This pageant follows the pattern of a traditional lessons and carols service. The Man and Woman characters represent both Adam and Eve and all of humanity. They should remain visible throughout the pageant, though they only have speaking roles in the first and final lessons. The other lessons stand alone, and the characters in each do not appear in other lessons. Our congregation performed this pageant on Christmas morning, but it could also be done in a morning or evening service in Advent. Stage directions indicate when throughout the service the different candles on the Advent wreath should be lit. Depending on the arrangement of the performance space, it may work well to have the Man and Woman light these candles.
Cast
Scripture reader for seven of the nine lessons (could be one person or up to seven)
First Lesson: Man, Woman
Second Lesson: Abraham, Sarah
Third Lesson: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba
Fourth Lesson: Lion, Lamb, Wolf, Cow, Snake, Goat (plus other animals as nonspeaking roles for children)
Fifth Lesson: Mary, Joseph, Angel, narrator
Eighth Lesson: Magi
Ninth Lesson: Man, Woman
Welcome and Greeting
Call to Worship
Good morning, and merry Christmas! This morning we will be following a traditional lessons and carols structure for our Christmas pageant, with Scripture readings, short skits, poetry, special music, and carol singing. We hope you find this a worshipful way to celebrate Christ’s birth.
God has called us together this morning to celebrate and worship the baby in the manger. Please rise in body or in spirit and join me in singing our opening carol.
Carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (st. 1,4) Wade
God Greets Us
We Greet Each Other
First Lesson
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.
[Once everyone is seated, a couple moves to the front of the worship space. They are dressed all in black, and their heads are bowed. They stand by the lectern while the Scripture passage is read.]
Reading: Genesis 3:8–15
Poem
Man:
Alone, alone, about a dreadful wood
Of conscious evil runs a lost mankind,
Dreading to find its Father lest it find
The Goodness it has dreaded is not good:
Alone, alone, about our dreadful wood. . . .
Woman:
We who must die demand a miracle.
How could the Eternal do a temporal act,
The Infinite become a finite fact?
Nothing can save us that is possible:
We who must die demand a miracle.
—from W. H. Auden, “For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio”
[Man and Woman put on purple sashes or vestments to signify they’re waiting for the promise. They sit down behind the Advent wreath, where they remain for most of the service.]
Carol: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Wesley
Second Lesson
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed the nations of the earth shall be blessed.
Reading: Genesis 18:16–19
Skit: “Promised Plan”
Abraham: Look, Sarah, I’m sorry I didn’t get more details about the promised son from our visitors. The imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah seemed a little more pressing at the time.
Sarah: Hmph! Abraham, you had me stuck in a tent all day baking bread for them, you didn’t defend me when they accused me of laughing, and then you didn’t even ask them how they knew we were going to have a son!
Abraham: I’ve told you that this isn’t the first time I’ve been promised a son.
[Sarah sighs and paces, showing some sign of anxiety or uncertainty.]
Abraham: What is wrong? Isn’t this a good thing? Isn’t this what you’ve wanted?
Sarah: I just don’t understand. Why us? We’ve been following God’s plan for our lives for years now, and I don’t understand why God has taken an interest in our family.
Abraham: Well, there was something the Lord said before we haggled over the destruction of Sodom. He said “all nations on earth will be blessed” through me.
Sarah: All nations on earth?
[Sarah glances up at the couple in black, who move forward to light the Hope candle.]
Sarah: All nations on earth. Oh, I see.
[Abraham also glances toward the couple.]
Abraham: What?
Sarah: Well, this plan—I think I understand that it isn’t really just about us. There is a bigger plan.
[Abraham puts his arm around Sarah, takes her hand, or makes some other casual gesture of affection.]
Abraham: It isn’t about us. It is about God, and what God’s doing. But we get to be a part of it, and so does our son.
Sarah: Our son. He’s really coming, isn’t he?
Abraham: I can’t wait.
Carol: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Neale
Third Lesson
Isaiah foretells Christ’s birth and kingdom
Reading: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7
[Four women representing Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba come forward.]
Litany: “The Genealogical Plan”
All Women: For unto us a child was born, to us a son was given.
Tamar: This is the genealogy of Jesus,
Rahab: the Messiah,
Ruth: the son of David,
Bathsheba: the son of Abraham;
[As each woman reads her name she gestures to herself, hand flat on chest]
Tamar: Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar;
Rahab: Salmon, the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab;
Ruth: Boaz, the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth;
Bathsheba: David, the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba;
All Women: and Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
Tamar: God’s plan included me—a rejected woman, forced to prostitute herself.
Rahab: God’s plan included me—a prostitute and an enemy of God’s people.
Ruth: God’s plan included me—a destitute beggar.
Bathsheba: God’s plan included me—the woman at the center of a kingdom-rocking scandal.
Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba: We were widows.
Tamar, Bathsheba: We were abused.
Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba: We were caught up in sin.
Rahab, Ruth: We were outside the covenant.
All Women: But God brought us inside.
Tamar: I was acknowledged as righteous.
Rahab: I was spared judgment and given a new home.
Ruth: I was called a woman of valor.
Bathsheba: I was the mother of a King.
Tamar: God’s grace-filled plan was big enough for us, and it is big enough for you.
Rahab: We are testament to how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God.
Ruth: God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.
Bathsheba: God seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
All Women: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2).
[As this final chorus is read, the Joy candle is lit.]
Carol: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” German traditional
Fourth Lesson
The peace that Christ will bring is foretold
[Children dressed as various animals come toward the front of the worship space. There should be an equal number of predators and prey, and at least six total. Prey animals huddle together looking visibly nervous. Lots of chatter from both groups. Lion steps up to the mic.]
Skit: “A Plan for Peace”
Lion: Attention! Attention! I call this gathering to order. Thank you all for coming as I commanded.
Lamb: Excuse me? You don’t command us! The nonviolent animal kingdom rejects your tyrannical rule and has elected me to represent them!
Wolf: Hey, boss, want me to eat him?
Cow: I knew this was a bad idea, Lamb. Let’s get out of here. We came in good faith, but we are already facing violent threats!
Snake: What, are you sssssssscared?
Goat: Never trust a serpent! There’s a reason your kind don’t have legs anymore!
Lion: [Roars.] OK, OK, enough! Wolf, no eating anyone. Snake, simmer down. Lamb, excuse my bossy tone. I called this truce because there has been an important development in the plan.
Lamb: Which plan?
Lion: THE plan.
Lamb: You mean, the PLAN? I don’t understand. How could THE PLAN concern us?
Lion: I called us all together so we could hear the word ourselves. Now, quiet please!
Reading: Isaiah 11:1–9
[While Scripture is read, the Peace candle is lit.]
Lamb: Wow! What an incredible plan!
Lion: I know!
Lamb: I don’t think I ever realized how big the plan was. I didn’t know we would be a part of it.
Lion: I’m not sure about the eating straw part, but the rest sounds pretty good to me!
Carol: “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” Neale
Fifth Lesson
The angels foretell Jesus’ divine birth
Reading: Luke 1:26–38; Matthew 1:18–24, arranged for four readers.
[Angel and Mary move to the front of the worship space. Angel is in the middle, Mary to one side.]
Narrator: In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 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,
Angel: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Narrator: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her,
Angel: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Mary: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Angel: “The Holy Spirit will come on 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. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
[Mary remains in front, head bowed. Joseph comes up. Angel pivots to address Joseph.]
Narrator: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph: Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Narrator: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
Angel: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
[Angel sits; Mary and Joseph come together in the middle.]
Narrator: All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Joseph: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Skit: “The Plan for Nobodies; the Plan for Everyone”
Mary: My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
Joseph: I can’t believe that God chose us! Who are we to be part of his plan? We’re nobodies!
Mary: That’s . . . what I just said.
Joseph: You know I’m not very good with poetry, Mary.
Mary: Do you know what this means?
Joseph: There are going to be a lot of not-very–nice rumors about us?
Mary: Perhaps, but that isn’t as important as what God is doing! God chose nobodies to be part of God’s plan, which means his plan includes justice and freedom and deliverance for everyone. This means God’s plan is bigger than anything we could have ever imagined.
Joseph: Wow—and we get to be part of that plan! And our son . . .
Mary: God’s son.
Joseph: . . . God’s son, Jesus, the promised son, our Savior.
[The Love candle is lit.]
Carol: “Canticle of the Turning” Cooney
Sixth Lesson
Jesus is born
Reading: Luke 2:1–7
Choir and Soloist: “In the Bleak Midwinter” Music by Gustav Holst & Antonin Dvorak; words by Christina Rosetti; additional words and music by Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty; choir arr. by Jonathan Rea.
[The Christ candle is lit; Man and Woman exchange their purple vestments for gold ones. They now stand behind the candle and remain standing for the rest of the service.]
Carol: “Silent Night, Holy Night” Mohr
Seventh Lesson
The shepherds go to the manger
Reading: Luke 2:8–16
[Congregation reads words in bold:]
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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those 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.
Carol: “Angels We Have Heard on High” French Traditional
Eighth Lesson
The Magi are led by the star to Jesus
Reading: Matthew 2:1–11
[One of the Magi comes to the front to read the following poem.]
Poem: “Journey of the Magi,” by T. S. Eliot, abridged
‘A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.’ . . .
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.
Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley, . . .
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky, . . .
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins,
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.
[At the end of the poem, the Magi should look at the cross wherever it is located in the worship space.]
Carol: “We Three Kings” Hopkins
Ninth Lesson
John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation
[Man and Woman come forward to stand in the middle front of the worship space. As they read the Scripture, they drape white over their gold vestments.]
Reading: John 1:1–14, arranged for two readers
[Congregation joins for final verse.]
Woman: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Man: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Woman: There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
Man: He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Woman: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
All: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Carol: “Joy to the World” (st. 1,2) Watts
Benediction and Sending
Doxology: “Joy to the World” (st. 3–4) Watts