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]
ACTION: SHEPHERDS enter barn and wait at back – looking at light [visible to audience]
Shepherds: GASP in surprise (QUICK-INHALE)
10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the [city] town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
[LIGHT OFF - REAR]
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
[LIGHT ON-FRONT] ACTION: SHEPHERDS walk to front and gather around MARY and JOSEPH
[Nativity Scene]
DUET SONG ’WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN’ [4 minutes]
PART 4 LUKE 2: 17-20 [1 minutes]
Luke 2:17-20
17When they had seen him, they [The Shepherds] spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
ACTION: SHEPHERDS walk out through crowd saying
S1 - ‘Glory to God’
S2 - ‘The Messiah has come’
S3 - ‘We’ve seen Jesus’
S4 - ‘Praise the Lord’
[LIGHT OFF – FRONT] Mary and Joseph exit or take seat offstage
Message-Message of Christmas [10 minutes]
Time for personal response [4-6 minutes]
Alter Call
Invite families to come forward for prayer
Pastor and Prayer Team ready to pray with people
2 counselors come to front READY
SONG JOY TO THE WORLD EVERYONE [4 minutes]
CLOSING AND PRAYER [3-5 minutes]
EXIT
Shepherds stand in back and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and ask the question…
DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
1 Counselor available
Tracks???
PROGRAM:
Part 1
Luke 1:26-38 (The Angel’s appearance to Mary)
Matthew 1:20-24 (The Angel’s appearance to Joseph)
LET’S SING! #29 – Vs 1 & 3 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
* * *
Part 2
Luke 2:1-7 (A time to be delivered)
SPECIAL MUSIC “O Holy Night”
* * *
Part 3
Luke 2:8-15 (The Angel’s appearance to the Shepherds)
LET’S SING! #33 – Vs 1 & 3 “Angels We Have Heard on High”
* * *
Part 4
Luke 2:16-20 (The Shepherds Rejoice)
LET’S SING # 36 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
MESSAGE "The Message of Christmas"
TIME FOR PERSONAL RESPONSE
*LET’S SING! #27 “Joy to the World”
