Christmas Resources

19th December 2017
From Stuart Duff:
I came across this web site that has 4 short video clips on Christmas. https://meetthenativity.com/
The brainchild of seasoned evangelist Glen Scrivener and his media group Speak Life, Meet the Nativity is a modern-day Christmas comedy, in which four individuals undergo mysterious encounters with the first century Nativity.

19th December 2017
From Neil Dougall:
The Bible Society have produced some great resources. This year’s is called The Greatest Journey which describes itself as ‘A Pop-Up Nativity’. There is a 3 minute film, a service script and a powerpoint all free to download. I am using the film at our All Age Service on Christmas Eve.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/the-greatest-journey/

Last year I used their film A Well Good Christmas , at the same service, which worked very well.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/the-well-good-news-of-christmas/

Yesterday I was looking for a short film to start the Christmas Eve service and discovered that this film was free instead of the usual $15-$20
https://centerlinenewmedia.com/product/2596/Let-Us-Worship-Christ

19th December 2017
From Alan Sorensen
Christmas snowball fight activity “I’ve just done this with 200 scouts and it worked a treat.”
Link to xmas activity snowball fight word file

19th December 2017
From Derek Hughes
video clip from Igniter Media Simple, but effective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDtHdG5mVk

19th December 2017
From Paul McKeown
Couple of excellent videos I plan to use over the season:
“The best gift” – animated short which cleverly highlights the shallowness of much that passes for Christmas and where the true meaning lies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mpkyikgj7I&index=3&list=FL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w

A forward/back/left/right game used in a Community Carol Service. Distribute wrapped presents among the congregation and then read this version of the nativity story. Every time the folk hear FORWARD, BACK, LEFT or RIGHT they have to pass the present on. (If they’re at the extremes of the group, then they hold onto it until they can pass it on!).
Link to right, left, forward, back word file

A little monologue used at the same service a couple of years ago with
link to powerpoint slides of games

Link to Leisure centre service – toys monologue & Christmas games – Leisure centre word file

15th December 2017
From Neil Urquhart
The shoes Brothers – This little light of mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUqaH-Kv2dI

15th December 2017
From AlanSorenson
A wee Christmas song that goes to Ye Cannae Shove Yer Granny Aff A Bus. Alan says “We’re singing 2 verses each week in Advent, though you could just pick a few out and sing them as a song. It needs to be sung with a Glasgow/Scots accent! You can either all sing the whole verse or just give the congregation/kids the first line of the verses and the leader sings the ‘punchline


15th December 2017
from Graham Duffin
Some fresh ideas for 2017
Four creative ideas from the Urban Pastor all of which I like although some will take a bit of time in preparation!
https://theurbanpastor.wordpress.com/childrens-resources/christmas-ideas/christmas-card/
https://theurbanpastor.wordpress.com/childrens-resources/christmas-ideas/three-presents/
https://theurbanpastor.wordpress.com/childrens-resources/christmas-ideas/the-unopened-gift/
https://theurbanpastor.wordpress.com/childrens-resources/christmas-ideas/christmas-experiment/

When love was born Marck Schulktz A beautiful song with pictures to illustrate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSU9Dbxvrw
Haribo advert eat your heart out .. adults act out what the children recall about the Christmas story. I’ll use sections of it and put in carols – but at the end will be combining this with video above and asking the question: Are you stuck with a child like view?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLH4mYbseI4

John Lewis advert from 2012 – snowboy going to get gift for snowgirl with “the power of love” as backing. Chop the last 2 seconds where John Lewis comes up – or even use it by saying that the strange thing is that John Lewis think that they can provide all you need to show someone you love them. But at the heart of Christmas is how much God went out of the way to show us his love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N8axp9nHNU

Sock reminder: I have bought enough socks to give all the children in the local Primary school one to take away – a reminder that Christmas is about the birth of a child. Combining it with David McAdam’s Christmas story told using socks. It’s the second last idea on the pre 2009 ideas and I have used it before. It works really well – is one of my “top picks” of all the ideas on this site!

17th December 2016
From Graham Duffin
A Christmas Poem Written and Performed by Darryll Stephen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S-1U5PzGqg

17th December 2016
from Neil Dougall & Andrew McGowan:
An unexpected Christmas – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1XusYVqNY
You might want to check out the series of videos that Neil Urquhart, Fullerton Church, Irvine has created.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0RH6rwsixA

17th December 2016
From Linda Walker
“Christmas in 15 boxes” – an easy to organise nativity which doesn’t have any character speaking parts
Celebrate Christmas – the story in 15 boxes click to open word file

15th December 2016
From Scott Guy
A wise men marching song which some may want to try out this Christmas – in the style of an army marching song with the leader shouting out each line and the children repeating.
click to open word file Wise Men Marching Song

14th December 2016
From Ian McEwan
Star Wars themes all-age service
Star wars: rogue one is due for UK release on 15 December 2016.
Here are some resources I put together for an all-age Christmas eve service I used last year based around the star wars theme of the light side vs the dark side.
Below is a link to the order of service and also a link to a large powerpoint with embedded videos etc.
(you will need office 2013 to access this file and a bit of time to download it)
Order of service
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3DxnX0_4Dx5dTllMDBqcVB3bnM
Powerpoint with embedded videos (163MB)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3DxnX0_4Dx5VnhtSlNUT2ZJeGM/view?usp=sharing
(when downloading this ignore the google warnings about previewing etc – it should work fine)
The fight with ‘darth john’ involved a tall teenager in a black cloak and a darth vader face mask printer on card (you can find these online) and a black cycle helmet with someone else breathing into a microphone. Bought foam pipe insulators from b and q and lined them with red paper(good to have some spares). Then the kids (of all-ages) formed a long queue to battle darth john. My conclusion is that you can wallop someone with a foam pipe insulator making a loud bang without doing any damage. The teenager should be briefed to fight in an age-appropriate manner! This one worked really well as a piece of fun which linked into the overall service theme.
Follow the star was aimed at the wee-er ones and had a trail of silver foil stars round the church for them to find in the dark with a torch beam leading them to the manger.
This is not meant to be an off-the-shelf package i.e. what worked for us, will need adapting for you. But it might be something for you to hang your own ideas resources onto and the powerpoint might save a bit of a leg work on the IT front.

14th December 2016
From Barry Hughes
A script I wrote for a Christmas Eve service last year which it focuses on parallels between the birth of Christ and refugees / IDPs in Iraq, but could just as easily be Syria. There is an accompanying PowerPoint.
click to open word file Refugee Christmas
click to open powerpoint A Refugee Christmas

14th December 2016
I have used ideas from your website before and also found they can stimulate my imagination at a time I sometimes wonder if it’s possible to come up with anything new. Here is a dialogue I wrote for last year’s Watchnight service – it seemed to work well.
Very many thanks and every blessing for Advent and Christmas
Elspeth Harley
[Caddonfoot and Galashiels Trinity]
click to open word file Joseph the Innkeeper dialogue 2015

14th December 2016
From Jenny Adams
Another script to add to the collection – for 2 angels, over 4 sections. Slightly localised and with brass band references.
click to open word file script for 2 angels

14th December 2016
From Roddy Hamilton
A script for 3 voices entitled
Misunderstood Nativity; A Christmas Poem
entitled “They’ve cancelled Christmas”
and a responsive reflection entitled “Any Room”
Three word files
Click to open word file A Really Bad Poem
Click to open word file Any Room
click to open word file Misunderstood Nativity

29th November 2016
From Gary Caldwell
Colours of Christmas
Used the tract by the same name from the good book company to look at the colours of Christmas, gold (glory), purple (royalty), red (blood) & green (new life). Had front of church completely covered in the four colours. Encourages people to bring something and wear something of the colour each week. Built a Christmas tree from cardboard boxes and coloured objects people brought into the “shelves “ of the boxes. Everybody got attract to take away and give someone. On Christmas day I had made a huge Christmas cracker from cardboard (about 7 ft long) it even cracked as I bought a dose of the cracker things, inside was a giant joke( bible verse on back) and things to do with the colours of Christmas: giant purple paper hat, golf chocolate coins, colour, water cress seeds for green (everybody got a packet to take home and something red which I can’t remember ! Anyway it went down a storm.
https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/the-colours-of-christmas
Christmas in three words
Used the tract of the same name from the good book company to think about what Christmas means. Asked people to give in their three words for Christmas on paper or a picture or however they wanted. Used these words together with the words in the tract (historical, joyful, essential) as the sermon series. Again everybody got a tract to take and give to someone.
https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/christmas-in-three-words
Silent Night
As few years ago was the 100th anniversary of the football match on the Christmas day of WW1. I used a verse of the carol silent night each week in advent as our theme along with the Sainsburys tv advert on the events on that Christmas day to build up the theme of real peace. At nativity service we used David McAdam’s football idea (everybody brough scarfs and we did his reading) and on Christmas day we “recreated” the football match by splitting church into two halves and using a giant blow up football (got it in argos). Everybody had great fun trying to batter the ball to their side of the church to score a goal. It was meant to be for the weans but adults took over. Think we called it a draw in the end (nobody wanted to stop) as we had to leave the service to get to our Christmas dinners!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYsWavqL04
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/1666728
Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Used this simple theme (kind of a Scrooge idea) to think about how that Christmas of the past shapes and changes our lives in the here and now and for eternity. Christmas Past focused on Matthew 1 where fulfilment is the theme. Christmas present focused on God with us now and Christmas future focused on heaven where we will be with God. Used clip from Mr Bean where he introduces “new things into a nativity scene things like tanks, marching bands and dinosaurs to re-inforce the idea of bringing it into our lives. At the nativity service everybody got a paper chain paper thing in their service sheet (bought off baker ross) and we built an enormous paper chain linking past/present/future but God/us and
Everybody in church family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsCoK-n10fw
http://www.bakerross.co.uk/
Christmas All stars
When I was on probation in Kilmarnock we did a thing where some people dressed up as the characters in the nativity and met at different point in the parish. They had a short service and walked to the nativity service arriving in the middle of it to join in the celebrations it was great.
Developed that in my first charge as most people wouldn’t be able to walk and used material I got from CPAS.
Basically everybody was encouraged to come to service dressed up as their favourite character.
During the service the characters all got together in their groups in different places in church to do something. Inn keepers built stable on chancel, josephs built the manager, Marys did a banner, Kings made presents, animals made animal masks and so on, all were brought forward at end as our worship of the new king. Folk in pews who didn’t dress up wrote prayers or thing to pray for which we used in intercession at end. There was lots of preparation before service like getting things ready for stable and manger so that they could be slotted together rather than built from scratch during service but it was worth it. You can see our efforts at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgzgh6-pLeU
K Factor
Long before Harry Hill nicked the idea and I see someone else on this site (another minister in our town) took our idea and developed their own version, pretty sure others will have had the same idea. Basically we made four films ripping off the X factor, people trying to find the one with the K Factor. It was great fun. The films are very dated now because judging panel has changed. You can see our efforts at and maybe inspired to do your own version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPpLrLziW6k

29th November 2016
From Margaret Nutter
I am planning to use
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/pop-up-nativity/?source_code=98001_post

29th November 2016
From Derek Hughes (forwarded from Jen Robertson)
This Sticker Advent calendar looks great and I think could be adapted to use in a group context http://godventure.co.uk/product/godventure-sticker-advent-calendar-2016/
Here are some Advent/Christmas resources from New Zealand http://www.kidsfriendly.org.nz/christmas-crafts-games-quizzes-lessons/
Rend Collective’s worship songs are well liked by young people, why not get hold of their Christmas album this year https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campfire-Christmas-Vol-Rend-Collective/dp/B00PEVAHNA

29th November 2016
From Mike Frew
Here’s an idea based around newspaper titles. It’s not original to me and I’m afraid I can’t definitely remember the source.
Click to open word file

29th November 2016
From Fay Forsythe
For several years now we have had a ‘scratch nativity’ at our family Christmas eve service with various versions of songs/hymns using alternative words or adding our own verses to build up the nativity. The great thing is that it needs no rehearsal and involves the whole congregation. Attached are a couple of options.
Click to open word file Long-time-ago-in-Bethlehem
Click to open word file The-Virgin-Mary-had-a-baby-boy

29th November 2016
From George Lind
I attach a wee song we sing here each All-Age Christmas Eve Service. As each Christmas character is named, we fetch out a child or adult to build up the Christmas Tableau (we stop at the end of each verse to do so). You’ll see we end with Anna and Simeon – two much-ignored Christmas characters in Christmas carols and modern songs.
It is deliberately set to the tune “Oh I do like to be beside the seaside” and the folks here sure “give it laldy”. The phrasing is admittedly challenging at times and so I’ve used italics and hypens in both versions to help folks fit it all together.
Click to open Power Point
Click to open word file

29th November 2016
From Fraser Stewart
with a rural Sunday School with too many shepherds and not any volunteers for Mary we went last year for the children going through the Christmas alphabet holding up their letter printed on an A4 sheet (with the script on the back ). Script attached.
The original was by REv Erin Klassen (United Church of Canda) I found it at http://youngclergywomen.org/the-abcs-of-christmas-a-worship-service/
Click to open word file

29th November 2016
From Norman Smith
Here is something for that we put together this year with a short reflection for each day of Advent. It goes out to all our folks via email and is also put on the Facebook page and Website automatically. No idea how that was done, our tech person did it.
Click to open word file

19th December 2013
From Robin Hill
A mini all-age Nativity Play, for worship planners to build up or edit down, as they prefer. (click here to open word file) As ever, I’m doing this for the HIV Programme’s benefit, so if folk would like to use the script, a retiring offering would be nicely in order.
But there’s more! (Surely not.) Also attached is a Christmas Eve sketch for two people, on the theme: “Wait till tomorrow”. (click here to open word file)
All good fun.
Yo ho ho, etc.

19th December 2013
From Steve Edwards:
I loved the Christmas through films piece, which I have just come across. in case you are interested, I immediately thought of three extra films to add.
Three Kings – (George Clooney film)
Something About Mary, (There was SOMETHING ABOUT MARY that Joseph loved so much).
The 3 Amigos
I know that 2 of these may be over egging the 3 wise men bit, but you could say that they were GOODFELLAS coming to see Jesus on that DARK (K)NIGHT in the CITY OF GOD.
I am sure we could even squeeze in a MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS line too.
(Meanwhile, out on the hills, , a wild place, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, some MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS and who were looking after their sheep.
They then walked THE GREEN MILE down towards the CITY LIGHTS.
I think I’ll stop there.

19th December 2013
From Albert Bogle:
You might like to have a look at our newly designed Sanctuary First website. We have a back catalogue of Christmas material – go to the search area on the site and type in Christmas or lead words that reflect Christmas themes you should find quite a number of videos etc that people find of interest . http://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/resources

19th December 2013
From Douglas Nicol:
I have updated the song “Christmas all over the World” for 2013 which is presented in video form.
It includes Nelson Mandela, Andy Murray’s win at Wimbledon, the tragedy at the Clutha Vaults and the advent of Foodbanks … so it is topical.
It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3crMA49Bqt0
and I’m happy to email it to people, if they request it, at : dougiemnicol@aol.com

19th December 2013
From Karen Pa
Resources for churches advent & Christmas material
http://www.pinterest.com/gpsc19716/advent-christmas/

19th December 2013
From Graham Duffin
Here are links to some videos – all of which I have used!
Story of Joseph (Nativity Factor winner 2013):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhudjMTrbds
Dunbar Primary – Christmas story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SijjO4P3xIQ
Bethlehemian Rhapsody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW1pbuyGlQ0
Retooning the Nativity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-4y5mK_o9E
Children retell Christmas story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ

19th December 2013
From Scott Guy:
A simple Christmas rhyme in the style of a marching song – suitable for use at a school service
Click to open word document

2nd November 2013
From John Cook:
We recently had an Advent and Christmas Ideas and Resources day, and here are some of the resources uploaded onto our presbytery website.
http://www.presbyteryofgordon.org.uk/resources_8.html

29th December 2012
Thanks to all who contributed ideas in 2012. With over 4,000 unique visitors (different computers) in December (and almost 3,000 visitors in November – those who plan ahead!) the site has been well used! I used Scott Guy’s Christmas Rap, the Bethlehem Rhapsody which Colin Brough sent a link to and Alan Sorensen’s Balloons with an Angel message.
Some folk didn’t quite grasp the idea of a message from an angel though – the one in the balloon I got read “Hibs for the Scottish Cup!” Still, everyone enjoyed hitting the balloons round the church. Top of the downloads was Andy Chittick’s Family Service – Gifts with 500 downloads!
This Sunday I’m using a clip from the Superman Returns with the line ‘You wrote that the world doesn’t need a Saviour, but every day I hear people crying for one.’ Here’s the link if it’s of use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1iHPQOKOFY Might be the first one on an Easter page if I get round to putting it together!
For those who saw Neil Urquhart’s Men in Black last Christmas, here’s the link to this year’s version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9xTUB73WXY&list=HL1355988321&feature=mh_lolz
Graham Duffin

29th December 2012
From Robert Simpson
Three Christmas monologues. The first two are quite generally usable by anyone with a flair for accents, the third is a bit personal, but could
easily be modified. Click to open word file

29th December 2012
From Ritchie Gillon
An updated version of the ‘Christmas According to Films’ talk Click to open word file

18th December 2012
Remember we would love to hear your feedback. A lovely one arrived recently from Tony Paton Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic – added to feedback page – click to view page

18th December 2012
From Alan Sorensen
Balloons with an angel message – or paper planes. A dead simple but very effective idea, with two variations on it. If you need templates for angels or paper planes with angels email alan.sorensen@ntlworld.com or gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk
Click here to open word file Balloons and Angels

18th December 2012
From Elspeth Harley:
Two easy to perform sketches Christmas sheep and reluctant shepherd and wise men.
Click here to open word file – Christmas sheep drama
Click here to open word file – Reluctant shepherd and wise man

17th December 2012
From Paul McKeown
We do choruses with actions for the children. Why not prayers?
Here is a Physical Prayer I’ve used in church and also at assemblies. Best done with two folk, one reading the prayer and the other leading the actions. One person can do both, but it’s not easy!
Click here to open for file

17th December 2012
From Scott Guy:
Here is a rap I wrote some years ago which others might find useful for Primary schools etc. Click here to open word file

1st December 2012
From Paul McKeown
Some video cliips on youtube that might be useful to others. All are under 5 minutes in length. The first two are my own
1) Busy Christmas – a movie aimed for use in All Age Worship with images put to Stephen Fischbacher’s song “Busy Christmas”. It highlights the manic excitement and preparation that come with getting ready for Christmas, and then ends with a gentle reminder of what the season is really about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyeBWjSFa_4&feature=youtu.be
2) Bethlehem Down. We used at our watchnight last year to move from ‘karaoke carols’ (!) into the service proper at 11:30. It worked beautifully.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGnxRRAuJrw&list=UL
3) Beatbox Nativity – All Age worship. Fun presentation of the Biblical Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyuzSzdpE38&list=FL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w&index=34&feature=plpp_video
4) The Skit Guys – Better to Give Than Receive – funny sketch on the excesses of giving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-VpAG_EXX4&feature=plcp
5) Christmas In A Nutshell – Short cartoon presentation of the meaning of Christmas, suitable for all ages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXgH8ZIz9jQ&list=FL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w&index=35&feature=plpp_video
6) The Christmas Tale: a realistic and quite gritty cartoon presentation of the Christmas story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHSk0kf_PeQ&list=FL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w&index=36&feature=plpp_video
7) We Three Kings – a funny modern take on the journey of the three kings and the pressures of Christmas and giving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yApHxQhlGpQ&feature=my_liked_videos&list=LL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w
8) Retooning the Nativity – a short cartoon dispelling some of the myths around the Christmas story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGYBAXQQLaQ&list=FL-YwzL97PASNyZFKxxIf73w&index=11&feature=plpp_video

16th November 2012
Friends and Heroes Christmas animation is available again this year free of charge –
new link http://www.friendsandheroes.com/uk/he-chose-shepherds?utm_campaign=121116basenews&utm_source=nativity_video_link&utm_medium=email

15th November 2012
From Andy Chittick
Four complete family services – one based on opening gifts for characters from the Christmas story with bible readings and carols – Family service gifts (click to open word file); the second around the recollections of Hannah the daughter of the innkeeper – Hannah’s story (click to open word file); the third imagining the Christmas story unfolding from the viewpoint of two angels – Mission Christmas (click to open word file); the fourth with two reporters interviewing characters from the Christmas story – Search for a superhero (click to open word file)
Two stories – an adaptation of Lucado’s Crippled Lamb – crippled lamb (click to open word file) and a true story of a couple reconciled at Christmas after 35 years apart – New York Christmas (click to open word file)

31st October 2012
From Iain Ramsden:
Interactive Watchnight: I have used this ‘interactice watchnight service’ and found it very effective. The reader and Minister read alternately. I got the idea from somwhere and have ‘updated it’.
The reader stands at the Lecturn (or wherever I suppose) and reads the scripture readings (in italics) while the Minister (or whoever) reads the bits in between, in explanation.
I have only added the dialogue but can add the whole service if anyone wishes it ie prayers, hymns etc. It is timed to start at 11.30pm and finish the dialogue at midnight (depending on how fast i speak!) have a look and see what you think. Feel free to use it.
click to open word file

31st October 2012
From Linda Pollock:
Here is a wee thing I used last year to good effect with the school children at their Christmas Service – it works well with the Christmas Eve Family Service too.
You will need:
Flip Chart Paper & easel.
Colourful Markers.
Someone who can draw or a lack of self-conciousness as you try to draw!!
A few adults who will be willing to stand at the front and hold up the flip chart papers.
Gather the children together so that they are able to see the flip chart & ask the following question: What occasion, event, have we been preparing for these past few weeks? (Answer= Christmas!)
Then ask:
What sort of things have you been doing to make the house ready for this special celebration? (Allow only one answer at a time because with every answer you (or your artist) are going to draw the picture of the answer!)
Examples of answers: (Be prepared to be surprised!)
Buy presents – so you draw a picture of a gift-wrapped present.
Invite an adult to hold the picture up at the front where the kids and others can see it clearly every time.
Send cards – so you draw a picture of a Christmas card.
Buy a turkey – so you draw a picture of a turkey.
Open the Advent Calendar – so you draw …..
Decorate the house – so you draw…
Put up the Christmas Tree – so you draw…
Hopefully one of the children will mention the nativity and church etc… so you draw a picture….
When you think you’ve exhausted the answers stand back and look over the pictures and then taking one picture at a time say,
” hmm… I see a picture of a turkey… would it still be Christmas if there was no turkey? The children will likely respond that it still is Christmas… what do Vegetarians do at Christmas… what do people, say in Africa, do where turkeys are too expensive or unavailable….
SO then you take the picture from the adult, thank them for their help, ask them to return to their seat and scrunch up the picture of the turkey.
Go through each picture and repeat the exercise until you have the picture of the nativity left… ask the following question: “If we remove all the presents, all the food, all the decorations, all the cards all the whatever it is we think we must do to make Christmas special… if we do all this is it still Christmas?” Hopefully the kids will respond with a big loud “YES!” – realising – and helping the adults to realise – that all we truly need for Christmas to be a celebration is the birth of Jesus. Go on then to explain that without the birth of Jesus there would be no Christmas…. and it is wonderful that we are able to celebrate and give gifts in His name, to remember the love of God and to share that love with others.
I hope you find this helpful it was good fun trying to draw the pic’s and the kids loved my inability to draw – I of course told them I was modelling my art on Picasso!
A little extra ..End with a prayer of thanksgiving and to do this invite everyone present to think for a moment quietly of one thing they are grateful for… give them a couple of minutes and examples to help them think (e.g. Family, chocolate advent calendars… the subject can be deep and meaningful or fluffy and light! Then ask them to raise their hands if they would like to share one thing they are grateful for. Ask one person at a time, repeat their point for all to hear and say, “thank you God, amen.” You could invite the congregation to repeat the amen with you.

30th October 2012
From Catherine Hepburn:
‘Instant DIY Nativity’
This arose 16 years or so ago from the worry of a Sunday School co-ordinator who, in our rural congregation, did not know if we would have 12 or 2 children present at our Nativity Play service. We went Instant DIY – no rehearsal needed.
With a big bag of simple props (an appropriate prop per character): shawl for Mary, walking stick for Joseph, Gold sparkly cloth for Angel Gabriel, Gold tinsel for any other angels, toy lambs for shepherds (and eventually some little crooks made by a friendly carpenter), star for star angel (and gold tinsel), crowns for Kings/Magi, gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (jars, boxes, bottles…) for Magi or their gift bearers if a lot of children (or adults wanting to participate). A doll swaddled in white towel as baby Jesus, a manger (originally an orange box with a woollen cushion that looked haylike, now – thanks to friendly carpenter – a little manger, easily carried around). And if cast available and expanding Biblical story.. an apron for Innkeeper, animal masks for donkey, cows etc…
A storyteller tells the Nativity Story (Luke and Matthew minus Herod) – with as much help from children and congregation as required and wanted – asking for volunteers to be each character in the story as they appear in it and ‘dressing’ each character with their prop as their part in the story arrives, involving as much action or not as is appropriate for Mary and Joseph to get to Bethlehem, also Shepherds and angels, and Magi following the star, until the stable tableau is complete.
Often that is when the children sing the first verse of ‘Away in a manger’ with adults joining in verses 2 and 3. The congregation’s Manger gift is brought forward if it is the church Nativity Play Sunday Service.
Before the ‘actors’ go back to their seats, they are asked to leave their prop at their place in the tableau. It leaves a visual reminder of the story for the rest of the service.
The first time I did this (Church Nativity Play Sunday) there were barely enough children for the main parts. An elderly gentleman was in church for the first time since he had suffered a stroke. He was determined to be in the story as the Innkeeper. The congregation prayed him up the steps and into the stable where he stood next to Mary and Joseph and the manger radiating joy. Unless you receive the Kingdom of God like a child…..
Once you have the bag of props, this is simple, flexible and has always, one way or another ‘worked’. We have always arrived in the stable at Bethlehem whether with flocks of Primary one angels or just one or two wee ones, whether the angels wear their tinsel around their necks or, finding it scratchy, wave it like a banner of glory.

30th October 2012
From Lynn McChlery:
Cadder Christmas Drama – a pantomime-style corporate reading that goes well with all ages. Everyone in the congregation needs to have a sheet & you need 2 adult readers to be anchor people – both need to have a strong public presence. You also need dressing up clothes for a king, a shepherd and an angel. Children can be chosen on the spot from the audience for these roles – they don’t need to rehearse but they do need to be confident enough. Give each one the dressing up clothes and a script with their part clearly marked so they know what they’re reading.
You should “warm people up” by rehearsing bits of the script in advance with the whole audience, e.g. the running feet and the shouts. After that, go for it with gusto!! (Link to word document)
Chocolate oranges & Brussels: Again you need 2 adult presenters. You need a wrapped chocolate orange and a wrapped box containing hand-made chocolates: in this case, chocolate Brussels sprouts. You make the sprouts by boiling them lightly for about 2 minutes only til they’re barely soft. Drain, chill them in the fridge for a few hours, then cover with melted chocolate. Put them in cake cases then a posh-looking box, and gift wrap.
Adult presenters tell the children they have Ch’mas gifts for each other and exchange gifts. The one receiving the choc orange goes first – open it, delighted, my favourite etc. Then ask the giver why s/he gave you this gift for Ch’mas. The giver explains that the gift tells you something about the Ch’mas story.
gold paper – riches, a crown, a king – Jesus
globe shape – for the whole world – God so loved the world
for everyone! break the orange by dropping it (e.g. from the pulpit!) then ask if anyone wants to share – get some kids up to have some. Talk about shepherds and angels telling everyone the good news.
One receiving the chocolates opens gift next – delighted, hand-made chocs. Assume these are for sharing too & ask a few kids up to share. Their reactions when they try to eat them will speak for themselves!
Indignation – what’s that to do with the Ch’mas story?
Ask kids why you get Brussels sprouts at Ch’mas – they’re good for you, give you things your body really needs. Sometimes we think Ch’mas is all about the nice surface things – tinsel, trees – and so it is; these things are good. But underneath is something that’s really good for us, nourishing for our souls: God’s gift of His Son, love and forgiveness.
Memorable – Our local school kids were talking about chocolate sprouts for quite some time.

30th October 2012
From Colin Brough:
A selection of youtube and other clips I have used in the past:
Paperless Christmas: A series of short clips that together tell the whole Christmas story – and on towards the Cross http://www.paperlesschristmas.org.uk/downloads/
Christmas Eve service, 2010, Fintry, Dundee; I did it as a “clips and carols” kind of thing, with more spoken input before and after the last clip. My notes are online: http://www.fintry-church.org.uk/SermonsPDF/Xmas2010c.pdf
Digital Nativity: How would the story of Jesus birth have been told had digital media been around 2000 years ago? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk
Similar concept to each other, differently articulated. Great for part of a Christmas eve service.
Advent Conspiracy: This is more of a challenge to Christians to reflect on how we live in a season of consumerism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IN0W3gjnNE
Bethlehem Rhapsody:
This is a bit funny/silly, a puppet retelling to the tune of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody! Sunday School party anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW1pbuyGlQ0
One Baby’s Impact: Words and images to a musical background. Apart from the slightly cheesy “prayer” at the end, this might provide a thoughtful intro to run at the start of a Christmas Eve service. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb1AsyltkpA

30th October 2012
Robin Hill
Beryl & Cheryl’s Christmas Sketch – click to open word file

24th December 2011
From Douglas Nicol
Many years ago I wrote a song “It’s Christmas all over the World” and every so often I update the lyrics to make it relevant to the present year.
In the last couple of years my friends Ian and Carole have added a new dimension by making a video of it.
In the last few days we have put together “It’s Christmas all over the World (2011)”.
You can view it on You Tube through this link: http://youtu.be/oKfrj-DjJPk

24th December 2011
From Alison Jaffrey
Some sketches that have worked and a kids’s thing that tries to connect the Christmas tree to the Christmas story.
Click on any of the 4 links below – all word documents
Presents
Nativity
Donkey versus Camel
11advent

Site activity 21st Dec 2011
Just a quick note to thank everyone for visiting this section, browsing links and pages along with downloading documents.
In December 2011 (so far) visits have come from nearly 70 countries, about 10,000 visits to this Christmas Services section. Funny to think a few years ago this was made as a hidden section for Church of Scotland Ministers to share ideas. As with everything – google found it after links were posted elsewhere.
A few lovely messages have come back. One where we bounced visits, to a site linked here, way way up.
Have a Good Christmas and let us know what ideas worked for you.

21st December 2011
From Graham Finch:
I’ve used the Boots 2008 Secret Santa ad on a few occasions, asking people to think about what messages are packed into its 60 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLK_Wj0Bs2M
There’s ‘Shop at Boots’ which is the message the film-makers were paid for. There’s ‘guys haven’t a clue about Christmas shopping’. There’s message about generous people, stingy people, manipulative people, thoughtful people.
And above all there’s someone for whom it wasn’t enough to give a gift. We see her wrapping up herself and right at the end, there she is hopping up to wait under the tree.
It’s a risky thing to do. What if the recipient looked at her and said ‘Actually I’d much rather have had the office stapler’
But that’s what Christmas is all about – God giving himself to us, God making himself vulnerable.
With adults I’ve used this poem, particularly the third verse, though it takes a bit of thinking about!
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/nativity.htm

21st December 2011
From Gordon Kennedy:
At Stranraer St Ninians we used four advent boxes to help us through advent prepare for Christmas. The services themes were connected to readings, advent boxes and sermons.
Advent 1 – Lk 3:1-22 – Get Ready.
Inside the first advent box was an alarm clock. It tells us that it’s time to get ready.
Advent 2 – Lk 1:26-38 – Surprise!
Inside the advent box was a Kinder surprise chocolate egg, isn’t it surprising that Christmas is connected to Easter!
Advent 3 – Lk 2:8-20 – Come and See.
Inside the advent box was a kaleidoscope, when looking through it the congregation were told they really should come and see this.
Advent 4 – Mt 2:1-12 – Who is the King?
This was our family service, so the advent box this week had a wise man and a shepherd. We opened it just before our prayers for others and were reminded to pray for those from other lands and those poor and outcast.

21st December 2011
From David Pitkeathly:
A re-telling of the Christmas story using famous brands of Frankincense
click to open word document

21st December 2011
From Neil Urquhart
A short Christmas film, The shoes Brothers – a Humorous film with a sharp jaggy point for our day & age in Scotland at Christmas time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgMqj604WJU&feature=youtu.be
To view the better original version (with Blues’ Brothers’ music) you can view it on Neil’s facebook profile.

11th December 2011
From Graham Duffin:
I used this video a couple of years ago and again this year – Amy Grant Breath of Heaven w/Footage from The Nativity Story (2007 New Line Productions, Inc.) Can’t remember where I got it originally but you can now get it on youtube in 720 HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOQRtYYERGo

8th December 2011
From Alan Sorenson
I wrote Christmas words for Old McDonald Had A Farm (changed to an Inn) which goes down a storm!
The trick is to make it competitive – one side of the church versus another, or boys v. girls, when it come to the “with a NO ROOM here” etc. Because it’s so simple it can be done unaccompanied, or you can rope in kids with basic music abilities.
Link to word file

24th November 2011
From Paul McKeown, Belhelvie, Gordon Presbytery
I freely admit that I nicked this idea from John Ortberg’s “It All Goes Back In The Box”, but I’d like to think I’ve added a little to the mix.
The idea is to reflect on the ‘descent’ of Jesus. One of the great Christian saints (can’t remember which) said “Remember, Lord, that we are the cause of your Christmas journey”.
Who travelled furthest to get to the stable in the Christmas story? The Shepherds? (just a few miles) Mary and Joseph (about 80 miles). The wise men? (goodness knows how far).
All wrong! Jesus had the longest journey because he travelled all the way from heaven to earth.
At this point I plan to have a step-ladder and climb all the way to the top. Each time Jesus ‘descends’, I take a step down. You can pick and choose which Bible refs you wish to use and embellish as you go along, but these are the ones that came to my mind.
1) “He was in very nature God” – Phil 2:6, or “In the beginning was the word.. And the word was God”. He started out on a level with God, but was humble enough to take the form of a servant. What kind of a servant? Now according to the Bible, angels are servants. (step down)
2) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14), but we’re told that the Son was made ‘a little lower than the angels’. (Heb 2:9). (step down)
3) So the Son took on flesh and bone – “the Word became flesh”. But did he come into the world ‘fully formed’ – as an adult? No! (step down)
4) He entered the world as a helpless baby, just like all of us. And was he born into privilege? No! (step down)
5) He was born into an ordinary family, in a backwater of the Roman Empire. And when it came to his birth he didn’t even get to enjoy the simple comforts of home (step down)
6) He was born in a borrowed stable and placed in a feeding trough for his first crib. And that set the pattern for his life. If possessions are the measure of a person, he was a nobody (step down)
7) because he owned virtually nothing and had nowhere to call home for the last 3 years of his life. But he was rich in other ways, and the authorities became so jealous of his popularity they had him killed (step down)
8) and killed in the worst way possible – through crucifixion (step down) – ‘even death on a cross’ – (Phil 2:8)
9) And indeed, he tasted death for everyone. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” – Hebrews 2:9
If you want to you could also bring in Phil 2:9 : “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name”. The easter story ends with Jesus going back up the ladder again..
How much he must love us to have made that journey! How much he must love us to have identified with us so fully, not just in our lives, but in our deaths.
Hoping this is some use. Don’t ring Claims Direct if you take a tumble mid-sentence..!

7th November 2011
From Robin Hill and Alec Shuttleworth
A couple of dramatic pieces for Christmas week services, in the hope of raising some congregational Christmas offerings for The Church of Scotland HIV Programme. One is a sketch about waiting.
The other is a poem about a wee girl named Annie and her special Christmas treasure.
Hopefully one, other or both of these creations might be of use to you.
If so, we can assure you that your Christmas offerings would be of great use to the Programme!
Click to open word file – Poem Annie’s Treasure
Click to open word file – Christmas Bus Queue Sketch

4th November 2011
From Joanne Baird, Sunday Club leader at Leith St Andrew’s.
We have used the site below a few times and they have many dramas which can be used as the basis for a service.
http://www.dramatix.org/archive/Linkpages/Childrens.html
One which was particularly successful was The Evening News Hour which our Sunday Club did a couple of years ago. The beauty of it is that as many of the characters are newsreaders or reporters they can have scripts on clipboards! We used powerpoint pictures for setting the scenes and the BBC News jingle as well.
Scripture Union have a free Nativity service online just now which we used last year and that was also straightforward. The children did the readings and prayers and helped with the Christmas card hunt etc.
http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/Light/FreeNativityService/65744.id
Finally an all age service from Damaris which uses clips from Nativity, the recent film.
http://www.damaris.org/nativity

4th November 2011
From Jill Clancy:
If you use puppets I made up a video clip with the music to ‘ANGELS’ the Robbie Williams song but from ONEWAY PUPPETS MINISTRY folks and as the video with music played my puppet sang. You can buy and download the song from their web page
http://www.onewayuk.com/product.php?id=1000103
You don’t have to use a video just the music with a puppet is great!

A little bit of feedback on 23rd December 2010. You may know that this section started in 2006 as a hidden link behind LPC. As with all things – google found it, as links were created on other sites.
The site now sits at the top when you put in a Christmas Service Ideas search.
During November and December 2010 this section was visited about 10,000 times. Many of the vistits coming from search engine enquiries. Users from over 60 countries browsed the section too.
Remember to give us some feedback – we will add it to the comments page.
6th January 2011 From Fiona Tweedie (sorry this was submitted a while back- it was missed out)
A meditation on the Hand of Christ – from the small hands of a baby through
ministry to hands nailed on a cross.
Link to word document – opens in new window – Hand of Christ

31st December 2010 From Graham Duffin
Powerpoint of “Be still for the presence” using images of the birth of Jesus. A striking reminder that Jesus is God come among us. Available from gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

31st December 2010 From Alan Reid
A Who wants to be a Millionaire quiz where one of the answer choices is “The Bible doesn’t tell us”. It is designed to help sort the myth from the simple truth of the story.
Also a powerpoint reflection (words and pictures) used as people gathered for a Watchnight Service
Both available from Alan Reid kinrossmanse@tiscali.co.uk

22nd December 2010 From Lorna Hood
In these busy times I thought it worth forwarding this link to the story of Christmas as it would have happened in this Digital Age.
http://youthministrygeek.com/media/digital-story-of-the-nativity.html
You Tube downloader is free and allows you to use You Tube stuff with power point without internet access
http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/

20th December 2010 From Neil Urquhart
A Christmas meditation featuring a cracking song from ‘Downhere’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH6mOCENG1o
You could check out Min in Black as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gZeZA9HbjE&feature=related

15th December 2010 From William Wilson:
Play the following clip from YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
Christmas food court flash mob – shows people suddenly breaking into the Hallelujah chorus in a food court.
a.. Liken the singing to the angels singing to the shepherds as they watched their flocks.
b.. Compare the surprise and delight of the shoppers to the shock, horror then delight of the shepherds.
c.. Note that this has become a “viral video” with lots of people passing on the clip while it has had over 20million hits on YouTube. The shepherds passed on the good news that they heard.
d.. Look at some of the comments beneath the video on YouTube – some believe and some are sceptical about how spontaneous the singing is – belief and scepticism is the same reaction the shepherds probably received and we hear today.

14th December 2010 From Robbie Hamilton:
Some belated ideas for Christmas.
At the All Age Christingle Service I’ve persuaded three “acts” (including Airdrie’s version of Wagner) to go before a group of judges to see who has the “X” Factor.
This will be a bit of fun leading into a more serious point about who has that “X” Factor, that something special to transform our lives. Is it the one with the most animated act (two elders doing a wacky dance), the one with the most powerful voice (cue Wagner) or the one who looked the part (cue the trendy young folk with their boy band). The Judges will respond to each and then I will bring on a surprise act, a baby which will change the whole mood of the judges and, hopefully the service. Many claimed to have that “X” Factor because (a) they put on a great show (b) they sounded convincing (c) they looked the part but it was the one who come into the world in the most surprising of ways who had the “X” Factor, the Christ factor, the God factor. He still comes into our lives in the most surprising of ways . . . etc Then I plan to simply share the Christmas story with the children and young folk about me perhaps with actions. This will lead into the lighting of the Christingles.
This year and for the past two years I’ve prepared reflections for Christmas Eve Watchnight Service. This year it is based on a theme of light – Mary reflecting on “He’s the light of my life”, a Shepherd reflecting on “He brought light to my life” followed by some thoughts on what it means for us today which will lead to midnight and the lighting of the centre candle on the Advent Ring.
Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight10
Last year I looked at it from the perspective of Joseph and had three reflections –
Joseph – “I’m going to be a father”
Man from today – “I’m going to be a dad”
God – “I am your heavenly father”
Recognising the difficulties for some of “fatherhood” I tried to be as sensitive as I could but I think it worked quite well. Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight09
The year before I picked characters from the Nativity who light a candle on the Advent Ring and reflected on what they were looking for –
Mary, a Shepherd, etc. Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight08
The Sunday after Christmas is, of course, Boxing Day and, reflecting on the tradition of giving boxes to servants who had been working hard on the run up to Christmas and Christmas Day, I’m organising a little gift box for each person attending that day. In it will be a tea light. Very often we reflect on what Christmas means to us, looking at God coming to us in Christ. But what are we prepared to share with others, especially those in poverty, marginalised in society. I will reflect on sharing materially with others but more than that, what are we prepared to share of our faith in the Christ child with others? I will invite folk to think of someone who is struggling at this time or someone they simply want to support for whatever reason and pray for them. Then I will encourage them to give the gift away to the person that they have remembered to say that they had been remembered in prayer. This, for us, will lead into Communion and I will reflect on what this sharing means for Communion.
We will also sing “Good King Wenceslas” – well, it is the Feast of St Stephen!! Different groups will sing different parts of the Carol and we’ll have a bit of fun with that.
Hope these ideas are helpful.
Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight08
Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight09
Link to word document – opens in new window – Watchnight10

10th December 2010
Sorry – there was a letter missed out on the email address on this page. It has now been amended to the correct one gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk
If your email entry has not been added to the 2010 page here please resend it to the correct email address. Thank you.

10th December 2010 From Andrew Anderson:
Three quick, simple and effective ideas which I have used to good effect in
past years, biblical and Christ-centred.
Buy a bag of gold chocolate coins. Speak about gold as one of the
gifts of the wise men. Gold was the sign of a king. Jesus, although a baby,
is our King. Afterwards open the bag distribute a gold coin to each
child/adult as a reminder.
Introduce a Christmas cracker. What do we like about crackers? The
snap! Have a snap or two and get children out to pull them. What else? Bad
jokes! Have some bad jokes from crackers to read out (always popular!). What
else? The paper crown (yes, crown and not hat!). Have a paper crown and put
it on. Crown tells us of a king. Jesus is our King etc.
Have two cards one with HURRY and one with PONDER written on
them.Tell the Christmas story emphasising how the shepherds ‘hurried’ to see
the baby Jesus. But how Mary ‘pondered’ all that she had been told in her
heart. Stress the contrast in the story. Illustrate the ways we hurry at
Christmas, but how we need to ponder on and think about the story.

10th December 2010 From Douglas Nicol
Poem entitled “Christmas is calling.” You can hear Dougie reciting it on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/douglasnicol
Link to word document – opens in new window

9th December 2010 From Lynn McChlery:
Jesus’ Christmas Cracker
Make a Christmas cracker (big as you can – I got inner tube of a roll of carpet from general george & covered with Christmas paper). It needs to be split & make a bang – you can take the bang strip out of some real crackers & attach, or fake it with party poppers).
Make a big deal of opening Jesus’ cracker & see what’s inside: a scroll of paper (message), a crown and a wrapped gift.
Message: read a few cracker jokes for fun, then say Jesus’ christmas cracker doesn’t have jokes, but a different kind of message – much more important! Show the Bible and talk about the angel’s message to Mary and/or to the shepherds (you could easily fit in a Bible reading at this point).
Crown put on the paper party hat. Jesus’ cracker is also about kings – bad king & good king – talk about Herod and Jesus as King
Gift: Jesus’ cracker contains God’s gift to us – what is it? Unwrap the present which contains a copy of Jesus’ birth certificate (I struggled to get the original) with the text “unto us a child is born, a son is given”. Talk about Jesus as God’s gift. (and/or if you wanted you could talk about the wise men).
Jesus’ cracker makes the biggest bang the world has ever known – if appropriate you could finish with kids letting off party poppers.
Immanuel – Heaven to Earth
This takes a bit of preparation but not as daunting as it first looks, & well worth it (hardest bit is getting the balloons as they only reliably last 24 hours). It is excellent for a church family service or whole school service especially if you can keep the visual for other Ch’mas services as it is very effective.
Preparation
You will need 8 helium balloons & roll of paper string (both from party shops), 8 clothes pegs or similar, box for a cradle, doll, folded sheet big enough to go in the cradle and drape down over the sides, post-its. You will also need another adult helper for the presentation.
write one letter of the word “Immanuel” on each of the balloons (I wrote it 3 times on each balloon so you will always see it even when the balloons move around).
attach paper string to each balloon & make a loop in the string about 4ft below the balloon. Then let each balloon go to the ceiling at the front of the church and cut the string near the floor (challenge is not to let a balloon go before you’ve attached string!!).
around children’s eye height, attach post-its to strings as follows:
I = Peace; M = Joy; M = LIfe; A = Love; N = Hope; U = Truth; E = faith; L = Holy Spirit
drape sheet in & over box, put doll inside & display at front. Attach pegs to the sheet, spaced out around sides & back.of the cradle
Presentation
(optional introduction – omit if time is short)
Tell story of the unbelieving farmer whose wife went to Ch’mas Eve service while he stayed at home. There was a storm & he went out to bring in hens, but they were panicking & he couldn’t communicate with them that he wanted to save them. Realised that only way to do so would be to become a hen – as he realised this, midnight Ch’mas bells struck from church (there are many versions of this story). Point is that God came from heaven to earth in Jesus at Ch’mas.
Jesus brought from heaven many things that God wants us to have on earth – what are they? Tell children you are going to have a quiz about what Jesus brought from heaven to earth. The clue will be a Bible verse & they will have to guess, eg
“Peace I leave you, my peace I give you”
Child who guesses right comes out & finds balloon marked “peace”, then pulls it “heaven to earth” until they find the loop. Use loop to attach string to first peg around the crib (your helper can show them where to put it, to allow you to keep the presentation moving).
Proceed with quiz:
I have come that my joy may be in you & your joy may be complete
I have come that you may have life, life in all its fulness
Love one another as I have loved you
Those who hope in the Lord will be made strong
You will know the truth and the truth will set you free
Your faith has saved you
I will leave you another helper, the Holy Spirit
What you should end up with is the crib anchoring the balloons suspended between heaven and earth, spelling IMMANUEL
End by discussing what Immanuel means. The best way heaven came to earth was not only in all these qualities but in Jesus himself.

8th December 2010 -From Catherine Buchan:
Last year I produced three scripts to tell the Christmas story from another perspective (I took them from an adult nativity I wrote that has never seen the light of day yet, but that’s another story) They are scripts for Naomi, Joseph’s Granny, Seth a shepherd and Balthazzar. I had adults read them, and it went really well with a very mixed congregation.
(Scripts as word document files are below – open in new windows)
Balthazzar, the man of science
Seth, the shepherd
Joseph’s Granny Naomi

8th December 2010 – From Alan Sorenson:
Here’s one that worked very well.
Buy dead cheap crackers in a pound shop – I got boxes of 20 for £1 I think. Give one to everyone along with an adhesive address label. They write their name on the label, stick it on, and you can have some fun getting them to pass the cracker along at every verse of every carol. Come the activity, they have to find their cracker, & pull it with the person who had it (and learn their name). Inside there is a paper crown. We sellotaped the crown to some string and hoisted them up on the chandelier on string looped over it earlier on.
Lessons to be drawn:
At Xmas, we are known by name, and God came looking for us just as we looked for our cracker.
At Xmas, it’s good to be with loved ones, but it unites us with strangers…who are just the same as us, on the same journey
At Xmas, the King of Kings came among us and we worship him.
I bought 800 lightsticks to be used at a BB Battalion carol service which got cancelled on Monday….! So here’s an unused idea and if anyone thinks they can use some lightsticks……. If not, the cheapest you will find them is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-x-8-GLOW-STICKS-LIGHTSTICKS-BRACELETS-PARTY-/330376919486?pt=UK_WSJL_Wholesale_GL&hash=item4cebffb9be
Everyone is issued with a lightstick at the start of the night but told emphatically that they must not break them. When the time comes, you can tell them Harry Potter could do magic – we are here to celebrate someone even more powerful, Jesus Christ who was called the Light of the World because he brought light and love into everyone’s life.
Harry Potter used a wand, which instantly did whatever he commanded. Jesus’ love works differently, it doesn’t happen instantly, his light has to be spread from one person to another.
We’re going to put out the church lights, and starting at the front we’re going to use our light wands to pass on the Light of the World from person to person. When the first person gets their wand touched by ours they can break it to start it glowing and then turn to someone beside and behind and touch theirs.
When you touch someone’s wand you must say, “Christiamus!” That’s our blessing to each other, and it’s greater than any magic, because you’re telling the other person that at Christmas, the Light of the World came in to the world, and we’ve all been given the joy of sharing that blessing.
All lights are put out and the light spreads.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
After eveybody’s light is lit they are told to go and find people with the same colour of light, come to the front and collect some connectors and try and make the word JOY by connecting or holding together the sticks.
Other optional activity
With a connector, join your stick into a circle. See who can whirl them round on their finger – remember, we’ve got to let people see that light of Jesus love in us.
Place it on your head and you can be an angel. And during the last hymn you have wear it on your head as a halo.
Hope this might be of assistance to anyone with a family service on Christmas Eve

23rd November 2010 – From Yvonne Atkins
We ( St Andrew’s High) used at our family service on Chrismas Eve a service/script sent to me by Shelter entitled Good News – Pass it on. It involved congregational participation and we also had a few members of the regular congregation who acted out a few of the named parts. It went down extremely well, with adults and children alike – and if anyone would like a copy I would be happy to email it to them. yesatkins@yahoo.co.uk

17th November 2010 – From Robin Mackenzie
Here are links to the CofS Scots page. It includes a couple of ways of using an Advent Ring, a little nativity play by Donald Smith, and a range of things to sing which might offer congregations/choirs something fresh to mix in with the familiar.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpscots.htm#advent
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/wpscots.htm#christmas

17th November 2010 – From Roddy Hamilton
Top 20 Nativity
A retelling of the Shepherds story using music from various years of the charts. Narrator reads and finishes mid sentence a musician or appropriate sections of the track are played to finish off the sentence. A wee competition could happen to see who can guess the track first.
How old is an angel – sketch for two
Stable Story – A retelling of the stable story for the Sunday after Christmas.
Beginnings – A litany for the beginning of the year
The Remembered Nativity –
We didn’t have enough children for a Nativity Play so we asked them to paint life-size characters onto hardboard which the adults cut and on the day we brought them in at the appropriate time and stood them up in the chancel to make the nativity scene.
But more importantly, while we did this, the congregation heard the story as the Sunday School children remembered it. To do this, one morning we asked them to retell the story in their own words which we wrote down. We prompted them using questions like ‘What happened next?’, ‘How do you think they felt?’, ‘What words would you use to describe…?’ etc and complied it into one narrative which the children read themselves while the characters were put in place. This is the version they gave us last year but I recommend you do your own because it is amazing what they remember, when you learn about how you tell the story, how they connect it with contemporary culture, and what they add to it. We left it exactly as they retold it to us
Link to word document – top 20 Nativity
Link to word document – Remembered Nativity
Link to word document – Beginnings
Link to word document – stable story
Link to word document – sketch for two How old is an angel

17th November 2010 – From Christine Murdoch
Ideas off the top of my head – the Christmas story through Christmas cards; the Church’s favourite Christmas carols and why (can work throughout the Christmas season); DIY Nativity – you use what you have and the people who turn up – just as God does!

17th November 2010 – From Jeanne Roddick
CHILDREN’S STORY: At a children’s Christmas eve service told story “Have you seen Christmas” – by Vicki Howie and used ppt pictures of book in background can send picture on CD to anyone who wants them but can be scanned in from the book quite easily
CHRISTMAS PASS THE PARCEL
Wrapped two tins sweets Celebrations in layers of different paper (as below) with newspaper as the inner layer and Christmas paper on the outside:
Christmas paper
birthday paper
new baby paper
paper with stars on
brown paper
newspaper
Point out that the parcel is wrapped in Christmas paper – have a few suggestions as to what it might contain.
Asked congregation to play pass the parcel. Each time the music stops, someone took off a layer of paper. Discussed what was underneath and why that particular paper had been used.
Christmas paper = it’s Christmas time!
birthday paper = Jesus’ birthday
new baby paper = God’s Son was born as a human baby at Christmas.
paper with stars = the star that led people to the stable
brown paper = Jesus was born into a very poor family, in a stable.
newspaper = Jesus coming is Good News for everyone
The box of Celebrations was shared with the congregation, as a reminder that Christmas is wonderful reason for celebration.
THE GIFT OF OUR CHRISTMAS PRAYERS
Used at a Children’s Christmas Eve Service – just as we all exchange Christmas gifts with one another we are going to make a gift of our prayers to God
Everyone was given a piece of red paper parcel as they arrived and during service invited to write or draw something that they wanted to thank
God for this Christmas Eve. Everyone invited to post their prayers in the ‘Parcel Prayer Box’ during the service while praise band sang ‘Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart’
Prayers were all gathered up into closing prayers at the end of the service and offered to God as a Christmas gift

16th November 2010 – From Alec Shuttleworth & Robin Hill
Link to word document – 3 sketches A-Christmas-Triptych

16th November 2010 – From Frank Cambell
Stories in the style of Thomas the Tank Engine but set in the bus depot. Two stories suitable for an all age Christmas Eve service. Pictures of the characters available from Frank Campbell jedburgh@cofscotland.org.uk
Link to word document – all-age-christmas-eve-2008
Link to word document – all-age-christmas-eve-2009

From Stewart Birse 11th January 2010
What worked well was a short drama produced by short-christian-skits, Cost about £9 for 5 Chistmas skits, but the 4 Kings at the Watchnight Service was worth every penny. Just right for the audience, which included many non Church folks, http://www.short-christian-skits.com/

From Jim Scott 11th January 2010
A Christmas reading using shop titles in retelling the Christmas story – Click to read

From Neil Urquhart: 20th December 2009
Check out our ITN Film project this year. We have some sketches too about travellers involved in the film
http://www.youtube.com/user/FullOnArt (key Journativity)

From William Wilson 18th December 2009
Idea for an all age service.
Use either theme music from Blue Peter or clips from Kirstie’s homemade Christmas as the introduction to a “homemade” nativity tableau.
Then put together a nativity tableau – starting from Mary and Joseph, including angels, shepherds, animals, wise men. There should not be costumes etc – the point is to make the nativity up from whatever and whoever is available on the day. So we’re asking people to improvise for costumes.
This is all good fun for the congregation, especially children who are the main characters. Can let people’s imaginations run riot as to what would serve as shepherd’s crook, kings’ crowns etc.
Intersperse with appropriate carols at the right points in the tableau.
When the tableau is complete then there can be discussion about whether it was better “homemade” or prepared.
Talk about the idea of “homemade” as do it yourself – but the whole point of Christmas is that we can’t “do it yourself”. God had to reach out to us.

From Robin Hill : 18th December 2009
A fun way of involving children in a retelling of the children’s story
Click here for word document A Counting Christmas

From John Cook : 17th December 2009
Love Russia has produced a wonderful musical based on the Papa Panov story called, The Old Russian Shoemaker
http://www.loverussia.plus.com/pages/resources/musicals.html
Another great musical is Sheila Wilson’s Christingle Rock.
http://www.redheadmusic.co.uk/musical.asp?musical=CRR
Barnabas has all sorts of online resources and their own publications for all-age, children’s and schools work, including a substantial Christmas section.
http://www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk/pages/483s.htm

11th December 2009. What started as a small idea to share Christmas Services ideas has grown to become very popular and well used. It was a hidden section at first. But as with all things – google found it. This month alone, stats show over 1000 visits to the section have been made. With many users finding section through search engines (over 500 this month). Keep the ideas flowing in please.

From Neil Dougall 11th Dec 2009
There is a great idea using brussell sprouts dipped in chocolate made to look like chocolate truffles. I found it (or was directed to it) last year and used it for a Primary School Assembly. Kids loved it.
Details at
http://www.schoolswork.co.uk/blog/entry/christmas-assembly-chocolate-sprouts/

From Keith Mack 11th Dec 2009
I used this trick last year, it took a bit of practice but the kids loved it, they are still talking about it, you can find the solution on British sites too
http://www.pubtricks.com/video-pub-sodacan-trick.html
(I of course am not allowed to divulge my secrets!)
then spoke about Jesus coming into the world and restores broken lives, I found it powerful!

From Fraser Pennie 11th Dec 2009
I used “Mabel’s letter” a couple of years ago which certainly seemed to appeal to parents at the school service if not to the children! I hope it makes sense as it stands. It was prompted by an article in a paper about this letter which was found stuck in a chimney and I developed the idea for this school talk. I also made slides to go with it so that the children had something to see as well. Link to Mabel’s letter
Another good story I have used is ‘The Three Trees’ which is a traditional folk tale retold by Angela Elwell Hunt published by Lion (with lovely illustrations by Tim Jonke.) It is a lovely story about three trees dreaming of what they will be when cut down. One ends up being made in to the manger, another into a fishing boat from which Jesus calms the storm and the last is made into the cross. There is much more to it than that but the story goes right from the manger to Easter.

From Malcolm Lyon 11th Dec 2009
Here are a couple of sketches that I have used both in School Assemblies
and Sunday Worship. You may wish to change language or whatever.
I involved both adults and young people with the advent calendar and
it seemed to go down well. Link to The reluctant shepherd and Advent the Calendar

From Duke Vipperman (Toronto!) 2 December 2009
I used the same devotion four times last year. A few people participated twice –
and they said it was different each time. That is because of the open-endedness of the question and answer time. It saved me from preparing four different talks. Here’s how it went.
Set-up –
A very simple painted-wood child-friendly nativity set at Ten Thousand Villages – just the Holy Family plus one shepherd and one magi
A wood and straw stable from Laos at Ten Thousand Villages
A real miniature tree – this added verisimilitude
A 2′ x 3 ‘ hard cord board covered with a straw mat with a border to border black cloth circle in the middle to put the figures on. Our chancel is carpeted and so the figures would not have stood up well without something hard under them
One large 3″ wide white candle for each service.
A set of relighting birthday candles – one inserted into each of the 3″ wide candles.
our tea lights, one for each of the other figures.
Dialogue.
The scene was introduced and the Christ-light lit. Then I chatted for two minutes allowing the re-lighting candle to burn down to the magnesium.
When I got to “And the darkness has not put it out” I snuffed out the Christ-light. One religious sceptic in one service later said he wondered why I would do that since it would spoil the story. Then the candle re-lit itself – and that sceptic smiled from ear to ear. ‘I get it’ said one of the youngest children, ‘Christ’s light never goes out!’
Then each of the tea-lights was lit in turn from the Christ-light candle with the questions, e.g. “What was Mary’s part of the story? What did she do?” and such for each of Mary, Joseph, Shepherd and Magi. This was done till all four were lit.
Then holding the Mary tea light in my hand I said “What might have kept her from doing that?” [Asking “what might have blown her candle out” inevitably produced the answer “a little breeze”! Think concretely like a kid! Many are not yet at the abstract thinking age.] Whatever they answered to that question, eventually I blew that tea light out and went on to the next.
At the end only the Christ-light burned and I explained that all those people kept burning and were not put out because God had spoken to each of them and each believed God’s word. God’s word never fails and so they continued to shine. And each tea light candle was relit from the Christ-candle.
Cue Silent Night and call it a wrap!
All five candles then burned through the rest of the service.
[By the way, once the relighting birthday candle is inserted into a 3″ candle it burns longer and so burns out the relighting magnesium in it. After 10 minutes it will NOT relight so don’t try blowing it out after the presentation! Still it is wise to soak the extinguished wick in water just to make sure it won’t relight.

From Allan Vint 25 November 2009:
I can recommend
http://www.familyworship.org.uk/seasons/christmas/ and particularly the ‘peace child’ video and song which can be downloaded for £1.99 I have used it and folks loved it.

From Derek Browning
Last year we looked at some of the different plants associated with Christmas – holly, ivy, poinsettias, etc etc. Simple, visual and easily accessible. It made a change from trying to wring more meaning out of shepherds, wise men etc!
From Graham Leitch
A script in 4 parts “Testimony of Joseph, being one of the more neglected figures in the Christmas Story” Might be of some use… Especially if you can find someone to dress up as an older Joseph…
The Testimony of Joseph (opens as a word document)

From Mark Nicholas 27 November 2009
This Advent we are running two tracks – for the children we are using the theme “Father of Lights” which will focus on what it meant for the creator to become part of the creation. We will be taking advantage of the long nights having a “constellation of the week” and will work up from the scale of planet to universe. The corresponding move of Big God to baby will work in the opposite direction at the same time.
For the adults the theme is “Making Room”. Looking at how various characters in the Christmas story made room for Jesus. We will be starting with how God, Father, Son and Spirit made room for us in the act of creation, focussing on God’s desire for us.

From John Mitchell 27 November 2009
A useful link at any time of year www.talks2children.itsforministry.org

From Keith Mack 27 November 2009
An idea using candy canes: http://logosresourcepages.org/Holidays/candy.htm

From David Graham 25 November 2009
Came across a variation on the advent calendar – a ‘Jesse Tree’ (yes, strange name!).
See link below, or google it. http://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html

From Yvonne Atkins 25 November 2009
Shelter have a downloadable family Carole service with congregational participation that may be worth having a look at to use with some congregations. (Not sure it would be suitable for all though)

From Bill Brown 25 November 2009
For the past few years we have used the Christmas Tree in the church as a ‘prayer tree’ throughout Advent. Although we put lights on the tree there are no baubles or bells, but the ‘decorations’ are built up week by week (4 Sundays) using cardboard symbols on which the congregation can write a prayer and these are placed in the offering plate and hung on the tree for the remainder of the Season. One year the symbols depicted projects and work in which we were involved e.g. FreshStart, Christian Aid, HIV/AIDS Project, our twinning/partnership with Ghana. This year we are following the theme of our Advent Wreath – Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, with a different cut-out cardboard symbol each week (candle for hope, dove for peace, heart for love and angel for joy) with old and young invited to write on them their hopes for the future, prayers for peace, prayers for those they love or those who are unloved and thanksgiving for the joys in their lives. Our Christmas tree, which we had almost abandoned has now become a prayer tree with a special significance over the season. This can also be done using the symbols of the Jesse Tree, which we also did one year.

From Bill Brown 25 November 2009
In terms of an action activity for youngsters on Christmas Eve I adapted a version of “We’re going on a bear hunt” which they all knew and the adapted verses were put up on the screen for the whole congregation to join in as the youngsters walked around the Church.
Click here for “Bear Hunt” opens in a new window

From Robin Hill 25 November 2009
Sketch: Of pigs and paintings
click here to open Of Pigs & Paitings Sketch (word doc opens in new window)

From George Lind:
I got the Higher Drama Class at Annan Academy to do the speaking parts in the Scripture Gift Masson PowerPoint Presentation “Meet the Cast.” It worked fine. http://www.sgmlifewords.com/uk/orders/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_70&products_id=187
This year I’m planning to use Retooning the Nativity. You can preview before buying at: http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/sea/singles/1063/Retooning-the-Nativity

From Kenny Stott
We invited children in local schools to make a Christmas card. Folks voted in church yesterday and winners announced at church event. Card will be printed and distributed throughout parish with church service details. 150 entries- schools and community leafleted with the news of winners being announced. small prizes for winners.
Event: Half hour Advent presentation. PPT – words and images – broken up with very short drama pieces. After half hour people invited to see all cards that were submitted. Teas/ coffees served. PPT for service following the letters of ADVENT – Anticipation Decision Visitors Expectations News Thanksgiving –
available from ARKSTOTTS@aol.com or gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

From Derek Hughes
Peace on earth powerpoint using U2 song “Peace on Earth”
available from derekthecleric@btinternet.com or gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

From Neil Urquhart added 17th December 2008:
Power point suitable for School Assemblies & Christmas Eve based on the song “No Air2 which as No. 1 in the charts for weeks & is well known by the youngsters. It suggests that life without the air of God’s Love is suffocating & makes us less human; of course God comes to reconnect our air supply to God’s Love & Presence through the birth, life, death & resurrection of Christ, helping us to become more human in the way we live & love. Available from neilurquhart@f2s.com or gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

From Derek Hughes 2nd December 2008
You’ll find some useful ideas on the following websites
www.assemblies.org.uk
www.schoolswork.co.uk

From Roddy Hamilton 28th November 2008
Dialogue – a dialogue between Mary & Joseph
Choral – 3 voices using the words of Isaiah 9
See links above

From Robin Hill 27th November 2008
The Christmas story told using limericks.
See link above “Limerick Nativity Script”.
Powerpoint slides for this available from robin.hill@homecall.co.uk

23rd Nov 2008
Christmas Video
www.sermonvideos.co.uk have a Christmas video entitled “Christmas: stess or peace” contrasting the stress of Christmas with the peace promised by the angels. Cost £8 but you can preview it in full before purchasing.

19th Nov 2008 from Roddy Ferguson
Proclama mi alma la grandeze del Señor – the Magnificat again but in Spanish reflecting on how it has been the song of choice for Latin Americans who are fighting injustice. The idea is someone reads it in Spanish while another voice interprets it. Latin American music in the background is very effective and makes it all quite political and sharp. (See link above “Proclama mi alma la grandeze del Señor”)

19 Nov 2008 from Roddy Ferguson:
Five Advent moments (sketches) which all go together except the last one. They were used at our carol service in 2006 and involved just two people. See link above (Advent moments)
1 The Annunciation is a dialogue between Gabriel trying to find Mary and spilling the news… well I won’t tell you, you’ll just have to read it. Humerous.
2 The Conversation is based on the ability of Scots to start every sentence with ‘But’. Wee dialogue between Mary and Joseph over that awkward news of pregnancy.
3 The Message is mime along to music. It’s the story of the shepherds or one in particular hearing the news. Someone needs to play the piano in response to the mime. Could be quite funny. It was for us.
4 The Conscience is the story of the travellers but is the debate that is going on in the head of one of them about the whole thing. In effect this one player plays the part of the three.
5 The pondering is a more serious reflection on the Magnificat played by two people, Mary who speaks the words and a different voice interpreting her song.

19 Nov 2008 from Colin Brough
A children’s talk based on Malachi 3 Jesus the one who deals with sin (pdf file)
A children’s talk based on Malachi 5 – Jesus the promised leader (pdf file)
To view the pdf files, you may need Adobe Acrobat from Adobe

17 Dec 2007 from David McAdam
A retelling of the Christmas story with football teams to spot on the way through. See the link above

27th November 2007
From Andrew Ritchie
You will need an Outsize Christmas Card with a stocking shape (but open at
the top) inside a card on which is written
“He came down from glory to bring redemption’s story” or
similar. Underneath the stocking the words
“Perfect Gift…” on the back of the card the words “or
unopened present.”.
I think you
get the drift. It might be useful at a nativity service or the like.

First entry for Christmas 2007
27th November 2007
From Yvonne Atkins
I plan to get a large helium balloon from a party shop (e.g. The Party Shack) which needs to clear or pale white…. so you can see the inside of the balloon. A small box containing a heart shaped card is placed inside the balloon. The idea is that each week the children have to try and guess what the gift is in the balloon, and as the balloon usually takes 3 – 4 weeks to go down, it allows the minister to talk about the advent theme of waiting etc. Once the balloon has gone down, or if the balloon has to be burst on Ad 4/or Christmas Eve, then the heart is revealed… the heart being symbol for love…. well no doubt you see the Christmas message connection.

30th Dec 2006 Update
Thanks to all those who shared their Christmas ideas with us in 2006. If you used anything in 2006 which might be useful to someone else in 2007, please email it to us!
Over 800 people visited this page in December 2006, and we are keen to get your feedback on the usefulness of the ideas contained – and whether we should continue with this in future years.

19th Dec
From David Harper: (sorry this one slipped through the net so on a bit later – GD)
Take the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” and substitute gifts that children might want today. I used this with primary schools and asked each class in advance to choose their favourit gift/toy; I then made up a powerpoint with pictures of all the gifts and we sang the song together. I then spoke about the religious significance of the original song and the hidden Christian meaning of each line. It was very effective.
I have developed, with my Media Group, a series of powerpoint stories about a fictional character called Harry the Hare – 2 harvest and 2 Christmas so far. They have gone down really well and can be obtained from me ( probably on a CD by E-mail – d.l.harper@btinternet.com ).

18th Dec
From Wendy Drake
The Christmas story with football words slipped in – see link at top of page

18th Dec
From Jim McEwan
(Keep asking till you get the answer given)
Whos birthday we are celebrating? (Jesus) How do the children celebrate their birthdays? (Party) What do they do? (share food) Such as? (cake) Produce a simple cake. Is there anything special on a birthday cake? (Candles) How many (Depends on the age) How old is Jesus? (2006 for these purposes!) Do you think we could get all these candles on the cake (No) O K, lets just use one. (Put the candle on the cake: a trick candle, which does not go out when blown, but needs to be pinched or doused in water. Have some water!)
Who is going to light it?….
What happens to the candles at your parties? (The birthday boy / girl blows them out)
Who would like to blow this out for Jesusbirthday?.... Two or three try, and they all fail, becauseJesus is the light of the world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.`
On one marvellous occasion an adult, who knew how to put it out, pinched it….and to great amusement it still burst into flame again, as she was returning to her seat.
(Hence the need to ensure you have water handy)

18th Dec
From Jock Stein
A Christmas rap and a Christmas song for children – see link at top of page

18th Dec
From Robin Hill
See link above – “The Light Inspector ” Sketch

18th Dec
From Frances Henderson
A simply idea from the Assemblies website www.assemblies.org.uk – a fantastic website at any time of year.
Wrap a large box of sweets – preferably Celebrations – in layers of different paper (as below) with newspaper as the inner layer and Christmas paper on the outside:
Christmas paper
birthday paper
new baby paper
paper with stars on
brown paper
newspaper
Point out that the parcel is wrapped in Christmas paper – have a few suggestions as to what it might contain.
Ask some volunteers to play pass the parcel with you. Each time the music stops, take off a layer of paper. Discuss what is underneath and why that particular paper has been used.
Christmas paper = it’s Christmas time!
birthday paper = Jesus’ birthday
new baby paper = God’s Son was born as a human baby at Christmas.
paper with stars = the star that led people to the stable
brown paper = Jesus was born into a very poor family, in a stable.
newspaper = Good News for everyone
The box of Celebrations is for sharing with the congregation, as a reminder that the birth of Jesus is a reason for celebration. Alternatively, you could wrap some other object to illustrate whatever point you want to arrive at.

18th Dec
From Neil Urquhart
There are a few scenes in ‘Superman Returns’ which are decent ways into talking about Jesus’ coming & purpose. Scene 19-20 has a bit where Lois Lane’s provoked Superman to put her right on an article she’s written entitled, “Why The World doesn’t need Superman.” ‘Does the World need a Saviour’ is the question Superman asks Lois and the answer is clearly ‘Yes’.

14th Dec
From Lorna Hood
Four ideas about retelling the Christmas story, having used the sweet theme and newspaper theme so successfully. TV programmes, toys, football and film themes. With the TV programmes, which are a bit dated now, my organist played the theme tune for each programme! The football and films themes were worked out with some colleagues in Paisley. See link at top “Christmas story using tv toys film football”

13th Dec
From Liz Henderson
Christmas Play – the Spider (see link at top). It comes from the www.assemblies.org.uk site but have adapted it because I didn’t like the ending.
One Christmas we set up some cardboard boxes and made a small place like some of the homeless stay in and just left it there over Christmas.
Papa Panov is a good Christmas Story. Have done this both as a play and with a cardboard model of the carpenter’s shop. The story is in the Lion Book of Christmas Stories.
At our Christmas Eve Service we use a fibre optic tree that looks like a bare tree and we make paper doves. Everyone writes the name of someone who has died on a dove and the children put them on the tree and we read out the names at the beginning of the service. We have a child bereavement project here and it is a way of remembering the sadness that is there for a lot of families..it is important that the service then moves to why the birth of Jesus brings hope and the service ends in celebration.
Just after Christmas have used a black bag full of torn up Christmas paper as part of the sermon based on the theme of what is left with us when everything is being tidied up.
Last year we used the silly Christmas poem from the assemblies website –I wasn’t sure but the congregation thought it good.
The Family Feud game show is a based on a game show where Santa and Joseph are contestants –I found it at www.few.net/bobsnook On the same site is the Christmas allegory of shepherd and sheep which I came across again. Haven’t used it but it could be used when it’s not Christmas as well.

13th Dec
From Neil Dougall
What do you want for Christmas?
Good starter for a secondary assembly. I downloaded a 5 minute video from http://www.osbd.org/shop/item/199 (cost £5). Barry Bling, dressed up as Father Christmas goes around asking people what they want for Christmas.
There is a good contrast towards the end. Abby, a girl in her 20’s says, . ‘I don’t want anything at all. I think Christmas is way too commercial. I don’t think anyone knows the true meaning of Christmas anymore.’ Shortly after, Vincent says, ‘I want to win the lottery.’ That provided me with the chance to talk about having Christ in Christmas.
It held the attention of the young people very well. I guess it’s quite like a You Tube video.

8th Dec
From Gregor McIntyre
Retelling of the Christmas story with the names of Chocolate bars inserted. It went down a storm with the School Christmas Assembly. Throw the chocolates out to whomsoever spots the tradename of the sweets.
Pure fun, lots of calories, send them back to class in hyper mood!
– see link at the top “Chocolate Christmas stories.”

8th Dec
From Donald McCorkindale
Published in Expository Times, a fun way of telling the familiar story using titles of newspapers. Could follow conversation about current affairs, making the transition to the good news of the gospel. Try to obtain copies of as many newspapers as you can to display at the appropriate points to illustrate the talk – you may need to adapt as required by local availability. The words in bold all feature in international titles. (www.onlinenewspapers.com may prove helpful) You’ll find the text for the story at:
http://talks2children.itsforministry.org/t2c/view.asp?id=204

8th Dec
From Gregor McIntyre
Retelling of the Christmas story with the names of Chocolate bars inserted. It went down a storm with the School Christmas Assembly. Throw the chocolates out to whomsoever spots the tradename of the sweets.
Pure fun, lots of calories, send them back to class in hyper mood!
– see link at the top “Chocolate Christmas stories.”

8th Dec
From Malcolm Rooney
Christmas pictures
If you have a number of young people in the Church, ask them in advance to save the wrapping paper form their presents … bring it to the Christmas day service … divide them into group with an adult or a teenager … provide some light coloured wall paper and some glue and send them away for 15 minutes to make a Christmas collage using the wrapping paper.
Service interlude
On Christmas morning we adjourn our service and retire to the hall for a glass of wine and shortbread. We do this so that everyone has a chance to chat to someone on Christmas morning. It is also a great way to catch up with the youngsters who have left the town but who are back for Christmas
What Christmas means to me
Invite half a dozen members of the congregation to prepare a one / two minute reflection on a memory of Christmas

8th Dec
From Yvonne Atkins
Something that my Children’s leaders did last Christmas at the Family Service and was incredibly popular with the children was Christmas bingo. Different things that we associate with Christmas i.e crackers, toys, santa etc are called out and the children mark them off. The last to be called out is Jesus, at that point (because of the way the cards are printed) all the children will shout Christmas (instead of Bingo) together. No single winner,… I followed on with a talk about Jesus being the real reason of Christmas etc. I am happy to pass on fuller details of the bingo cards if anyone would like them.
I should add – it doesn’t encourage the children to gamble as there are no individual prizes ….

8th Dec
From Iain Morrison
You’ll find full outline for an all age service called “the ants Christmas” for download at http://www.spurgeonschristmas.org/

8th Dec
From Stuart Matthews
“God’s daring plan” – a story ‘borrowed’ from a sermon from Barbara Brown Taylor
I’ve cut it down and simplified it for use with young people
It can be simply read – even better if learned
And is best with some pictures to help the listeners
Pictures I use are – planet earth; a man and woman; the garden of eden; a baby; a nativity scene
See link at top “God’s daring plan”

8th Dec
From David Keddie
1) Set the manger scene in the chancel with a Mary and Joseph. Leave room in front of the set. Then start talking about and asking about what actually goes on at Christmas and all the different people who are involved. We have shopkeepers – get a few folk out from the congregation to stand in front of the crib scene, we have shoppers, ditto, then we have carol singers, we have waiters and cooks and hoteliers – and so on – each time get some folk out to represent these different groups – by the end the manger scene has become totally invisible. Nuff said!!
2) This talk/activity reflects on the fact that the CHRIST of Christmas is often reduced to an “X”
What different things does “X” stand for – in maths the unknown, in X-rays, seeing the problems inside someone (God saw what we needed…), the treasure map where X marks the spot (have a map and ask kids to come out and find the spot..), X for a Cross, X for a kiss (God’s kiss of love…)
Its useful to have a flip chart for this and write the various things on it.

7th Dec
From Graham Duffin
Powerpoint available with clipart pictures of presents, trees, santa, parties, food carol singer. But look closely and you’ll see something hidden behind. More important than the presents, trees ……. (pic of child in manger revealed hidden by all the others.)
available from gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

6th Dec
From Christine Sime:
I sometimes use a puppet – a bear – whom the kids (and adults) enjoy. Toby said he wanted to go to the stable and be part of the scene this year – and I told him there were no bears at the stable.
He re-appeared with various ‘ears’ on – donkey, cow, horse (and reindeer) – pretending to be these animals. His cover was blown – sometimes by the children – and Toby was told he could not go.
However by the end I had ‘realised’ that Toby could go to the stable as he was, because that is how Jesus wants us all to go – just as we are. Acceptable to him as ourselves, not having to pretend to be anyone, or anything we are not.
At a special needs school, my plan was nearly thwarted when one lad shouted out to Toby that he could go with him! Not a dry eye…………..

6th Dec
From Robbie Hamilton
This year at our Family Christingle Service I am doing “Who wants to be a Christmas Millionaire” as way of telling the Christmas story. The answers will come together to tell the story towards the end of the service and the Jacpot will be out of this world – a prize that money cannot buy.

6th Dec
From Allan Vint
can I perhaps recommend a site www.worshiphousemedia.net which contains some great video clips, christmas countdowns, graphics etc
Also www.faithvisuals.come has a wide range of material and the cost is very reasonable. Finally www.imagevine.com is good quality

6th Dec
From Robert Cranston
Tapioca Christmas Talk…. this works better than anything else I have ever done. You get a tin of Tapioca and take the paper off the front of the tin prior to the service. During the service you get a child to help (good to pick one who is about 10-12 years old and articulate) and blind-fold the child sit him/her down at the table with a bowl in front of the child. You then open the can and poor the Tapioca into the bowl. You then ask the child to describe what it feels like? AND THEY WILL SAY JELLY…you are in trouble if they say Tapioca but most kids don’t know what Tap is….. but it is good to think what you would do if they do say that… sing another carol or pray ???? The next question is what does it sound like ? The next question is what does it smell like…… what does it taste like……… then take off the blind-fold and ask them what does it look like………….. here some kids don’t even recognise what it is… and if that is the case you have an even better talk because you then get them to take it to the congregation and get somebody who does know what it is to tell them what
it is. Now we get to Jesus. When we try and imagine what God looks like
feels like, sounds like, tastes like it is very difficult to know and describe… like the Tapioca… because no one has seen God… so he sent Jesus so that we can know and understand what God is like.

6th Dec
From Neil Galbraith
as CEO of the Caring City, I have a resource that can be called upon for next year if anyone wants to borrow it. The Charity own the World’s Biggest Santa Hat over 22ft. Tall. It’s in the Book of Records for 2007/8.
Five of the other Glasgow Churches are using it this year up until Christmas Day, but it’s out there for next year.
From Jeanne Roddick
Try using audience participation as you tell the story. People participate as someone holds up each of the key words.
Angel Glory to God [wave hands in the air]
Sing Hallelujah [like Handel’s messiah]
Noisy ‘Hello everyone it’s me!’ [wave one hand]
Manger It’s time to go [point]
Now No! [cup hand round mouth and shout]
“See Christmas story with actions” page – link at top

5th Dec
Contributed by Tom Nelson:
The Sweet News of Christmas – a family service which can involve all age groups. The Christmas story is told and as each sweet is mentioned someone in the congregation brings forward that sweet until there is a great big pile for sharing at the end. I think Wesley Owen were giving these out as freebies some years ago. wordonline.co.uk were the publishers.

5th Dec
Contributed by Jared Hay:
Last year we ran our family service as a party. At the start played part of Graham Kendrick’s song ‘Heaven invites you to a party’, sang O come all ye faithful while there was a procession of birthday cake and Christmas crackers – threw about 60 of them out to the congregation and had one huge one from WH Smith with its contents replaced. Cracker readings were the stories from the Gospels, the cracker toys were the hooks for telling the story – paper hat: Jesus the King; three wooden blocks with letters spelling JOY – the Good News of great Joy; some long nails: Jesus the Saviour. Pass the parcel: had gold, frankincense and myrrh. A quiet time with Still the night, Away in a manger and prayers. Cutting of the cake (and eating it after the service!) and singing Happy Birthday. Thought it went down really well and got the message across.
One previous year I did a ‘Who’s hot and who’s not’. We have three singing toys: Frosty the Snowman, Santa and a Christmas tree – all very evident in the shops! As the Christmas story is told in the readings each of these is swapped for angels, shepherds and a manger, telling the significance of each of these for the story – Good News of a Saviour from the angels, the witness of the shepherds, the place for the baby Jesus to lie – God’s King. Seemed to go down well as an antidote to the prevailing culture.
Another year I picked on members of the congregation to receive gifts. As they unwrapped them a piece of paper with a text was found which related to the gifts and these were used to tell the story and its significance. Can’t remember now all the gifts but the star gift was a ladies watch (cheapest one I could get) – text: at just the right time God sent his Son into the world. The amazing thing there was the lady receiving the gift was actually needing a watch.
Also, newspapers: The Times, News of the World, The People, The Record (could even add the Morning Star!) – all titles that have resonance with the nativity story and can be used to convey it.
Hope these might be a spur to other ideas.

5th Dec
From Mike Frew: mwfrew@blueyonder.co.uk
I prepared a windows video file using Graham Kendrick’s Thorns in the Straw (from Rumours of Angels) and some photo images. Might be useful for a quieter Christmas service, maybe even Watchnight. File size is 39Mb so I would need to put it onto a CD and send it by post, rather than attempt email. If anyone wants it, let me know. Hope you’d reimburse me for CD and postage!

5th Dec
From Graham Leitch:
Last year Neil Dougal mentioned a Children’s Story Book “Thomas and the Christmas Present” – this is now out of print but I used it (as Neil had suggested) as a simple story for the children but also as an illustraton of the meaning of GRACE – Thomas got a present he didn;t deserve at Christmas because he had been bad (read the story!)
It worked very well in School Services but would suit any Christmas Family Service too.
Email for powerpoint & story Graham Leitch leitch@cranscott.fsnet.co.uk

5th Dec
From Robin Hill
As last year, I am offering a comic sketch wot I wrote. This time it’s a two-person one based around the theme of Christmas cards. We will use this before doing a talk in which we show (on Powerpoint) some hand-made Christmas cards created by our Sunday school, which will allow us to talk about the real signiifcance of the Christmas story (without any of Val and Jim’s lovely sentiments!).
Happy to have the sketch used with adaptations as required, though
please make a donation to Christian Aid if you do perform it!
Cheers again and all good wishes for Advent
See link at top for sketch………..

5th Dec
From Kenny Stott
Kingship
We used various video clips to look at kings- began with opening scene from the madness of King George- lots of pomp and trappings of kingship.
Later on used clip from Henry V- Kenneth Brannagh leading his troops into the breach- a military/ warrior king
Finished with scene form Lion King –where all “creation” bows down before the king- emphasis on the unusual – not what people expect .
Chrismon Tree
Last few years we have adapted a Chrismon tree-agree on a symbol and ask all organisations to make a symbol- must be white, silver or gold. Organisations then encourage all their folks to come to service and decorate tree. Each year we keep symbols form past year and it allows a sense of continuity- past symbols have been angels, candles, shepherds, stars, lions ( last year to tie in with “Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe) and this year crib/manger to tie in with TEAR funds HIV project.
Any lights on the tree must be white- it has meant an end to “tacky” baubles, lights and tinsel- quite an effective visual aid.
The tree is then kept and brought back out in Lent where it is stripped and turned into a cross. During the weeks of Lent various symbols placed at foot. Has meant that we have kept Christmas and Easter connected.

5th Dec
From Neil Urquhart neilurquhart@beeb.net
Powerpoint meditation available to the superb song “Go light your world!” by Chris Rice (words below) – you might be able to download it from somewhere, I used an album someone lent me.
There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hepeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times
So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hepeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
(Neil also has three sermons/meditations on waiting, light & angels)

5th Dec
From Eric Foggitt
If you go to http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Nativity&nop=0&
you will find a promo site for “The Nativity Story”, a film which is just out (I think) on general release.
Opinion seems to be that it’s worthy, accurate enough and as true to the biblical account as anything else. Since many families go to the flicks at Christmas time, it’s probably better than most films on offer!
There’s a 2-3 min video clip you can download on the “Nativity Story” website, and some pretty piccies that you can use to make up PowerPoint presentations if that rattles your biscuit tin!
Use clip of Mr Bean rearranging the Christmas scene in a store (in Merry Christmas Mr Bean) as a starting point for a talk to teenagers.

5th Dec
From Graham Duffin
Get pictures of some famous people as babies. – could their mothers have known what they would grow up to be and to do? Much was revealed to Mary. Powerpoint of a few pictures available from gduffin@loanheadparishchurch.co.uk

5th Dec
From David McAdam
Socks hung on a line – a novel way of telling the Christmas story (and it works) .. woolly sock for shepherds, sock with a hole (holy – words of the angels), smelly sock – stable where Jesus born.. here’s the last sock – do you know what it’s for? Well, I thought it was time for me to put a sock in it! But the shepherds couldn’t do that, as they returned from Bethlehem they were full of the news of what had happened .. and no doubt you can think of more

5th Dec
From Jan Gillies
Wrap up three parcels – two well decorated with Christmas paper but containing only one sweet, the third wrapped in brown paper and containing a box of sweets. Get three children out and ask them to choose a box in turn, and then get them to open their boxes together. Talk of how we judge things by appearances. Jesus being born in a stable in Bethlehem didn’t look much like the birth of a king, and people found it hard to accept him as the Messiah

Characters:
Val, a wife
Jim, a husband

The scene A breakfast table, with two chairs.
Enter Val and Jim in night attire, yawning and scratching their heads, Jim carrying a breakfast tray set with two plates, two spoons, sugar, milk, rack of toast, butter and honey and two mugs of coffee; Val carrying the morning’s post. They sit at the table, facing each other, with the tray between them.
Jim: [Nodding] Darling.
Val: [Nodding] Dearest.
Jim: [Offering coffee] Petal?
Val: [Taking coffee and offering toast] Beloved?
Jim: [Offering sugar] Sugar?
Val: [Taking sugar for coffee, and offering honey] Honey?
Jim: Just look at all that mail!
Val: And first thing in the morning too.
Jim: You know, I pity those poor creatures in Longniddry who only get their delivery half way through the day.
Val: Oh, the very thought. It must be ghastly.
Jim: Quite so! And here we are at breakfast time with the day’s selection of Christmas mail before us already. Let’s see what’s in store for us today, shall we darling?
Val: Oh yes! Let’s, darling!
Jim: [opening first envelope] What have we here then? Ah, fancy that:
“Deck the halls with broadband access,
Fa-la-la-la-lah, la-lah lah lah!
’tis the season to ditch faxes,
Fa-la-la-la-lah, la-lah lah lah!
Fit the modem, load the plug-ins,
Fa-la-lah, la-la-lah, lah lah lah!
Surf with speed, don’t be a muggins,
Fa-la-la-la-lah, la-lah lah lah! ”
Val: What an unusual Christmas greeting.
Jim: Yes, and there’s more written underneath. “You know you want the best for your PC, so ring me this Christmas and I’ll offer a very, very special deal, just for you.”
Val: Who’s it from?
Jim: Your sister.
Val: She always did have a way with words. [Reaching for another card, and opening it.] Now, what have we here? Oh I say, it’s from Derek and Edna, how lovely:
“May Santa’s little helpers
work their socks off every day,
to guarantee that all the finest gifts
will come your way.
A Rolex watch, some caviar,
a gite in the Dordoigne,
A case of finest pink champagne,
a country club to join.
A silver Merc upon the drive,
a yacht moored in the bay,
A cosy little second home,
where you can hide away.
Whatever gifts are yours this year,
We hope that you will find,
That Christmas is a time of year,
When other folk are kind.”
Jim: What a lovely sentiment. Who sent that one?
Val: Your independent financial adviser. He adds the rather touching message: “Remember, it is better to receive than to give – though if you must give, remember the tax breaks.”
Jim: Ever the caring, thoughtful individual. OK then … [opening the third card] here’s another, this time from … well, I never. I do believe I’ll sing this one:
[Jim singing solo]
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
may happiness take hold,
Let’s eat ourselves quite senseless
with provisions hot and cold.
There’s turkey roasts with cranb’ry sauce,
and pies too big to hold,
[Val joining in]
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
[Jim singing solo]
Then when you think it’s over,
you’ll have coffee with “The Queen”,
Some Christmas cake, an After Eight,
and more (it’s quite obscene!).
At five o’clock it’s teatime
Though you couldn’t eat a bean.
[Val joining in]
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
[Jim singing solo]
Let’s lose those inhibitions
for this very special day,
Let out your belt, take in more grub,
Keep peckishness at bay,
You’ll need those extra calories
(At least ’til Boxing Day!)
[Val joining in]
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
Val: Truly charming, I must say. And what is the greeting?
Jim: [Reading] Looking forward to seeing you this Christmas. From Alan, Lesley, Gus, Iain and all at … the Village Delicatessen.
Val: Oh, they are so thoughtful, aren’t they? My turn once more [opening letter]: How wonderful. It’s cousin Jennifer’s Christmas circular. Always a highlight!
Jim: [Appalled] For the criminally insane.
Val: Oh come now, Jim, let’s hear what the family have been up to.
Jim: As if we couldn’t guess.
Val: Dear Associates …
Jim: That’s friendly.
Val: 2006 has been another first class year for the five of us, with much to report.
Jim: I was afraid of that.
Val: Our customary New Year ski trip to …
Jim: Aviemore, by any chance? Glenshee? Hillfoot?
Val: Val d’Isère.
Jim: Oh, Val d’Isère! Why didn’t I guess? Pray continue.
Val: Our customary New Year ski trip to Val d’Isère had to be cut short, as Xanthe …
Jim: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzanthe, spelled with an “X” …
Val: … had been selected [impressed] for the British under-15s beach volleyball team, competing in the World Championships in …
Jim: Dunoon? Arbroath? Port Seton?
Val: Bondi Beach, actually.
Jim: Oh, Bondi Beach, of course. Silly me.
Val: Modesty forbids reporting on the outcome, but suffice it to say that Xanthe is now known to her classmates at St Winifred’s School for the Congenitally Gifted as …
Jim: “… Xanthe, the golden girl”. How very original.
Val: Meanwhile, Jasper’s musical career progressed well. He was appointed principal cor anglais with the Symphony Orchestra of Europe.
Jim: Not bad for a 10-year-old.
Val: Don’t be ridiculous, darling. … He’s 12.
Jim: My, how time flies.
Val: Jocasta’s Swedish nanny, Lillia, returned home to complete her degree in brain surgery, but was replaced by a real darling. Astrud is teaching Jocasta Portuguese, so now she is able to ask for her wholemeal, organic rusk in any one of three European languages.
Jim: I think I’m losing the will to live.
Val: February! …
Jim: Enough! Eeeeenough! I can’t take any more of these dreadful letters. In fact, I can’t help thinking that there’s something missing in all this Christmas mail. [Standing, looking longingly into the distance] Something which, years gone by, we used to take for granted, yet something which has been covered over, and forgotten in all the commercialism, and presents, and food, and drink, and prestige of today’s Christmas season. There’s something missing. Something bright, and happy, and hopeful.
Val: Oh, but that’s easy, darling. I know what’s missing from Christmas. I know that something which you miss so much from your childhood: that bright and happy and hopeful something from years gone by. Why … it’s Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer!
[Exeunt to piano music]
Copyright © 2006 by Robin Hill. This sketch may be distributed, adapted and used by churches, on the understanding that a donation (as generous as you like) to Christian Aid be made by congregations when a performance is given.
If you use the sketch, have fun, and let me know how it goes!
All the best,
Robin
The Rev Dr Robin Hill
The Manse, 8A Elcho Road, Longniddry, East Lothian, EH32 0LB, Scotland
robin.hill@homecall.co.uk

Try using audience participation as you tell the story. People participate as someone holds up each of the key words.

Angel Glory to God [wave hands in the air]
Sing Hallelujah [like Handel’s messiah]
Noisy ‘Hello everyone it’s me!’ [wave one hand]
Manger It’s time to go [point]
Now No! [cup hand round mouth and shout]

During the story there is a point when we sang
O come let us adore him – all sing twice
I want you to imagine that you are in heaven.
There is a large group of angels [Glory to God]
getting ready for a great big celebration.
In fact it is the greatest and biggest celebration
that has ever happened in the whole history of the world.
The angels [Glory to God]
had to learn to fly in formation
and then they had to practice a new song to sing. [Hallelujah]
Gabriel was the chief angel [Glory to God]
and he made sure they were all in tune and knew the words.
All the angels [Glory to God]
were very well behaved as they learned to sing, [Hallelujah]
except one.
This angel [Glory to God]
was not really naughty, not really rebellious,
but he was rather noisy. [Hello everyone it’s me!]
Whatever the angels [Glory to God]
were doing, Noisy [Hello everyone it’s me!]
was always there as well, making a disturbance because he was so excited.
The important thing that the angels [Glory to God]
had to practice was knowing when they had to begin this great celebration.
Gabriel told them that they had to wait
until they heard him say the word ‘manger’. [Its time to go!]
This was rather difficult to get right.
They had to learn to fly, and to sing, [Hallelujah]
and to go but only when they heard the word ‘manger’. [Its time to go!]
Of course, every time they practiced this, Noisy [Hello everyone it’s me!]
seemed to get it wrong.
Eventually, the great day arrived; actually it was not a day, but a night.
All the angels [Glory to God]
in heaven watched Gabriel fly down to earth.
He had to get the attention of the shepherds on the hillside.
I think he rather overdid it.
There was a brilliant light as he appeared,
and those poor men were absolutely terrified.
Gabriel had a great speech worked out
and up in heaven everyone listened for the right moment.
‘Don’t be afraid,’ Gabriel said.
Noisy [Hello everyone it’s me!] asked, ‘Now?’ [No]
‘Good news of great joy,’ Gabriel said.
Noisy [Hello everyone it’s me!] asked, ‘Now?’ [No]
‘Today in the town of David’ … ‘Now?’ [No]
‘A baby wrapped in cloth’ … ‘Now?’ [No]
‘Lying in a manger.’ (‘It’s time to go!’)
The angels [Glory to God] began to sing [Hallelujah]
and sing [Hallelujah] and sing…[Hallelujah]
O come let us adore him
Let us sing their song ……………
‘O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him , Christ the Lord’
So then the angels [Glory to God]
left and flew back to heaven in backwards formation, except for one.
Noisy [Hello everyone it’s me!] swooped over the shepherds and followed them down the hill into Bethlehem.
When they went into a stable,
he ducked in behind them and he went very quiet and said –
‘He is born he is born
Let us all rejoice and be glad
For Jesus Christ is born’
(HYMN Christ is born

God’s Daring Plan
Once upon a time – or before time, actually before there were clocks or calendars or Christmas trees – God was all there was. No one knows anything about that time because no one was there to know it, but somewhere in the middle of that time before time, God decided to make a world. So God made a world – this world – and filled it with the most astonishing things: with humpback whales that sing and white-striped skunks that stink and birds with more colour on them than a box of Crayola crayons! The list is way too long to go into here, but let’s just say that at the end when God stood back and looked at it all – God was pleased. Only something was missing.

Everything he had made was interesting and it all fitted together really well, only there was nothing in the world that looked exactly like him. So he got busy making his signature piece, something made in his own image, so that anyone who looked at it would know who the artist was. So God decided to make two things, which were alike but different, and both reflections of him – a man and a woman who could keep him and each other company.

Flesh was what he made them out of – flesh and blood – extremely flexible and warm to touch. God watched his two creatures stretch and yawn, laugh and run.

And he liked nothing more than walking with them in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the evening.
It almost broke God’s heart when they got together behind his back, did the one thing he had asked them not to do and then hid from him – from him! Things were different after that. God still loved the human creatures best of all, but the attraction was not mutual. Human beings had other things on their minds. It was not long before most human beings forgot all about him. Without God, they got into so much trouble that it almost killed him to see what they were doing to each other.

God shouted to them from the sidelines, using every means he could think of, including floods, famines, and messengers. But they didn’t seem to hear.

Babies were the exception to this sad state of affairs. Babies did not go to war. They never made horrible speeches, or littered, or refused to play with each other. They depended on other people for everything necessary to their lives. Almost everyone seemed to love them and that gave God an idea. Why not create himself as a baby and come to earth to sort everything out?

He tried the idea out on his angels in heaven and at first they were all quiet. Finally the senior archangel stepped forward to speak for all of them. He told God how much they would worry about him. People could do anything they wanted to him, and there would be no escape for him if things went wrong. Could he at least create himself as a magical baby with special powers? It would not take much – just the power to become invisible, maybe, or the power to hurl bolts of lightning if the need arose. The baby idea was a stroke of genius, the angel said, it really was, but it lacked adequate safety features. God thanked the angels for their concern but said ‘no’, he thought he would like to be a regular baby. How else could he gain the trust of his creatures? How else could he persuade them that he knew their lives inside and out, unless he lived a life like theirs? It was indeed a daring plan, but once the angels saw that God was dead set on it, they broke into spontaneous applause.

At this, God turned around and left the room, shedding his robes as he went.

The angels watched as his midnight blue robes fell to the floor, so that all the stars on it collapsed in a heap. Then a strange thing happened. Where the robes had fallen, the floor melted and opened up to reveal a scrubby brown pasture speckled with sheep and – right in the middle of them – a bunch of shepherds sitting round a camp fire. It was hard to say who was more startled, the shepherds or the angels, but as the shepherds looked up at them, the angels pushed their senior member to the edge of the hole.

Looking down at the human beings who were all trying to hide behind each other, the angel said in as gentle a voice as he could muster, ‘do no be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a saviour who is Messiah, the Lord.’

And away up the hill from the direction of town came the sound of a newborn baby’s cry.

I’ve got this ASDA bargain sheet and I can’t decide which of these sweets to get. Toblerones, Miniature Heroes and I do like the Celebrations. What’s your favourite Gregor?

I’m not fussy; I’ll eat any of them

Actually I was thinking that we could really tell the Christmas Story using sweets as helpers, save me a lot of time drawing pictures, and much tastier than a picture.

What are you on about?

For example, those wise men were real Smarties, weren’t they? They managed to follow a star and get to the right place and on time-much better than Scotrail or Easyjet.
And they must have had a Marathon of a journey from the East.

So you mean that when the Caesar decided to tax everyone, he sent out a decree -that’s an ancient document with lots of Curlywurly writing on it. And because he was such a powerful, mighty, Mars Bar of a character, everyone obeyed in the Twix of a moment.

Now you’ve got it.
So every time we say the name of a sweet shout out and tell us.

So there was a chap named Joseph who was engaged to Mary. They were in love and when they met they talked in Wispas. But Joseph was none too pleased when Mary told him that she was pregnant and he wasn’t the father.

And Mary tried to explain the cosmic baby-making. God had chosen Mary to be the mother of the Son of God,
and before she could say Chocolate Coated Peanuts
she was pregnant.
And poor Joseph. Well his brain was like Marshmallows and he had to take Time Out and have a lie down.

As he slept, he had a dream
and an angel explained everything
and soon this became as clear as Fox’s Glacier Mints.
And when he woke up
he decided to have a Worther’s Original,
to remind him of the good old days.

Now getting back to this decree and all the Curlywurly writing-¬Caesar came up with the idea of getting everyone to go to their family home town-not the best of ideas. His ideas really lacked Starburst quality.
So Mary & Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem-an 80 mile journey,
over stony hills which were Crunchie under foot,
and when you are pregnant its no bed of Roses.

They arrived in Bethlehem well After Eight
and there was no room to be had,
not for money, or even your last Rolo.
Poor Mary, all tired and worn out
and possibly craving for some Truffles, for all we know.
And where do they end up?
In a smelly stable, beside the animals,
definitely not your Quality Street.

And that was where the baby Jesus,
the King of heaven was born-this Bounty of God,
this unique child who could name each Galaxy
came into our Pick’n’Mix world.
In the fields nearby
some shepherds were looking after their sheep.
These chaps lived uncomplicated lives
and liked nothing better then to gather round the fire at night and talk about their family and work.
A Ripple went through the air,
and then a Double Decker of an angel appeared
and the shepherds screamed,
went Flaky at the knees -they were scared witless.

However, the angel was used to such a response-
it goes with the job.
The angel told them not to be such a bunch Malteeser’s
and get down to Bethlehem and see the baby,
the Saviour of the world.
Once they had regained their Marbles, they began to compare notes and one said, `Right lads, the last one to Bethlehem is a Toffee Crisp.’ And away they raced.

And they found the baby just as the angels had said.
By now the shepherds were as happy as gorillas on a lorry of bananas.
They became the first century equivalent of the Internet,
their only Topic of conversation was the baby
and the message from the angels, it was truly Divine.

And then those Smarties from the East come to visit
but before that, they go to Herod’s palace.
He was the king and a right nasty bit of stuff.
He was evil, devious, unpleasant
and permanently on a short Fuse.

At times though Herod could be a real Turkish delight
and so charming
like a fox hosting a very good barbecue to which he’s only invited chickens!
Anyway, he was charming to the travellers from the east
and hid the Black Magic of his character.

These men had crossed Toblerones mountains
dusted snow Flakes from their faces
and gazed into the night sky to follow the Star.
These men weren’t called Smarties for nothing, they were wise men-All Gold characters and they knew that Herod was up to no good and had no intention of visiting the new king.

Yes, Herod was extremely dangerous to know.
Not the type of person who would give you his last Rolo
or share his Chocolate Orange.
He would do anything to remove anyone who might stop him being King.
And while the Wise Men went off to Bethlehem,
Herod sat in his sumptuous palace,
seething and plotting and grabbing handfuls of Jelly Babies and biting off their heads¬
a terrible sign of what was to come.

And in a dream an angel warned Joseph to escape. So, faithful Joseph and courageous Mary, took their precious child and fled to Egypt. They were now homeless refugees.

After Herod died; they came back and returned to Nazareth. The child grew up and had many adventures-he was a hero and he gathered lots of Miniature Heroes around him-but all that came later and that is another wonderful Selection Box.

So Christmas is all about miracles. Dreams, angels and most of all about a King, whose entire wealth consists of us! We are the King’s delight–¬now that is worth a pile of Celebrations!

Narrator 1: Come and join us in a Christmas story. It took place over two thousand years ago.
Narrator 2: A spider is busy spinning a web in the doorway of an inn. The innkeeper’s daughter is sweeping the floor. She sees the spider and says:
Innkeeper’s daughter:Ugh! A spider! Shoo, you ugly creature! (She chases the spider away with her broom.)
Narrator 3: She knocks down the web and the spider scuttles away.
(Exit the innkeeper’s daughter.)
Spider: I wonder if I really am ugly? No one seems to like my beautiful webs, or me.
Choral speaking group:See the spider on the wall, he seems to have no friends at all.
Narrator 4: Soon afterwards, along comes the innkeeper’s wife with her broom. She sees the spider and says:
Innkeeper’s wife:Oh, look at all these cobwebs! I can’t stand spiders with their horrible hairy bodies and legs. Go away! Shoo! (She waves her broom as the spider scuttles to the other side of the stage.)
Spider: Nobody wants me. I will spin a web in the stable. At least I can be useful and keep the flies off the animals.
Choral speaking group: See the spider on the wall, he seems to have no friends at all.
Narrator 4: In the night some strangers come.
(Enter Innkeeper with lamp, followed by Mary and Joseph.)
Innkeeper:Here you are. It’s not much but it’s the best I can do. At least you’ll be warm and dry. You can put your baby in here.
(He fetches the crib with the doll hidden in it. Joseph gets the stool for Mary from the side of the stage. Allow time for this.)
Choral speaking group:In come the strangers from the cold night air. When the morning came, a little child was there.
(Mary picks up ‘baby Jesus’.)
Narrator 5: The little spider hears sounds from below in the stable. He looks down and there he sees the man, the woman and a small baby. Some angels appear.
(Enter a group of angels; they stand in a semi-circle behind Mary and Joseph. Their entrance could be accompanied by a carol or other suitable music.)
Narrator 6: Then some shepherds come and present the baby with a little lamb.
(Music played here will give time for the actions.)
Narrator 7: Next come three kings. One gives the baby gold, the second gives him frankincense, the third gives him myrrh.
(Allow time for the kings to present their gifts. Once again music will help as the tableau forms centre stage.)
Narrator 8: The baby begins to cry. (Sound effects offstage.) Mother Mary tries to comfort him. The baby is feeling cold.
Narrator 9: This is the little spider’s chance. He collects his beautiful web, soft as silk and warm as wool. (Spider picks up shawl) and gives it to Mary.
Spider: Please take my web to keep the baby warm.
Narrator 10: Mary takes the shawl and wraps it around baby Jesus, who stops crying. Then Mary says:
Mary: Thank you, little spider, for your beautiful gift. But tell me, why do you look so sad?
Spider: I am sad because everyone thinks I am ugly and nobody wants me.
Mary: You’re not ugly to me or to anyone else here because you have done a beautiful thing. I think you are the most hansom creature and just the way God wanted you to be. You are kind and you are brave.
Narrator 12: At Christmas we hang long threads of gold and silver on our Christmas trees. Perhaps they remind us of the little spider and his gifts to the baby Jesus.
Choral speaking group:
When you see a spider high upon the wall
Remember how he wove a thread above the cattle stall.
This gift he gave to Jesus to keep away the cold.
That brave little spider whose story now is told.
A gift of love at Christmas is the very best to give.
Spreading love to one another is the way we ought to live.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Open with theme tune .JACKANORY. When I was young that was always the time for a story.. .so I am going to tell you a story and let’s see how many TV ADDICTS we have here.
This story begins with a COUNTDOWN or in the ancient times a census. Mary and Joseph had to go from TOWN TO TOWN, Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Now it was a FAMILY AFFAIR because Mary was expecting a baby. It was a long journey and no HOLIDAY
Tired and weary they arrived at Bethlehem. They trailed round and round and although everything was OPEN ALL HOURS and they were willing to pay THE BILL there was no room. Eventually they found a kind innkeeper who had a stable. There was a hole in the roof as he had not been able to find BOB THE BUILDER.
Soon the baby arrived. There were no FRIENDS or
NEIGHBOURS.., in fact no CASUALTY or FLYING
DOCTORS, but Jesus was born and a HEARTBEAT
was heard.
Now in the fields similar to EMMERDALE there were shepherds. Suddenly they heard SONGS OF PRAISE. They said HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU and the shepherds set out on their journey.
And from the EASTEND(ERS) there were wise men who saw a STAR FOR A NIGHT. So they began their STAR TREK, bearing gifts.
And now AS TIME GOES BY we realise the importance of his birth It’s no BIG BROTHER but a loving Father.
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE when we have the love that no money can buy!!
CHRISTMAS 2002
Bag of toys here: things you might get on Christmas morning. But to be honest they really don’t tell us anything about the Christmas story, right? Well you could be wrong, let’s see.
First of all the story concerns a couple, called Mary and Joseph. Now she was no BARBIE DOLL and he was no ACTION MAN. Ordinary people, in fact Joseph was more like BOB THE BUILDER, for he was a carpenter and always in need of TOOLS and Mary like girls of her age no doubt helped with her KITCHEN TOOLS. However they were going to have a BABY. But before that happened, they had to make a journey. Everyone was to be counted, no CALCULATORS, go to a place to be REGISTERED. No BOATS, PLANES, CARS, but a DONKEY, like MY LITTLE PONY. Place was called Bethlehem, lots of HOUSES but all full, until given a STABLE. It was DRAUGHTY,some BRICKS missing, but it was where Jesus was born. Now there were SHEPHERDS and wise men with gifts of GOLD FRANK. AND MYRRH. You could feel the power, JEDI of the love for the WHOLE WORLD.
CHRISTMAS 2003
MATCH OF THE DAY.
Can You Guess (music Rhona). During first world war, football in no man’s land, but resumes their fighting. However Christian Aid tells a story from Burundi in Central Africa of 2 tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis, who overcame their differences,one of the contributing factors being football. One team came up with a football version of the Christmas, here it is expanded and given a little Scottish (&English) flavour.
Count no of football terms and people!
The GOAL of the first Christmas was to end the DIVISION between humans and God.
Now it came to PASS that God sent an angel to a girl called Mary. He said, ‘You have been MARKED by the Holy Spirit. You will give birth to a baby, and his name shall be Jesus. He will be in a different LEAGUE, for He is God’s Son.’
When the time was KLOSS, Mary and Joseph travelled AWAY from HOME. Bethlehem was crowded, and the RESULT was that they were RED-CARDED and SENT- OFF to a DUG OUT in the CORNER of a stable. That was where Jesus was born.
Shepherds on a hillside saw a SQUAD OF WINGERS, singing at high PITCH. They looked up as what sounded like a sonic BOOM-SONGS of praise filled the sky . ‘It’s PEARSON my ears’ said one SHEARER, ‘sure is LAUDRUP here’ said another. ‘Your Saviour is born’ sang the choir. ‘Go and see him, lying in a manger.’
‘What are you ADVOCAAT-ING we do now,’ said the youngest. As they thought about how they might get to the HEART of the matter.
So, off they went. They followed the GORDON BANKS, of the IAN WESTWATER, avoiding the IAN RUSHES, moved quickly through the CHRIS WOODS, over the JIMMY HILLS and crept carefully along the treacherous MAURICE MALPASS. That led them through the THISTLES, their little LAMBIE, bleating quietly to itself! It was tricky moving in the darkness, but they made it through CALDER WOOD by the time DONS broke. They thought they would collapse as SOUNESS they got to their destination. When they did , they BECKHAMMED to each other and thought they ought to O’NEILL to the baby.
OFF-SIDE, in another country, three wise men see a star. They are waiting for the sign that a king has been born.
‘ALBERTZ you all a gold coin that’s the sign’ they said. ‘Let’s go! ALBION on our way to see a king.’.
And so they travelled. FORFAR they were from being ATHLETIC, it was all ACADEMICAL to them. They moved out along LOVE STREET, through WHITE HART LANE, and down ELLAND ROAD. They had a quick cup of tea in CRAVEN COTTAGE before crossing STAMFORD BRIDGE.
Then they hurried on camels along THE RIVERSIDE and through THE HAWTHORNES, shaking animals from their DENS right across the VALLEY.
The Novo star led them to Herod, THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, to ask him should they look for the king in a CRYSTAL PLACE or a TYNE –E-CASTLE. He played DIRTY and tried to FOUL them.
As they approached the stable, their backs were AITKEN from all the travelling. They tied their camels MCLEISH to a post so that they would MCSTAY put!
They went FORWARD, praising God and wanting to tell everyone what had happened because their HEARTS were on fire. God and MAN UNITED at last. Sin had met its MATCH. At peace with God, humans could TRANSFER to heaven if they followed the King down EASTER ROAD and then took their vows to be a CHRISTIAN DAILLY.
Christmas 2005
CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO THE FILMS
We gather to hear once more the age-old Christmas Story – otherwise known as God’s Love Story.
A GUY NAMED JOE was engaged to Mary, THE PASSION of his life. “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” he was often heard to say. Mary was expecting a very special child according to the angel. Gabriel had appeared to her ONE FINE DAY, nearly scaring THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS out of her, but telling her that she was to name her special child Jesus, which means Saviour.
“You must have a BRAVEHEART, Mary, for he will bring you both AGONY & ECSTASY. DELIVERANCE is THE MISSION he will be entrusted with.”
A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, it seemed to Mary for his job was not only SAVING PRIVATE RYAN but ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL –THE LONG, THE SHORT & THE TALL – even THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY.
When Mary’s time was near, she & Joseph had to make a Journey to the Centre of the Earth – otherwise known as Bethlehem – for that is where they had to register as part of the Emperor’s census. The town was busy and every HOLIDAY INN was full – even HEARTBREAK HOTEL. All they could find was a lowly stable.
“I would so liked to have had a Room with a View” said Mary, the Mummy to be.
“Well, this is As Good as it Gets” replied Joseph.
And so after A HARD DAY’S NIGHT, a CRY IN THE DARK heralded the Birth of the BABE –A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS – THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.
Meanwhile, out on the hills, WUTHERING HEIGHTS they called it, some shepherds were looking after their sheep. ALL WAS QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT for The Big Sleep had overtaken most of them. However THE DREAM TEAM were suddenly roused from their slumbers by THE SOUND OF MUSIC. One after the other let out a SHREK or a SCREAM as the night sky was filled with HEAVENLY CREATURES singing praises to God. No, it wasn’t CHARLIE’S ANGELS – it was Gabriel’s Angels. SPELLBOUND they listened to the wonderful news that a special baby had been born that night in Bethlehem – a Saviour who was to be Christ the Lord.
“Let’s go & find this MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET in Bethlehem” they cried. And WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS, FOOTLOOSE, they were GONE WITH THE WIND. And when they found Mary & Joseph & the baby, just as the angels had said, they went back to their sheep SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, despite the weather.
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, in a land EAST OF EDEN, there were Three Wise Men. They were wise in the sense that they were experts at studying the night sky & therefore in no need of “THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY”. Scanning the heavens they spotted something unusual.
“A STAR IS BORN” said one.
“This signals the birth of a new King” said the second.
“We must go and worship him,” said THE THIRD MAN.
Coming from the east, their INCREDIBLE JOURNEY took them first NORTH BY NORTHWEST, before their STAR TREK finally took them to King Herod in Jerusalem.
Now Herod was a bit of a PSYCHO. Surrounded by his MEN IN BLACK, news of a JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was not something he welcomed gladly. There was no way he would relinquish THE POWER AND THE GLORY as king. As a man of PRIDE & PREJUDICE as well as a man of SECRET & LIES, he told the Magi falsely that he wanted to go & worship the baby too when they found him.
After this BRIEF Encounter the SEARCHERS set off again until the THE STAR eventually brought them to Bethlehem and to Mary & Joseph & the Christ Child. Offering the Baby Jesus their gifts of GOLD & myrrh & frankincense, they knelt down to worship him. And what a nice picture it was of 3 MEN AND A BABY.
Warned then in a dream that Herod was capable of all manner of EVIL UNDER THE SUN and that he intended being TERMINATOR rather than Worshipper, the wise men took THE LONG WAY HOME by a different route.
And to avoid their CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER, Mary & Joseph made their GREAT ESCAPE to Egypt where they stayed BRINGING UP BABY until Herod died & it was safe to return to Nazareth.
And so Jesus grew up to fulfil his Mission he was no ACCIDENTAL HERO. His talk of God & THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN made a DEEP IMPACT. He chose A FEW GOOD MEN (and women) and showed himself as THE MIRACLE MAKER, reaching out to include THE UNTOUCHABLES & the UNFORGIVEN. But it was following his RESURRECTION after THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY that he became KING OF KINGS and LORD – NOT OF THE RINGS – but of HEAVEN AND EARTH, promising us also the way FROM HERE TO ETERNITY!
Now that indeed is THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!

By Robin Hill
Characters
Bert, the light inspector
Jane, a minister
The scene: A church, with lights full on.
Props: Dimming lights
Lit Christmas tree
Lit wall-mounted cross
Clipboard
Torch
Enter Bert, carrying a clipboard while striding around church looking at different light fittings, and Jane, tagging along behind looking harassed.
Bert: Hmm. So you’re trying to tell me that your congregation has never, ever had its lights inspected???
Jane: Well, yes. … No. Erm, not exactly.
Bert: Dear, dear, dear! Have you absolutely no idea how important the periodic checking of lights is in a designated place of public worship?
Jane: Oh, goodness. Well, yes, I’m sure it is important. Only we never really thought about it.
Bert: Never really thought about it? Never really thought about it? Honestly, if I had a pound for every time I’ve heard that line, I would be a very rich man.
Jane: [Under her breath] As well as being a rather annoying and aggressive one.
Bert: What was that?
Jane: Oh nothing. No, no. Nothing at all. Pray continue.
Bert: As I was saying … We in the “Bulb, Incandescent Tube, Diode Illumination Monitoring Department” (or “BITDIM” for short) are often the last people churches expect to see casting a dutiful eye over their newly opened properties.
Jane: Gracious me, I can’t imagine why. So tell me: just why are you interested in our church building?
Bert: Interested in it? That’s simple. You see, my office is responsible for making sure there’s not too much light around. Dreadful light, seeping into our lives, causing glaring unpleasantness and radiant misery. Yeuch! It’s far better to keep things nice and dark.
Jane: Well, I’m really not sure that I can agree with you on that one.
Bert: Agree? Agree? What makes you think that the “Bulb, Incandescent Tube, Diode Illumination Monitoring Department” requires your agreement? Our motto says it all: “BITDIM: taking people back to the dark ages.” Snappy, don’t you think?
Jane: As lines go, it’s certainly very bright.
Bert: Oh no madam, we don’t go in for “very bright”. Our aim is to be as dim as possible.
Jane: Well, you certainly seem very dim to me, I must say.
Bert: Oh, thank you madam. Now, to this church of yours. I see you have some ceiling-mounted light fittings. Do they have dimmer switches, I wonder?
Jane: They certainly do. Just watch this. [Lights dim very low]
Bert: Oh, tut tut tut! It seems to have stopped dimming.
Jane: But any lower and there would be no light at all.
Bert: Exactly, and that’s their only shortcoming! Still, I suppose that – grudgingly, mind – I have to pass them for public dimness. Keep your lights at that level and everyone will be happy.
Jane: Well, you will, you mean.
Bert: Correct. When it comes to matters of public light emission and incandescent pollution, I am the appointed arbiter of taste and decency.
Jane: More’s the pity.
Bert: Let us move on, shall we?
Jane: If we must.
Bert: What about that there Christmas tree? A touch on the bright side, isn’t it?
Jane: A touch on the bright side? A touch on the bright side? It’s a Christmas tree for goodness sake. It’s supposed to be bright. That’s why people have them in their homes each dark December. We’d all look pretty stupid if we didn’t put lights on our Christmas trees. Can you imagine it?: – “My darling, isn’t the tree looking lovely and drab this year?”
Bert: As a matter of fact, my wife was saying that to me only this very afternoon.
Jane: Why does that not surprise me?
Bert: Anyway, I will let you keep your Christmas tree if you promise to replace the white bulbs … with black ones.
Jane: Black tree lights? But that’s ludicrous. Look, maybe we can compromise. How about yellow?
Bert: Midnight blue.
Jane: Violet?
Bert: Chocolate brown.
Jane: Purple?
Bert: Charcoal grey, and that’s my final offer.
Jane: Honestly, I just don’t understand where you’re coming from.
Bert: I, madam, am coming from the “Bulb, Incandescent Tube, Diode Illumination Monitoring Department”: where dullness is a virtue.
Jane: I don’t know about it being “a virtue”, though it certainly seems to be a job requirement. What else do you want to see?
Bert: That cross. It looks highly suspicious.
Jane: As you can see, the cross has a backlight which, I might add, is turn-off-and-onable.
Bert: In that case, I’ll be licensing it to operate according to a strictly non-lucent protocol with grade zero luminescence.
Jane: I beg your pardon?
Bert: You’ve got to keep it turned off, madam. We can’t have nasty, ghastly light emanating from a cross, of all things. After all, the cross is a universally recognised symbol of death and destruction, a device of torture and execution, don’t you know. It simply wouldn’t do to have it casting horrible, penetrating light in all directions. People would get the wrong impression. And at Christmas time as well. What would folk think?
Jane: They might just think that behind the darkness and despair of the cross is light, and hope and love. For Christmas. For all the year. For all of life.
Bert: Don’t make me laugh! What kind of a message is that for Christmas? You’ll be telling me next that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. I’ve come across your sort before. Weird. Unnatural. Perverse.
Jane: Not at all. Actually, the church is what you might call a torchbearer for the light [picking up torch and shining it towards Bert], helping God reach into all the darkest corners of life. Shedding light that disperses fear. Giving brightness where all around is gloomy. What do you make of that?
Bert: I’ll tell you what I make of that: it makes me … it makes me … incandescent with rage.
[Bert exits, shielding his eyes]
Jane: Hmm. Once again then, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[Jane exits to piano music]
Copyright © 2006 by Robin Hill. This sketch may be distributed, adapted and used by churches, on the understanding that a donation (as generous as you like) to Christian Aid be made by congregations when a performance is given.
If you use the sketch, have fun, and let me know how it goes!
All the best,
Robin
The Rev Dr Robin Hill
The Manse
8A Elcho Road
Longniddry
East Lothian
EH32 0LB
Scotland
robin.hill@homecall.co.uk

A Christmas rap and a Christmas song for children
Sing to the well-known tune ‘Come and praise the Lord our King’, and combine with slapping knees and snapping fingers 1-2-3-4
Listen to our Christmas song, alleluia;
Join the chorus, sing along, alleluia.
Jesus, he is the main guy
Think of him, and then reply
Shepherds watched their flocks by night
Heard the angels, saw the light
Found the child in Bethlehem
Son of God and Son of man
Wise men travelled from afar
Read the prophets, saw the star
Herod could not make him out
So he tried to take him out
Joseph, watch that nasty king
Get up quick, you’re escaping
Egypt was their home a while
Change of climate and life-style
Home to Nazareth he came
For a life with just one aim
Jesus grew to be our friend
Pleasing God he did intend
That is all my Christmas story
Sing his praise, and give him glory
Christmas RAP
Thank you God for Christmas time
Gifts that please and words that rhyme
Hands to hold and legs to walk
Fairy lights and angel talk
(snap snap snap snap)
Furry toys, exciting ploys
Patient teachers, lovely features
Friends who listen, friends who dare
All the folk who really care
(snap snap snap snap)
Trips by bus and car and train
Going up by aeroplane
Candle flicker, tinsel glitter
Lentil soup and chicken tikka
(snap snap snap snap)
Smiling faces, different races
Shoes with easy tie-up laces
Frosty breath and bells that chime
Thank you God for Christmas time!

A footballers story of Christmas
The GOAL of that first Christmas was to end the DIVISION between humans and God
Now it came to PASS that God sent an angel to a girl called Mary. He said ‘You have been MARKED by the Holy Spirit. You will give birth to a baby and his name will be Jesus. He will be in a different LEAGUE, for he will be God’s own son.’
Mary and Joseph travelled AWAY FROM HOME. Bethlehem was crowded and the RESULT was they were SENT OFF to find COVER in the corner of a DYER stable. That is where Jesus was born.
Shepherds on a hillside saw a SQUAD of WINGERS, singing at a high PITCH. ‘Your Saviour is born, glory to God!’ The shepherds were KEANE to seen the baby. They BECKHAMED to each other. ‘Lets RUSH to visit the child even although we are only sheep SHEARERS. When they saw Jesus they were overjoyed. We have NEVILL seen anything so wonderful. We’re having a BALL.
They went FORWARD, praising God and telling everyone what had happened. God and humankind could now be UNITED. Men, women and children could be FRIENDLY. Sin was going to meet its MATCH. At peace with God, humans would TRANSFER to heaven. What a RESULT.

Football Teams
from David McAdam
Threw out half a dozen scarves and told the kids that whenever I mentioned a football team in the talk they had to hold up their scarves as if they were at a game and shout out ‘We love______________’ the name of the football team. They loved it! And all the Dads came up at the end asked why they’re particular team had not been included, so I am sure vivid imaginations could develop it a lot further.
Mary, was just a young girl, when an Angel appeared in her home
She didn’t live in a great big ASTON VILLA
Just a small home in Nazareth.
The Angel brought her news so surprising it might have struck others DUMB-ARTON
‘Keep your WIG-ON, girl. You’re going to give birth to a Son
He will be great, God’s Saviour for the world.’
When the time came, Mary & Joseph had to travel away from home.
They could find no where to stay so they PREST-ON from door to door.
Each time receiving a red card.
At last they found a place – it was a bit like an old BARN-SLEY
There Jesus was born -and they laid him in a RANGERS. Sorry, Manger.
Meanwhile out on the hill there was a motley CREWE
They earned their SPURS guarding their sheep from WOLVES
Suddenly Angels appeared on sky ( I mean in the Sky)
We’ve some good NEWS-CASTLE for you
Today in the CITY of David a Saviour has been born
Soon the angels filled the whole Ayr (Utd) with songs of gladness.
When they left the Shepherds said
‘LEICESTER go and see what they are talking about’.
When they found the bay their HEARTS were glad
Meanwhile somewhere in the far EAST Fife
Wise men who were good at READING the stars saw a bright new star
‘Let us follow wherever it LEEDS’ they said.
It took them right to Jerusalem to the Crystal PALACE of King Herod
‘WALSALL the fuss about?’ He asked
‘We have travelled For Far looking for a new King’ they said
King Herod wasn’t too pleased – he tried to CELTrICk them and said he was on their CLYDE
‘Tell me when you find him that I too may come and worship him’
But as soon as they left he got his whole ARSENAL ready to kill every newborn boy.
The star led the wise men to the stable where they found both the baby and his MOTHERWELL
They were filled with joy and presented their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and St Myrrhn
They were warned in a dream and travelled home by the Southend
So what is the goal of Christmas?
God has come to visit us at our home ground, so that we might be UNITED with God in his home.
So let’s give God’s Son, Jesus, our three cheers.

1 The Annunciation
Gabriel sits down on a stool beside Mary. Neither knows who each other is. Mary is dressed traditionally, Gabriel in anorak and jeans.
Gabriel: Is this seat free? I’d love a wee rest.
Mary: Help yourself.
Gabriel: (talking to himself and taking out a map)
Thanks. Now let me see, where should I start? I knew this was never going to be easy,So few instructions.
It’ll be fine, they said. But they aren’t the ones having to get the post through.
Mary: Can I help you?
Gabriel: If only you could. I’m trying to find someone.
Mary: Anyone in particular?
Gabriel: Well, yes, in actual fact.Someone very particular. I’m here to spring a surprise, though I’m not sure how she’ll take it.
Mary: Like a singing birthday telegramme?
Gabriel: Well no, not a bit like that at all.
Mary: Oh. And you don’t know where they stay.
Gabriel: Oh yes, I know where she stays exactly,but she isn’t in at the moment.A fine time to be out. The neighbours told me she was down here in the market somewhere.
Mary: It is kind of busy to look for her here. What does she look like?
Gabriel: Well, that’s a bit of a problem because I don’t know. This is such a haphazard way of delivering messages.
Go down to Narazeth, they said, and there you will find.. Well, all I’ve found is an empty house, a busy market place,and me running out of time.
Mary: Would you like me to deliver the message for you.I’m sure I?ll remember.
Gabriel: If you heard it, I’ll be sure you’ll never forget. You see between you and me I’ve got a message for a young girl that she’s going to have a baby.
Mary: How Lovely! She’ll be so excited. You’d better hurry and find her. Isn’t she expecting to hear from you?
Gabriel: Well, no, not exactly.She’s not expecting anything, not me, not a message, and certainly not a baby. She knows nothing about it.
Mary: Nothing?
Gabriel: Nothing. As I said, it’s a bit of a surprise.
Mary: That’s a bit of an understatement. Typical man.
Gabriel: It does make it a little awkward certainly,but I’m sure she’ll come round.
Mary: Really?
Gabriel: Well, wouldn’t you?
Mary: No, I don’t think I would. You don’t just apply for a baby and expect it here by post the next week.
It’s a big thing, you ought to be ready for the child, live with a little hope because of it, recognise the good things it will bring,
believe the world can change through this baby.
Gabriel: I never thought of it like that.
Mary: Why am I not surprised!
Gabriel: But you see this pregnancy is a bit different, it’s not quite above board.
Mary: Oh do tell me more! This is getting interesting.
Gabriel: Well, and mind you keep this to yourself, this baby is heaven’s own. It’s full of promise and hope. It’s going to be a sign that things will change.
Mary: Can’t every birth be like that?
Gabriel: True, but this is God-breathed. This is miraculous, This is beyond this world.
Mary: U-huh, like every birth.
Gabriel: You’re not getting my drift. There’s no father but God. There’s no man involved.
Mary: If only!
Gabriel: No, really. This life comes from heaven. It’s salvation in the flesh. It’s God doing something in the world, transforming it,
turning all the prophecies about redemption into reality.
Mary: Are you sure you are in the right place?
Gabriel: Absolutely. Anyway, I really must be going, I’ve got to find Mary and give her the news. I’m sorry, I never introduced myself,
I’m the angel Gabriel, and you are?
Mary:Mary!
back to the top
2 The Conversation
Mary and Joseph are sitting facing each other.
Joseph:But Mary?
Mary:But what?
Joseph:But how?
Mary: But it just is!
Joseph: But it can’t be!
Mary: But it is!
Joseph: But it can’t be!!
Mary:But it is!!
Joseph: But no!
Mary:But yes!
Joseph:But how?
Mary:But I don’t know?!
Joseph:But you must?
Mary: But I don’t!
Joseph: But an angel!
Mary: But an angel!
Joseph: But how?
Mary: But don’t go there!
Joseph:But not me? (disappointingly)
Mary:But not you (sympathetically)
Joseph: But are you sure?
Mary:Joseph!!!
Joseph: But what will we do?
Mary: But what can we do?
Joseph: But we should get married!
Mary: But when?
Joseph: But soon?
Mary: But who?
Joseph: But where?
Mary: Now?
Joseph: No buts there!
Mary: But are you sure?
Joseph: But is there a choice?
Mary: But what will people say?
Joseph: But do we care!
Mary: But I’m scared?
Joseph: But don’t be?
Mary: But why not?
Joseph: But God seems in charge!
Mary: But do you believe me? (surprised)
Joseph: But why not?
Mary: But really?
Joseph: But really!
Mary: But Joseph. (relieved)
Joseph: But Mary.
Mary:But what will we do?
Joseph: No more buts, just trust.
Mary: Just trust?
Joseph: Just that!
Mary: Just that?
Joseph: Just that!
Mary: Just a bit worried.
Joseph: Just a bit! (both begin to wander off)
Mary: Just hope things are okay?
Joseph: Just come on!
Mary:Just now?
Joseph: Just now!
back to the top
3 The Message
A mime artists follows through their interpretation of the suggested actions in response to various well-known pieces of music being played live if possible.
Music: While humble shepherds
Shepherd making self comfortable.
Yawns
Slumps shoulders
Looks at nails and back of hand
Looks around
Rest head in hands
Begins to fall asleep
Nodding off
Music: Rumble
Shepherd jars self awake
Looks around
Music: While humble shepherds
Shepherd begins to fall asleep
Nods off
Music: Rumble
Shepherd staggers with fright
Looks under hay stack
Behind hay stack
Out to congregation as if saying, “Did you make that noise?”
Music: While humble shepherds
Shepherd makes self comfortable
Settles down
Music: Hallelujah Chorus
Shepherd bounces off hay stack
End up on bottom of the ground
Looks out to congregation
Face in shock
Scared, with hands out front
Cowers down on knees
Music: Hark the herald
Looks up
Face relaxes
Points to self as if, “Me?”
Then shakes hands and heads saying “No, do you expect me to believe that?”
Continues the dialogue between “Me” and “No, I can’t believe that”
Look at watch as if going on too long
Look disbelievingly at it
Listen to it
Shake it
Music: Hallelujah Chorus
Cowers again in fright
Cover eyes because of the light
Strain to see better
Begin counting the angels that have just arrived
Give up
Music: O Little Town
Point incredulously off stage as if saying, “Bethlehem? No way?”
Then “Me” Surely not?”
Music: In the bleak
Shiver with arms round you as if making an excuse
Yawn as if another excuse
Limp as if yet another excuse
Music: Away in a manger
Reluctantly accept you’ve to go by miming “Shucks”
Put on a cloak
Pick up staff
Cuddly toy
Nappies
And walk down aisle
back to the top
4-The Conscience
One character plays this monologue but their conscience make up the other two characters known at “the three wise men”.
Even though the story never mentions number, kingship or anything else about the scholars, this plays with that tradition to illustrate making your mind up about choosing to follow.
Facing centre: Well, I could follow that star,
Or I could stay at home.
Facing left: On the one hand, if I followed the star I would be a while away from home.
I’d have to leave things behind for quite a while.
Facing right: On the other hand, of course, It’s the chance of a lifetime.
Imagining finding a new star.
It’s not something you ignore. You have to follow that do you not?
Facing centre: It’s a big decision I’ll need to weigh up.
If only both sides of my conscience knew the wise thing to do.
If only I knew the wise things to do.
That would make three wise men.
We’d get nowhere making a decision.
Facing centre: And what would I take? What do you take on a journey like this?
I’m not sure what it is all about.
Facing left: On the one hand I should be practical.
I need to think of what I’d need for the journey:
Food and shelter,
Money and clothes,
Camels and tents.
Facing right: On the other hand It would be pointless going on a journey Only to arrive with the wrong things.
I should be thinking about gifts.
Who knows what?s at the journey?s end
But what I take should be worthy of the destination.
Facing centre: Big decisions.
I’ll write a list.
This is like three people trying to make one decision.
I’ll never get organised.
Facing centre: And if I were to take some gift,What should it be?
Facing left: On the one hand gold would be fabulous.
Such a rich gift.
Fit for a king.
And who knows, if a new star appears in the sky,
It must be about something royal.
Facing right: On the other hand,
Myrrh may be a good choice.
Very expensive.
And good for anointing
It’s something you could use, unlike gold that just sits there
Facing centre: But then,
Maybe frankincense would be better.
Oh, I don’t know!
One part of me says this,
And another part of me says this,
Maybe I should just take all three.
Facing centre: And how will I find my way?
It’s all very well setting off on a journey,
But what direction should I go in?
Facing left: One voice in my head is saying,
Just go with the flow,
Follow the star.
Journey in the evening and at night.
Make it an adventure.
Trust the sign.
Facing right: And another voice is saying,
Ask when you get there.
If it is a king you’ve to find,
Seek out another king Who will know.
Facing centre: And then maybe I should be prepared to do both:
Journey and seek out,
Follow the star and ask directions when I need to.
This is like having a three way conversation with myself:
Three wise men in my own head.
It’s a bit crowded.
Facing left: “Yes, I should go”, says one voice.
Facing right: “No, you should stay” says a second voice.
Facing centre: “Sleep on it,” says a third.
I’ll just take a wee look at that star again.
Hey it’s moved over the horizon!
Better go and check it out.
I’ll be back before bedtime.
But I’ll just put these gifts in my pocket just in case?
back to the top
5- The Pondering
Mary sitting with a lit candle on stage and the narrator off stage.
Narrator: And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Mary: My Spirit soars,and everything inside me clenches as heaven finds a foothold within me binding itself to me,
flesh of my flesh, life from my life, and the promise awakens.
Narrator: From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me, holy is his name.
Mary: My heart thuds,scared of what is becoming of a mighty God buried within me, flesh of my flesh.
How can my small form contain the full on hope of a nation,yet still, in me, the promise awakes.
Narrator: His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation.He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Mary: My lungs fill with the breath of life, for now I breathe not only for myself, but for God too,
tucked away within me, flesh of my flesh, cooried away from this world for a short moment,by my skin,as the promise awakens.
Narrator: He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
Mary: My throat sings a song of justice and liberation,of the rich left out in the cold,and the poor gathered round a feasting table,
as flesh of my flesh stirs and kicks with life, and the promise awakens.
Narrator: He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,even as he said to our fathers.”
Mary: My skin shines as my God within me stretches, labouring in the name of justice,labouring in the name of peace.
Flesh of my flesh, becomes God of very God, as the promise, the choice my God has made in me, awakens and pushes into the world.
Proclama mi alma la grandeze del Señor
Two women read this. The Spanish version spoken in the background
continually, repeating if necessary. The other voice breaks in with
each stanza in a laboured, heavy sort of presentation. Slow, heavy
music is played in the background (aka Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah).
Play the music during the introduction too.
This week we heard about the death of Augusto Pinochet of Chile, one
of many Latin American D
dictators who found the worlds of Mary too pointed, too direct, to
frightening, and banned them. But that never stopped the women of
Chile, whose husbands had been disappeared, to speak them openly in
the squares, directing Mary’s words to those in power as they spoke
them. You’ll hear the Magnificant in Spanish, the language of those
mothers and wives with English words spoken alongside not to
interpret them, but to give them meaning, to speak for them when
these others had been silenced. And to affirm what Mary did, in
choosing to become God’s handmaid.
Voice 1
Continues reading this throughout
Proclama mi alma la grandeza del Señor,
se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi Salvador, *
porque ha mirado la humillación de su esclava.
Desde ahora me felicitarán todas las generaciones, *
porque el Poderoso ha hecho obras grandes por mi;
su Nombre es santo.
Su misericordia llega a sus fieles, *
de generación en generacion.
El hace proezas con su brazo;
dispersa a los soberbios de corazón.
Derriba del trono a los poderosos,
y enaltece a los humildes.
A los hambrientos los colma de bienes, *
y a los ricos despide vacíos.
Auxilia a Israel, su siervo, *
acordándose de la misericordia,
Como lo había prometido a nuestros padres, *
en favor de Abrahán y su descendencia para siempre.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear, O my sisters, who labour under the weight of womanhood,
my brothers who cling on to decency scraped out from the fragile earth.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear, O my sisters, whose husbands have been disappeared
and whose sons have no language for the fear they are left with.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear all you who are weighed with broken hallelujahs,
whose world is trapped in a deception
of abuse and prejudice.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear all you caught up with your enemy,
who have struggled with the reason for war too long,
and found it absurd.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
God has at last chosen a handmaid in me,
and has a craving to birth hope within me,
ravenous to elevate freedom,
set free liberation,
and pronounce justice for the poor,
thirsty to bring from my womb
life to all our longings.
God as appointed the time and the place,
the woman and the womb.
Hear O my sisters.
Hear O my brothers.
And tell yourselves,
tell the world,
tell God,
I say,
yes!
back to the top

Proclama mi alma la grandeze del Señor
Two women read this. The Spanish version spoken in the background
continually, repeating if necessary. The other voice breaks in with
each stanza in a laboured, heavy sort of presentation. Slow, heavy
music is played in the background (aka Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah).
Play the music during the introduction too.
This week we heard about the death of Augusto Pinochet of Chile, one
of many Latin American D
dictators who found the worlds of Mary too pointed, too direct, to
frightening, and banned them. But that never stopped the women of
Chile, whose husbands had been disappeared, to speak them openly in
the squares, directing Mary’s words to those in power as they spoke
them. You’ll hear the Magnificant in Spanish, the language of those
mothers and wives with English words spoken alongside not to
interpret them, but to give them meaning, to speak for them when
these others had been silenced. And to affirm what Mary did, in
choosing to become God’s handmaid.
Voice 1
Continues reading this throughout
Proclama mi alma la grandeza del Señor,
se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi Salvador, *
porque ha mirado la humillación de su esclava.
Desde ahora me felicitarán todas las generaciones, *
porque el Poderoso ha hecho obras grandes por mi;
su Nombre es santo.
Su misericordia llega a sus fieles, *
de generación en generacion.
El hace proezas con su brazo;
dispersa a los soberbios de corazón.
Derriba del trono a los poderosos,
y enaltece a los humildes.
A los hambrientos los colma de bienes, *
y a los ricos despide vacíos.
Auxilia a Israel, su siervo, *
acordándose de la misericordia,
Como lo había prometido a nuestros padres, *
en favor de Abrahán y su descendencia para siempre.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear, O my sisters, who labour under the weight of womanhood,
my brothers who cling on to decency scraped out from the fragile earth.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear, O my sisters, whose husbands have been disappeared
and whose sons have no language for the fear they are left with.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear all you who are weighed with broken hallelujahs,
whose world is trapped in a deception
of abuse and prejudice.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
Hear all you caught up with your enemy,
who have struggled with the reason for war too long,
and found it absurd.
Voice 2
My soul glorifies God.
God has at last chosen a handmaid in me,
and has a craving to birth hope within me,
ravenous to elevate freedom,
set free liberation,
and pronounce justice for the poor,
thirsty to bring from my womb
life to all our longings.
God as appointed the time and the place,
the woman and the womb.
Hear O my sisters.
Hear O my brothers.
And tell yourselves,
tell the world,
tell God,
I say,
yes!

“Have yourself a limericking Christmas”
A Nativity dialogue by Robin Hill
[SLIDE: NATIVITY SCENE]
Narrator:
This Christmas, we are going to tell the story of Jesus’ birth in 10 minutes flat, using limericks to help us along the way.
[SLIDE: “HAVE YOURSELF A LIMERICKING CHRISTMAS”]
So, if you’re sitting comfortably … then I’ll begin.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Mary who found herself visited by the angel Gabriel. The angel had some startling news: there was a baby on the way, but no ordinary baby – this would be a holy child, the Son of God. Mary might have been a bit scared by this discovery, but instead she was very happy at the news.
[SLIDE: MARY]
Limerick:
There once was a young girl called Mary
who heard something really quite scary.
What Gabriel said
might have filled her with dread,
but she welcomed the news, did young Mary.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
Time went by, and the baby inside Mary grew day by day. But Mary and her fiancé Joseph knew there were difficult times to come. There would be a hard journey ahead of them, before the birth of that special child. Off they set to Joseph’s home town of Bethlehem, for Roman tax officials to add their names to a big register.
[SLIDE: MARY, JOSEPH AND DONKEY]
Limerick:
Mary didn’t have time to relax
for she knew that they’d have to make tracks.
With her dear fiancé
she would hurry away
down to Bethlehem, there to pay tax.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
When the couple arrived in the city of David, there was not so much as a hotel room available, so the baby entered the world in, of all places, an animal’s feeding trough. To our modern ears, that sounds incredible: the Son of God born in the most humble of circumstances.
[SLIDE: MARY AT MANGER]
Limerick:
In a smelly old animal shed
with no duvet and no feather bed
Mary laid in a manger
her son and, what’s stranger,
’twas just as the angel had said.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
Meanwhile, on a nearby hillside, some shepherds were hearing amazing news about this baby’s birth:
[SLIDE: SHEPHERDS AND FRIGHTENED SHEEP]
Limerick:
Angels came to some shepherds that night,
which, of course, gave their sheep quite a fright.
Said the angels: “Get down
to the centre of town,”
and the shepherds responded, “All right!”
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
How would you react to angels arriving with good news like that? For the shepherds, it was easy. They hurried off to Bethlehem in search of the holy family. One way or another, it had been quite a night. And through it all, the centre of attention was a tiny baby boy, trying to get his first night’s sleep.
[SLIDE: SHEPHERDS AT STABLE]
Limerick:
When those shepherds arrived they soon found,
in that manger with straw strewn around,
baby Jesus asleep,
so they all had to creep
in on tiptoe, with barely a sound.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
What a nice story about a new family – and a baby arriving just in time for Christmas too! But in the capital city of Jerusalem, the evil King Herod was being visited by some wise men, with intelligence about another monarch who had turned up on his patch. Soon, these travellers from the east were on their way again, leaving Herod far behind, so they could search for that new and greater King. On the final stage from Jerusalem up to Bethlehem, they were guided by a great light in the sky:
[SLIDE: WISE MEN AND CAMEL]
Limerick:
Now a star over Bethlehem city
burned brightly and looked rather pretty.
It was spotted by men
(three in number?) who then
headed off to that famous old city.
[SLIDE: BLANK]
Narrator:
The wise men were led by the light of that star all the way to the manger, where they found Jesus. Our story ends with them giving the special baby the first ever Christmas presents, on the first ever Christmas.
[SLIDE: GIFTS AT STABLE]
Limerick:
Those wise men roared up in a blur.
with their incense, their gold and their myrrh.
They fell to their knees
saying, “Take these gifts, please.”
And Mary replied, “Thank you, sir!”
[PAUSE]
[SLIDE: FULL NATIVITY SCENE]
This concludes what we wanted to say
regarding that first Christmas Day.
You were most kind to hear us
And now you might cheer us
and clap, as we go on our way.
[SLIDE: “THE END”]
[Exeunt]
[SLIDE: BLANK]
[SLIDE: CANDLE AND MANGER]
Copyright © 2008 by Robin Hill.
After “Have yourself a limericking Christmas”, you might give a talk on “The five lines of Christmas”, spoken by the angels to the shepherds:
[SLIDES: ONE FOR EACH LINE]
Line 1: “Don’t be afraid!” (In Christmas, God casts out fear.)
Line 2: “I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.” (Christmas is about good news!)
Line 3: “This very day in David’s town your Saviour was born—Christ the Lord!” (The Son of God is born to save.)
Line 4: “And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Jesus is human, born into poverty and vulnerability.)
Line 5: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!” (Let’s praise God with the angels.)
This dialogue may be distributed, adapted and used by churches, on the understanding that a donation made payable to “Church of Scotland’s HIV/AIDS Project” will be given by the congregation.
If you use it, let me know how it goes!
All the best,
Robin
Ideas to: Donations to:
The Rev Dr Robin Hill The Administrative Officer
The Manse HIV/AIDS Project
8A Elcho Road Church of Scotland
Longniddry 121 George Street
East Lothian Edinburgh
EH32 0LB EH2 4YN
minister@longniddrychurch.org HIV/AIDS@cofscotland.org.uk

From Roddy Hamilton 28th November 2008
Choral Story
1
The people that walked in darkness
2
The people that walked in…
3
The people that walked…
1
In darkness
All
Have seen a great light
2&3
Light
2
Light, (whispered) light
3
And they that dwell in the land of
All
(Whispered) The shadow of death
Pause
1
On them the light
All
Shines (repeat randomly so sounds chaotic)
1
Their joy has increased
2
They have received gladness
3
They rejoice as if it was harvest
1
For their yoke-burden is shattered
2
They bear no oppressor’s weight
3
They are free as in the day of Midian
1
Every
2
Battle
3
The warrior
1
Fought
2
Confuses
3
Like noise
1
And garments
2
Bloodied
3
And torn
1
By war
2
Shall be
3
Destroyed
1
For War
2
Will be
3
No more
1
For unto us
All
A child is born
2
Unto us
All
A son is given
1
And
1 & 2
The
All
(shouting) government shall be on his shoulder
1
And his name?
2
Wonderful
All
Counselor
2
Mighty
All
God
2
Everlasting
All
Father
2
And prince
All
Of peace, peace, peace, peace (getting softer until whisper)
Pause
3
The people who have walked in darkness
Pause
1
Have seen a great
All
Light

From Roddy Hamilton 28th November 2008
Dialogue
Joseph
Well, I don’t see why we have to call him Jesus. It’s tradition in my family to name the first person after the father.
Mary
But Joseph, I don’t know if there is anything traditional about this baby.
Joseph
True. What about my father. We could call him after him. If we did, he’d be really pleased.
Mary
But you’ve just told me the first son is always called after the father. And you don’t remember you’re the first son?
Joseph
Well what about something a bit less common and more regal like David, a splendid name, after all he was our greatest king.
Mary
That’s certainly a better suggestion. David means, beloved, but he wasn’t exactly the best behaved king was he? He did have a bit of a reputation. Maybe that’s not the ideal name for him.
Joseph
Well what about my cousin Cliff. Richard says he’s a great singer. Maybe that would be a good omen.
Mary
But Joseph, he’s almost as old as God. It’s a bit old fashioned. I would have liked to have called him after one of our prophets, like Isaiah, or Amos.
Joseph
Mary, most of them were completely mad. They didn’t have their feet firmly on the ground. That’s not a good image to label him with.
Mary
Levi was a name I liked a lot. It has priestly connections, sounds holy and very ancient.
Joseph
And sounds as if we’ve named him after Levi tax-collector down the road.
Mary
Frosty?
Joseph
Frosty!?
Mary
It’s Christmassy. Maybe not. Zebedee.
Joseph
Aye, and middle names of Dougal, Brian and Dylan? Jeremiah would have been better. He was a great prophet of his time and didn’t seem too mad. It mean’s, ‘God has uplifted’.
Mary
Well after reading his book you’ll need up lifting. He was awfully depressing.
Joseph
Well what about my ancestor Shealtiel.
Mary
That rolls off the tongue easily. What does it mean anyway?
Joseph
Well, it means ‘I’ve been asked of God’ which I though was kind of appropriate.
Mary
If we’re going with your ancestors (and why is it we are going through the male line rather than mine as I’m doing all the work) then what about Abraham.
Joseph
That means ‘Father of many’. It certainly has authority and tradition. Yes that would be a good name. Though he did try and sell his wife three times. Hmmm, that’s not such a bad idea.
Mary
Come to think of it, maybe ‘Jesus’ is just fine. ‘The One who saves.’ It has a certain hope about it. It’s maybe very common, but maybe he’ll give it new meaning.
Joseph
Okay let’s go with Jesus. We can get a better idea with the next child.
Mary
One at a time, Joseph. One at a time.