Christmas In A Barn Series

Christmas in a barn – script, schedule and layout

12/22/2007 – 7:00 pm

Scriptures Referenced: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:20-24; Luke 2:1-7; Luke 2:8-15; Luke 2:16-20

Barn is set up with straw bales for seats. At the front are 8 bales creating the alter. In front of the alter is the manger.

A single light bulb hangs over the alter and light shines upon the manger.

Actors female: Mary (or can add male or female angel - we use the light as the angel)

Actors male: Joseph and 3 shepherds

Narrator - reads scriptures

Various Singers

Lets Sing = Congregational Singing

20 minutes before start

Shepherds in costume - Greeting people, Handing out programs

PROGRAM:

Welcome 2 minutes

Opening prayer 1 minute

Lets Sing: Silent Night/Away in a Manger all [6 minutes]

PART 1 Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:20-24 [5 minutes]

ACTION: Mary kneeling at front facing L side of barn. Looking at light

LUKE 1:26-38

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

[LIGHT ON – FRONT L]

28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God." 38"I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

[LIGHT OFF – FRONT L]

ACTION: Joseph kneeling at front facing R side of barn. Looking at light

[LIGHT ON – FRONT R] Matthew 1:20-24

20…Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him [Joseph] in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

[LIGHT OFF – FRONT L]

ACTION: Joseph goes to Mary, helps her to her feet. Walk together to back of barn

SONG WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN [4 minutes]

PART 2 Luke 2:1-7 [3 minutes]

ACTION: Joseph and Mary walk in from back to front of barn and kneel [nativity scene]

Luke 2:1-7

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So 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. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and 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.

SOLO SONG “OH HOLY NIGHT” [4 minutes]

PART 3 Luke 2:8-16 [4 minutes]

Luke 2:8-16

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

[LIGHT ON - REAR OF BARN after song finishes]