Maxwells Christmas Program
Are you looking for a cozy Christmas devotional you can do as a family? We’ve been doing this as a family for years on Christmas evening. It’s a wonderful combination of Scripture, Christmas carols, and interaction. Teri’s mom, Jan, wrote this program.
Preparation
Each Scripture verse needs to be printed on an individual piece of paper so they can be handed out to those who read before the program starts. You’ll only need to do this once, because you can save them in a folder for the next year. When the narrator reads the reference, the reader will know it is his turn to read his assigned verse.
You will also need hymn books or words for each of the carols.
Part of the way to involve little ones is to let them put a piece of the nativity up between sections. If you don’t have a nativity with the specific pieces, just substitute for whatever you do have. It’s important to have the pieces wrapped in tissue paper and numbered before the program.
Christmas Program
Opening Prayer
Read Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Read Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Stable is put out.
Sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Luke 2:4-5 – “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
It’s time for Mary, Joseph, and a donkey to be added to the stable.
Read Luke 2:6-7 – “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Now Baby Jesus in the manager can be put in the stable.
Sing “Away In a Manger”
Sing “What Child Is This?”
Luke 2:8-14 – “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Put out an angel (or more if you have them).
Sing “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Sing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
Luke 2:15-20 – “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
Shepherds with sheep is next up.
Sing “The First Noel”
Sing “Joy to the World”
A cow or another animal can be added.
Matthew 2:1-12 – “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.’ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.’ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
Sing “We Three Kings. “
The three wise men can be creatively put wherever.
Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Sing “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Sing “Silent Night”
Close in Prayer