Notes For Leaders Speaking Parts There are 122 individual speaking parts that can be recited by any number of children in your group. For large groups, each child can have a line, and with smaller groups, each child can have several lines. The recitation of the Christmas story from Luke 2 (not included in the 122 parts mentioned above) may be read by older children or divided among several younger children. Musical Manger Centerpiece Display The musical manger centerpiece should be made from foam core or sturdy poster board. Separate pieces to be attached during the service might be fastened on with Velcro, magnets or metal clips. The centerpiece is a manger. Above the manger is a star with beams of light that form a music staff. Ten notes spell out JOY IN JESUS. The sections of this centerpiece will be set up, and the individual notes will be attached to the music staff, during the children s recitations and songs. Directions for assembling the centerpiece are given at the appropriate times in the service. Nativity Tableau If you would like to incorporate a nativity tableau with costumed characters as part of this service, instructions are included as to when these characters should enter and exit. Candle Lighting If you are including candle lighting in your service, it can occur during the singing of the closing hymn, Now Sing We, Now Rejoice. Hand out candles to parishioners as they enter. Be sure to tip only unlit candles to light, and supervise small children. Offerings for Those in Need In your announcements in the weeks before this service, you might ask congregation members to bring to the service donations of clothing, personal hygiene items or toys. People may wish to bring items for babies, in honor of the Christ Child whose birth we celebrate! These donations can be collected in the narthex before the service and later donated to a local shelter or mission. 2 Sing a Song of Christmas
Pre-service Music A group of instrumentalists and/or singers gathers to play and sing a medley of the carols used in the service. The group of singers could dress as carolers and move around the room singing the first verse of each song. Or the group of singers could hum or sing along with the instrumentalists from a specific location in the room. Some of the songs could be done by individual singers and some by the whole chorus. Throughout the service, children dressed as carolers could lead the singing of each carol. As We Gather Have you ever wondered who wrote the Christmas carols we know and love so much? This worship service, led by the children of our congregation, highlights the history and meaning of many of the familiar songs we sing at Christmas. As the story of each song is told, we will sing and celebrate together our joy in Jesus, the newborn King! (The children may enter down the center aisle during the processional hymn.) Processional Hymn... Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o er the plains, And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav nly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Invocation We gather to worship in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A Children s Christmas Service 3
A Litany of Joy... From Psalm 98 CC CC CC Sing a new song to the Lord; he has done wonderful things! Sing for joy to the Lord, all the earth; Praise him with songs and shouts of joy! Clap your hands, you rivers; You hills, sing together with joy before the Lord, because he comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness. Prayer of the Day Heavenly Father, we join with your people around the world and with the saints and angels in your presence to celebrate the birth of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As we listen to the story of our Lord s birth retold in joyful songs, fill our hearts with wonder at the gift of Savior, the Word made flesh. Bless the children who will bring us the joyful news of Jesus birth in word and song. Hear our prayers and accept our praise in the name of Jesus our Savior, the Child of Bethlehem. Amen. A Meditation When did you see the first Christmas decorations in stores? Was it in September, or even August? When did you hear the first Christmas carols? Even people who do not know the real reason for the season listen to songs that celebrate the birth of Jesus. Some people may only wish each other Happy holidays, but even that word holiday reminds us that this is a holy day. We are celebrating the birth of God s Son, who humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross for the sake of our salvation. God raised him up and exalted him, giving him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11). During this holy season, the world, however briefly and unknowingly, bows down before the Christ Child. The trees, the lights, the decorations, the gifts and the songs echo the holy joy of his birth. Let s listen now as our children remind us of the reason for the season. We know the reason, and we have a story to tell and songs to sing. 4 Sing a Song of Christmas
The Story of The First Noel, Part 1 1: (randomly repeating the chorus of The First Noel ) Noel, noel, noel, noel 2. Noel. That s a word we use a lot during the Christmas season. 3. It comes from a Latin word that means birth. It s also the French word for Christmas! 4. The word Noel means Christmas for us, too. 5. Even though the word comes from Latin, the song called The First Noel is an English carol. 6. It is an old song, sung by so many people for so many years, even though we don t know if any one person wrote the words. 7. It tells the story of the angels and shepherds and wise men, and their joy in Jesus! 8. Let s all sing it together now! Song by the Congregation...The First Noel The first Noel, the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter s night that was so deep. They look-ed up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. And by the light of that same star Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. Then entered in those wise men three, Full reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. A Children s Christmas Service 5
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav nly Lord, Who hath made heav n and earth of nought And with his blood mankind has bought. The Story of The First Noel, Part 2 9. The Christmas star is pretty important in this song. 10. In this song the star announces the birth of Christ to shepherds on Christmas night. 11. And later the star announced Jesus birth to the wise men. 12. What a star! 13. What a story! 14. Some of the first people to meet Jesus were gathered together by that star. 15. Thirty-three years later people would gather around Jesus cross. 16. The last verse of the carol reminds us of that. 17. It reminds us that Jesus was born to die for our sins. 18. His cradle is never far from his cross especially in great Christmas carols. 19. And even from the darkness of Good Friday, the light of Christ s love sets the world aglow. 20. Do you think that Christmas star is still shining? 21. It shines on us and in us and through us! 22. We shine with joy in Jesus! The Story of Away in a Manger, Part 1 23. Now let s learn about Away in a Manger. People like to call this hymn Martin Luther s Cradle Song. 24. Except that Martin Luther didn t really write it. 25. An American poet, James Murray, wrote it in 1884, shortly after the 400th anniversary of Luther s birth. 26. Maybe that s why we call it Luther s cradle song! 27. It is sung to different tunes, but we will sing it now to a familiar melody. 6 Sing a Song of Christmas
(During the song, set up the manger as the first piece of the musical manger centerpiece.) Song by the Children... Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with thee there. The Story of Away in a Manger, Part 2 28. When I sing this carol, I feel like I am looking right into Jesus manger bed. 29. I want to kneel and fold my hands to pray. 30. This carol is a great prayer for Christmas or for any other time. 31. And it s not just a prayer for us, but for all children loved and protected by God. 32. Do you think we can include adults in this prayer? 33. In Jesus, adults, too, are all children of God: 34. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith (Galatians 3:26). 35. Who would have thought that a baby in a manger bed would be the Savior of the world? 36. Only God could come up with a plan like that! The Story of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Part 1 37. The next Christmas hymn we are going to sing is very different. It is called Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. 38. Charles Wesley wrote this song almost 250 years ago, in 1739. The tune is by the famous composer, Felix Mendelssohn. 39. Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 hymns in his lifetime, and we still sing a lot of them today. A Children s Christmas Service 7
40. He wrote this song especially as a hymn for Christmas Day. 41. This is not a Christmas lullaby like Away in a Manger, but a triumphant song of joy and praise. 42. Get ready to join the angels in praising Jesus, the newborn King! (During the song, add the star and musical staff to the musical manger centerpiece.) Song by the Congregation... Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With th angelic host proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Christ by highest heav n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail th incarnate Deity! Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Hail the heav n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, ris n with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! The Story of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Part 2 43. Wow! That song didn t sound like a lullaby! 44. No, this is a strong statement of what we believe about Jesus. 45. A statement of what we believe is called a creed, isn t it? 46. Yes! The word creed means I believe. These are some of the I believe truths we sing about in this hymn: 47. I believe that Jesus has reconciled us to God. That means he has made us friends with God. 48. I believe that all creation praises God! 49. I believe that our songs and praises join the praise of the angels and all of creation. 50. I believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. 51. I believe that Jesus is both human and divine. 52. I believe that we call Jesus Emmanuel because that name means that God is with us. 8 Sing a Song of Christmas