A little while ago, I outlined a suggested narrative for a carols event.  As our has been developing, I though I’d give you an update:

 

Reading 1 – The Big Picture of Jesus’ birth

A long time ago, in a land far from here, there was the announcement of great and joyous news:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on King David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.”  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

These words told the world of a new age of peace and justice and righteousness.  They spoke of a little child, born in Bethlehem, who would change the world.  That little child was Jesus. And we gather around and celebrate and sing about him tonight.

Sing: O Come all ye faithful

Reading 2 – Announcing Jesus (Part 1).

2,000 years ago in the little town of Galillee,

God sent the angel Gabriel,to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”  Then the angel left her.  (Luke 1:26-38)

Sing : Mary’s Boychild

Reading 3 – Announcing Jesus (Part 2).

And so as that child grew inside Mary,  Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the whole world. And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  (Luke 2:1-7)

Sing: Away in a Manger and Once in Royal David’s City

Readings 4 – Meeting Jesus (Part 1)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.”

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  (Luke 2:8 -20)

Sing: While Shepherds Watch and Hark the Herald

Reading 5 – Meeting Jesus (Part 2).

            After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”

 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  (Matthew 2:1-12)

Sing: We Three Kings and Jingle Bells

Reading 6 – Celebrating Jesus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. …

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth…  From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace… No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. (John 1:1-5, 14, 16, 18)

Ministry SPCH