centre aisle.
Shepherd 3 goes to congregation 1 sitting in front pew. | |||
| Shepherd 3 | We've seen Jesus ! The Saviour of the world ! He's in the stable over there ( pointing ) ! | ||
| Shepherd 2 goes to congregation 2 sitting half way down church. | |||
| Shepherd 2 | Angels came and told us that Jesus has been born, and we went to see Him ( pointing to stable ) ! | ||
| Shepherd 5 and Shepherd 4 goes to congregation 3 sitting near the back. | |||
| Shepherd 5 | It's so exciting - we've really seen Jesus ! | ||
| Shepherd 4 | We must find someone else to tell ! | ||
| Shepherds continue to back saying - | |||
| Shepherds | Jesus is here, we must tell everyone ! | ||
| When the Shepherds reach the back they turn to face the Narrator. | |||
| Shepherds ( loudly ) | Oh, the joy of seeing Jesus and telling others about Him ! | ||
| Narrator | So God brought great joy to the Shepherds. Remain sitting as we sing the next verse of "Joy at Christmas". | ||
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| Narrator | Let us pray.
Lord, thank You for people who tell us about You.
May we be people who believe in You.
Lord, fill us with the joy of knowing Jesus, and fill us with the confidence we need to tell others about You. | ||
| ALL | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! everyone is talking about Jesus, the Saviour of the world ! | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn | ||
During this hymn :
Wise Men, Chief Priests ready at back.
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| Narrator | Please sit. | ||
| The Wise Men come hurrying up the centre aisle saying excitedly - | |||
| Wise Men | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! | ||
| Wise Men turn and face the congregation. | |||
| Wise Men | We have found Jesus ! | ||
| Narrator to the Wise Men | How did you find Jesus ? | ||
| Wise Men to Narrator | We saw His star in the East and we followed it to Jerusalem.
We looked for Him in Herod's palace but - | ||
| Wise Men turn and go up to Herod and kneel before him half facing congregation. | |||
| Wise Man 1 to Herod | Where is the Baby born to be the King of the Jews ? | ||
| Wise Man 2 to Herod | We saw His star in the East. | ||
| Wise Man 3 to Herod | We have come to worship Him. | ||
| Herod | ( to the Wise Men )
What do you mean ? There is no baby here.
I am the king, there is no other king but me. ( to his Servant ) Send for the Chief Priests and the teachers; I must find out more about this. | ||
| Herod's Servant goes to back down centre aisle and brings the Chief Priests up centre aisle who bow to Herod. Servant stands beside Herod's throne, Wise Men step back towards lectern. | |||
| Herod to the Chief Priests | Where will the Messiah be born ? | ||
| Chief Priest 1 | In the town of Bethlehem, in Judea - | ||
| Chief Priest 2 | - for this is what the prophet wrote : | ||
| Chief Priest 1 | Bethlehem in the land of Judah, | ||
| Chief Priest 2 | you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; | ||
| Chief Priest 1 | For from you will come a leader | ||
| Chief Priest 2 | Who will guide My people Israel. | ||
| Chief Priest 1 and Chief Priest 2 bow to Herod and return to back down centre aisle.
Herod beckons to Wise Men. Wise Men come and kneel before Herod again. | |||
| Herod to Wise Men | Go ahead and make a careful search for the child - and, when you find Him, let me know so that I too may go and worship Him. | ||
| Wise Men leave Herod, walk down organ aisle and up centre aisle to the stable, collecting gifts from the back on the way. | |||
| Narrator | As they went from Jerusalem to Bethlehem they saw the star; they were so excited ! | ||
| Wise Man 1 ( from half way up centre aisle ) | I can see the star ! ( points to star on top of tree ) | ||
| Wise Man 2 | Where ? where ? I see it now ! ( points to top of tree ) | ||
| Wise Man 3 | I'm so excited ! We're almost there. | ||
| Wise Man 1 | My heart is full of joy ! | ||
| Wise Man 2 | Come on, let's hurry ! | ||
| Wise Man 3 | Look - the star has stopped over that house there ! ( points to Mary and Joseph ) | ||
| Wise Men hurry to Mary and Jesus and kneel in front of them. | |||
| Wise Men | Jesus ! Jesus ! Saviour of the world ! We've found You !
Praise God ! | ||
| Wise Man 1 stands, and hands his gift to Mary. | |||
| Wise Man 1 | I have brought a gift of gold for the baby. | ||
| Wise Man 1 moves to stand behind the chairs; Mary hands gift to Joseph who places it on the table. Wise Man 2 stands, and hands his gift to Mary. | |||
| Wise Man 2 | I have brought a gift of frankincense for the baby. | ||
| Wise Man 2 moves to stand behind the chairs; Mary hands gift to Joseph who places it on the table. Wise Man 3 stands, and hands his gift to Mary. | |||
| Wise Man 3 | I have brought a gift of myrrh for the baby. | ||
| Wise Man 3 moves to stand behind the chairs; Mary hands gift to Joseph who places it on the table. | |||
| Wise Man 1 | We have travelled far to find the Baby born to be King of the Jews. | ||
| Wise Man 2 | What a joy it is to find Him in a humble home ! | ||
| Wise Man 3 | He will be a real King to His people. | ||
| The Wise Men go to the back down the centre aisle. | |||
| Narrator | The Wise Men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. So they went home another way. | ||
| When the Wise Men reach the back they turn to face the Narrator. | |||
| Wise Men | That's how we found Jesus, not in a palace but in a poor home. | ||
| Narrator | So God brought great joy to the Wise Men.
Please remain sitting as we sing the next verse of "Joy at Christmas". | ||
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| Narrator | Let us pray.
Lord, as we travel along the journey of life, help us to be people who seek for Jesus, the Saviour of the World.
Guide us, as You guided the Wise Men, to places where we can find Jesus and worship Him.
Guard us from evil, and help us to discern and follow Your will. Amen. | ||
| ALL | Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! We too can find Jesus, the Saviour of the World ! | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn | ||
| During 4th verse of this hymn Mary, Joseph and the baby go to back down centre aisle. | |||
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| Preacher comes hurrying up aisle. | |||
| Preacher | ( excitedly ) Joy ! Joy ! Joy !
( Turns to face congregations ) Oh - the joy of knowing Jesus as a personal friend and saviour ! | ||
| Narrator | So God brings great joy to all of us, if we choose to receive it.
Let's sing the last verse of "Joy at Christmas". | ||
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| Narrator | Let us pray.
We thank You, Lord, for Your unconditional love towards us.
May we respond to Your love as Mary did by becoming one of Your servants.
Forgive us for the times we get it wrong.
Fill us with the love, joy and peace that come from knowing You as our personal Friend and Saviour. Amen. | ||
| ALL | Help us all, Lord God, to experience the joy of knowing Jesus, the Saviour of the world, as our personal Friend and Saviour. | ||
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PAUSE | |||
| Narrator | Together we sing - | ||
| ALL | Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in earth, as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil, for the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and for ever. Amen. | ||
| PAUSE | |||
| Narrator | Please stand for our Final Carol, | ||
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| Narrator or Priest | Please remain standing for the Blessing.
BLESSING. PAUSE. We invite you to join us for a barbecue in the hall.
Let us pray for God's blessing on the meal we are about to eat. Prayer for the meal. | ||
Those taking part : | ||
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