Christmas Celebration – Gospel of Matthew
Narrator: Read entire script, pause after each number and for each song. Each group will make their noise in unison after their name is called. For instance when the narrator reads “There where shepherds” all the shepherds say. “Where are my sheep?”
Song: Where noted, narration pauses while groups sing their song. Groups may sing songs by themselves, or the congregation can be asked to join in.
Holy Family: You might consider asking two adults with a newborn to join the narration. If you choose to do so, it works well for the Holy Family to enter as Away in a Manger is sung.
Groups: Groups are ordered by age, oldest youth = angles, youngest = stars.
Angels: Group #1 [Tinsel Hallows] “Ahhhh” (angelic chorus) Wiseguys: Group #2 [Head cloth and band] “Follow that star” Stars: Group #3 [Hold up stars] “Twinkle, Twinkle, Twinkle”
Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ birth a little differently than Luke. Luke’s Gospel is full of shepherds and sheep with Jesus born in a manger. Matthew’s story is brought to us by an angel , a traveling star and a couple wise guys . Even though they tell the story a differently – the most important part is exactly the same, God loves us so much that he came here to be with us, and save us from our sins.
The Holy Gospel According to Matthew, the 1st and 2nd Chapters This is how Jesus was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was confused and a little hurt; he decided to break the engagement quietly. As Joseph considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
The angel said to Joseph… “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child within her is from the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this will fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
SONG: O Come, O Come Immanuel (Angels)
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife and they named the baby Jesus.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise guys from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this; he didn’t want anyone to be more powerful than him. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked all of them, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judea are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for all of Israel.’”
SONG: Little Town of Bethlehem (Wise guys)
Herod was worried; could a new ruler really be born in Bethlehem? Could a baby be more powerful than the King?
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise guys , and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told the wise guys , “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. When you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
After this the wise guys , went their way. They followed the star all the way to Bethlehem. As they followed the star they wondered where it would lead them.
SONG: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Stars)
The star went ahead of the wise guys , and stopped over the place where the Jesus was born. When they saw the star marking the spot, they were filled with joy! The wise guys , entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The wise guys stayed and worshiped Jesus. They were filled with joy; they really understood why the prophets said he should be called Immanuel, God with us.
When the wise guys were ready to leave, they went back to their own country a different way than the star had shown them. For God had warned them in a dream that they should not return to King Herod.
Now this is the story as Matthew tells it. A story of an angel helping Joseph care for Mary and their new baby, a star traveling across the land, and a couple of wise guys with incredible faith to follow God. Even though Matthew and Luke tell the story a little differently – the most important part is exactly the same…God loves us so much that he came here to be with us, to save us from our sins.
SONG: Joy to the World (All)