THE STORY (print and put in bible for Narrator)
Narrator
Of all the stories that you've ever read, and all the movies you've seen, did you know that there is one story that you are actually A PART OF? One story that you are IN? It is a REAL story found in the bible and the greatest news is... this one changes EVERYTHING. It started long, long ago when God created a perfect earth for us to live in. The first people that God made, Adam and Eve, lived in a beautiful garden. Things were wonderful, but not for long. God had an enemy. And this enemy came to the garden and tricked Adam and Eve, they disobeyed God, and their perfect world was ruined. God was angry, and sad, but he loved us too much for the story to end there. God wanted to be with us forever and told us over and over again in the bible that something so wonderful, so amazing was coming that it would become the
GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD.
(SFX 02 BIBLE MONTAGE: ...PRINCE OF PEACE )
Hundreds of years later, he fulfilled his promise to save his people, to save YOU and me, in an incredible and unexpected way. There was only one way to truly free people from the sin that had come into the world, and God knew just what to do.
One ordinary, quiet morning, the time had finally come. A girl named Mary was in her room alone when all of a
SUDDEN AN ANGEL APPEARED.
(SFX 03 GABRIEL: ...GOD IS WITH YOU)
The angel’s name was Gabriel. Mary was very worried, nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She wondered what this beautiful
ANGEL HAD COME TO TELL HER.
(SFX 04 GABRIEL: ...NAME HIM JESUS)
She was excited to be a part of God's plan and told the angel she would do anything for God. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph and in a dream God also told him a baby would be coming soon. But this baby would come into the world like no other, and they couldn't have imagined what would happen next. Months and months had passed and Mary’s tummy was growing bigger and bigger. One day they received news that the Emperor wanted all people in the land to travel back to the place they were born, to be counted. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, it would take days and days to make it back to Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. But this was one trip they had to take. How do you think they got there?
(children respond)
Perhaps they took a donkey. It was a long journey and it was almost time for the baby to come. The moon and stars were out the night they arrived in Bethlehem and Mary and Joseph were very tired. They needed to find a place for Mary to rest. Where would the son of God, the light of the world, be born? In a comfortable room with soft sheets and pillows?
(children respond)
In a royal palace fit for this king? Not at all. God’s precious son, the savior of the world was born where animals lived. In a cold, dark room with donkeys, cows, and pigs. It may seem weird to you and me to welcome such an important baby in such a dirty stable, but not to God. God knew this was the perfect place. Then it happened, when everything was just as God planned, He was born. They named him Jesus, just as the angel Gabriel had told them to. He was finally here! God was with us and met us in the loneliest, coldest, darkest place, becoming like you and me to save us. Jesus Christ was born! He was wrapped in warm cloths, swaddled up tightly and placed in a manger. One day, he would grow up and
TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
(CHOIR: “UNTO YOU”)
God was so excited about his new baby boy that he wanted to tell everyone. Nearby that night, shepherds were watching over their sheep. All at once an angel of the Lord appeared right above them, telling them of God's wonderful news. He told them where to find Jesus, and that they could go and see him, RIGHT NOW! And then even MORE angels and MORE angels came, right down from the sky, singing "Glory to God in the highest!" The shepherds rushed down the hills, leaving their sheep, to find the newborn king. Then God flung a huge, bright, burning star into the sky. The biggest birth announcement in the history of the world. Three wise men saw the star and followed it to find Jesus and brought him gifts and worshiped him. God wanted to show the world how much he loves us. YOU are IN the greatest story ever told, because God knew you would be born and sent Jesus for you. Jesus is God's present to you, on Christmas morning and every other day of the year. The
GREATEST GIFT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE.
(CHOIR: “CHRISTMAS HYMN”)
Let’s all pray. (Narrator's Prayer)
Come on (Narrator gets up), I want you to go and tell your mommies and daddies and your grandparents and all of your family,
“JESUS CHRIST IS BORN!”
(BAND: “GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”)