The following service from First Presbyterian Church, Slidell, Louisiana, was planned cooperatively with a conscious effort to include the congregation. The whole congregation was involved with singing and some Scripture reading. In addition, the church choir sang, six narrators took part in various readings (including those marked unison), and the children created covers for the service booklets (which included the words to all the music and readings).
Churches interested in using this service should feel free to make it their own by choosing their own choral anthems and congregational songs as well as by using additional worship elements appropriate to their congregation and to the service itself (confession/assurance, offering, sermon, pastoral prayer, and so on). Each section of the service offers multiple options for a musical response; choose one for each section.
Prelude
Call to Worship: Psalm 96
Unison: vv. 1-6
Female voices: vv. 7-9
Male voices: vv. 10-13
Unison: repeat v. 1
Sung Response
“Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” PH 8
“Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise” PsH 96, TH 62, WR 8
The Coming King
Narrator 1: Micah 5:2-5a
Unison: John 1:1-5
Sung Response
“Christmas Hymn” (Word Music)
“O Word of God Incarnate” CH 414, PsH 279, TH 140, WR 670
“Savior of the Nations, Come” PsH 336, WR 168
“Meekness and Majesty/This Is Your God” SNC 109, WR 97
The Promise
Narrator 2: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Narrator 4: Luke 1:39-42a
Narrator 5: Luke 1:42b-45
Sung Response
“Mary, Did You Know?” (Word Music)
The Magnificat
Unison: Isaiah 12:2
Narrator 3: Isaiah 12:3-4a
Unison: Isaiah 12: 4b-6
Narrator 4: Luke 1:46-55
Sung Response
“Song of Mary” PH 600
“Surely It Is God Who Saves Me” PsH 193
“Magnify the Lord” PsH 622
“Song of Mary/My Soul Proclaims with Wonder” SNC 102
The One Who Prepared the Way
Narrator 1: Malachi 3:1-4
Narrator 3: Luke 1: 68-79
Narrator 2: John 1:6
Sung Response
“Prepare the Way” PH 13
“Song of Zechariah” PsH 213
“Song of Zechariah/Blessed Be the God of Israel” SNC 104
“Prepare the Way of the Lord” SNC 105, SFL 124, WR 174
The Nativity
Congregation Side 1: Isaiah 9:2
Congregation Side 2: Isaiah 9:3
Congregation Side 1: Isaiah 9:4
Congregation Side 2: Isaiah 9:5
Narrator 6: Isaiah 9:6 (through the word called)
Narrator 1: Wonderful Counselor,
Narrator 4: Mighty God,
Narrator 3: Everlasting Father,
Narrator 5: Prince of Peace
Narrator 2: Isaiah 9:7 (through more)
Unison: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Narrator 6: Luke 2:1-7
Sung Response
“Once in Royal David’s City” CH 286, PH 49, PsH 346, TH 225, WR 183
“The People Who in Darkness Walked” PsH 192
The Shepherds and Angels
Narrator 4: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Narrator 3: Zephaniah 3:18b-20
Narrator 5: Luke 2:8-10a
Narrator 1: Luke 2:10b-12
All Narrators: Luke 2:13
Unison: Luke 2:14
Sung Response
“Welcome, Jesus, Our Redeemer” (Word Music)
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night” PsH 215, TH 222, WR 228
“While by the Sheep” TH 215, WR 200
“Hitsuji Wa/Sheep Fast Asleep” SNC 110
The Glory of the Lord
Narrator 2: Hebrews 1:1-4
Narrator 5:Luke 2:15a
Narrator 3: Luke 2:15b
Narrator 5: Luke 2:16-20
Sung Response
“Song of the Angels” (Word Music)
“God Who Spoke in the Beginning” PsH 277
The Gift of Salvation
Unison: Titus 3:4-7
Sung Response
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” CH 277, PH 31, PsH 345, TH 203, WR 185
The Benediction: Psalm 98
Unison: vv.1-3
Female voices: vv. 4-6
Male voices: vv. 7-9
Unison: repeat v. 1a
Sung Response
“Joy to the World!” CH 270, PH 40, PsH 337, SFL 137, TH 195, WR 179
“Sing a New Song to the Lord” SNC 112, WR 13
Postlude