Bethlehem Star: A Christmas Program by AT in MN.  Hope you can use this...change what you like.

All lights off.  Music is played: Bethlehem star (Can find the music in Christian music stores. I played the tape with the music, but if I could have found someone to sing it, I would have done that)

I made a video of different pictures that went along with the song, Bethlehem star...starts off with creation type of pictures (I found a calendar with astronomy type pictures) and video taped the still pictures, in sync with the music Bethlehem star. This set up the rest of the program.)

A set of lights come on and focus on Mary looking up at a light while this verse is read by reader #1.  The poem used in this program is actually a song. I got the words to this song from the net somewhere, several years ago. I used as a poem, not as a song)

Reader #1: 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.

Reader #1 waits for Mary to walk over to a bench and is then joined by a young boy Jesus. Mary and Jesus make motions that they are having a conversation.

READER #1
When Jesus was little he sat at the knee
Of Mary, his Mother and asked reverently.
"Tell me dear Mother of my birthday again,
Of Shepherds, and angels and three wise men"

Mary told Jesus of the first Christmas story,
How angels had come on a night filled with glory.
Rich men and poor men were there at the start,
And Mary had kept all these things in her heart.

Mary spoke softly as if in a prayer
She told how the angels had led them all there
How the shepherds came kneeling to see where he lay.
And to worship a King on that first Christmas Day.

Jesus would listen how the Kings came from afar
How they followed the light of the Bethlehem's star
And the first Christmas presents they had brought to give
In return for the gift that all men might live.

(Light off Mary and Young Jesus)

Jesus grew up, our Savior, our Lord,
But he always remembered the things he'd heard
From Mary his mother, who was there at the start,
And he kept all these things, deep in his heart.


On the other side of chapel of gym is a Modern Day Mother and Son. You can have a Dad there too, and he can read all the scripture references, or shared with Mom and Dad.

Child: Tell me, Dear Mother, Of Christ's birthday again.  Of the Shepherds and angels and the three wisemen.

Mother: Not long after Mary had come back from visiting her cousin Elizabeth, Mary's husband to be, Joseph became aware that his wife-to-be was going to have a baby. In the quiet of the night an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph who was worried and told him that Mary was to become the Mother of the Son of God. This is what the angel said to Joseph:

Reader #2: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people form their sins...Then Joseph...did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife" (Matt 1: 2-21, 24)

Mother: When it was almost time for Mary to have her baby,she went with her husband to Bethlehem, a journey of about 90 miles.

Reader #2 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem...to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child. (Luke 2: 4-5)

Mother: Joseph and Mary were unable to find any room at any of the Inns. They took shelter in a stable.  That is where Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus.

Reader #2:
"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. (Luke 2: 6-7)

Primary children sing: Away in a manger and Little Jesus or what you feel appropriate

Mother: A brilliant new star shone in the heavens to mark the blessed event of the Saviors birth. Laboring in Bethlehem's hillside fields on the night of Christ's birth were Shepherds watching their flocks.

Reader 2: Read Luke 2: 9-16

Mother: The scriptures continue to tell us...

Reader #2: Matt 2: 8-11

Musical number: One small child (Can be purchased at Christian book store. I got as many RS sisters together to sing this in unison along with the tape which had music only. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL and IMPRESSIVE.

Reader #3: WE are all invited to search for Jesus.  The shepherds went with great haste in their search for Jesus. The wisemen journeyed far from the East to Jerusalem to find him. to find him we must seek him first. The formula for finding Jesus: Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jer 29:13

Are we prepared to provide gifts from our many treasures as the wisemen of old? From he treasure of our hearts, Jesus asks that we give of ourselves. The opportunities we have to give of ourselves is limitless. There are many things we can do to serve others around us, we just need to open our eyes and our hearts.

May we be wise, as the wise men of old and seek Christ, not just thru this holiday season, but everyday of our lives.

END

Holiday Index