An Improvisational Pageant: or "What do you mean, ‘Everyone here has to play a part?’"

The Story of Christmas: Annal’s Version
An Improvisational Pageant: or "What do you mean, ‘Everyone here has to play a part?’"

Note: This service requires a skilled storyteller, who can adapt the Christmas story on the run. What we did is ask every person who walked in the door who they wanted to be, i.e. villager, shepherd, angel, sheep, Mary's BFF, Joseph's best friends, etc. We even had a Dog, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Princess, Nun, and Bishop of Myra (the Pastor) show up. Simple costumes, such as staff's (made out of bamboo), head scarves, halos (made out of silver garland), sheep ears, etc. were provided. Our storyteller, Annal Frenz, talked to all the young children who came in and asked them if they had a particular character/item/action they wanted to see in the story, i.e. dragon, crown, whatever. She noted each child's name and character as well, so she could call on them as needed. To get the "actors" moving, as the story progressed she would say something like, "and all the angels appeared in the field - the pulpit... angels get up and go to your field." or whatever to get them on their feet and where they needed to be.

By the way, NO ONE was a main character. Mary and Joseph and Jesus were present only in our minds. This saves a lot of problems of the but-how-come-she-got-to-be-Mary, or how-come-he-got-to-be-Joseph kind.

Be prepared for chaos and fun. I have to say this was one of the easiest and most fun pageants I have ever organized (NO Rehearsals!). Obviously, you will need to adapt this to your physical space, size, etc.

And if you are wondering where they fitted in: Rudolph (who brought her own nose) led the villagers to safety during a heavy fog on their trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the Dog protected the sheep, the Bishop of Myra, with the help of the Nun and the Princess (who wanted to be of service to people) collected the offering and, of course, the Bishop served communion.

Under each narrative heading I have printed out Annal's notes, if you wish to refer to them. These were not in the bulletin. By the way, she also had timings allowed for each section to help keep her on track.

Lisa Frenz

Order For Worship

▲ = Please stand as you are able ▼ = Please sit

Prelude & Lighting of Altar Candles

▲ Lighting of the Advent Wreath:

Light One Candle vs. 1-3 - solo, vs. 4 - congregation

Light one candle to watch for Messiah:. . . God fulfills the promise.

Light two candles to watch for Messiah:. . . gently lead them homeward.

Light three candles to watch for Messiah:. . . for the King of glory.

Light four candles to watch for Messiah: . . . Let your lights be shining!

▼ Welcome Narrative: Traditions, Stories, and Playing

- Choose to be a kid again

- See the story in our mind's eye

- Enjoy the story as a story

- Originally was an oral narrative: how many have or had grandparents? Good because this is a story first told to us by our grandparents - well our great-great-great grandparents, times about 60. * It's our family story, of our beginnings as a family. So now we're going to tell it yet again - not as the unchanging words on a page, but in a way that brings us all into the story so that we're a part of it - actors in the living word.

. I Love to Tell the Story

Text: Katherine Hankey, 1834-1911

I love to tell the story

of unseen things above,

of Jesus and his glory,

of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story,

because I know it's true;

it satisfies my longings

as nothing else would do.

Refrain: I love to tell the story;

I'll sing this theme in glory

and tell the old, old story

of Jesus and his love.

2 I love to tell the story:

how pleasant to repeat

what seems, each time I tell it,

more wonderfully sweet!

I love to tell the story,

for some have never heard

the message of salvation

from God's own holy word. Refrain

3 I love to tell the story,

for those who know it best

seem hungering and thirsting

to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

I'll sing the old, old story

that I have loved so long. Refrain

Narrative: The People of God Need Help

And so we begin, as all the best stories do - once upon a time, a long time ago in a place very far away from here - to be precise, it starts in a little village high in the hills of Galilee, called Nazareth

- nice place to grow up

- everyone knew everyone else - most related to each other

- but no denying times were hard

- drought - no food; if the year was good - there was food BUT there was something worse than drought - TAXES

- anybody remember the story of Robin Hood? Steal from the rich to give to the poor: Herod reversed the process

- people were in a bad way, needed help - asked God and he answered

- help came just not the way they thought - it came as a baby

.I Wonder as I Wander v. 1

Text Source: Text: Appalachian carol, adapt. John Jacob Niles, 1892-1980.

Narrative: Mary Gets Some News, Joseph Gets Nervous

MOVE: Girls to Mary's house (tree), Boys to Joseph's house (paschal candle)

- Now the arrival of the baby happened like this: in Nazareth, there lived a girl named Mary - and her BFF's (Best Friends Forever) and cousins xyz, etc. - fun together & told each other everything

-One day, Mary has everyone over for a sleep over - Mary went to get something - girls saw a light & followed, saw an Angel (MOVE: Angel Gabriel to Mary's house)

- Annunciation

- All talk it over - big Question - tell Joseph???

- Joseph was going to marry Mary

- Next day Mary told Joseph re baby

-Joseph needs to think about this

- He (and his cousins and BF's (Best Friends)) sleep on it - The Dream

- Agrees to marry Mary

The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

with wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame:

"All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary,

most highly favored lady." Gloria!

"For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,

all generations laud and honor thee;

thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,

most highly favored lady." Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;

"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said.

"My soul shall laud and magnify God's holy name."

Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

Narrative: Are We There Yet? Or, It’s a Long, Long Way to Bethlehem

- One day the Roman Emperor decides to do a very irritating thing - register everyone back in their original town - no one knows why - but it meant a trip

- Excited but scary

MOVE: congregation moves around - mills about - then on to Bethlehem via up and down several aisles

- bunch of villagers needed to go to Bethlehem

- set out

- delays along the way (this is were Rudolph came into our story - Annal ad lib -LF)

- Mary & Joseph arrive, houses all full:

MOVE everyone around to their "inns" (a) with X in bed, (b) with Y, but 9 to a bed, (c) with Z - but noisy Pinochle game, etc. (Pinochle - is a bit of an "in-joke" at Mt. Carmel - LF)

- Ran in to A who has a room in the stables, had baby

O Little Town of Bethlehem, v. 1

Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893

O little town of Bethlehem,

how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

the silent stars go by;

yet in thy dark streets shineth

the everlasting light.

The hopes and fears of all the years

are met in thee tonight.

Narrative: Shepherds Report Angels Appear - News at 11:00

MOVE: Shepherds (and sheep and dogs and who/whatever) to the Fields (Christmas Tree)

- Now that very night, shepherds are out in the field minder their own business

- Arrival of the Angel(s)

MOVE Angels to field (tree)

- Announcement of God's answer - a baby, new Savior

- Signs of how to find

MOVE: Shepherds to Bethlehem (to paschal candle via a couple of aisles)

- Go to Bethlehem and find out Angels were right

- Went out to tell everyone

MOVE Shepherds to tell congregation

- Gift - child of peace

The First Noel vs. 1

Text: English carol, c. 17th cent.

The first Noel the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel!

Born is the King of Israel.

Narrative: More to the Story

- This was the beginning but there's more to the story

- Wisemen, & evil kings, travel, adventure

- But this is the start, the birth of a child, the bringer of peace

Greeting of Peace:

P: God has received us, pardoned us and loved us; let us forgive each other in love and share the peace of Christ. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

(All may greet one another in the name of the Lord.)

Narrative and Offering: What’s With that Guy in Red? The Give and Take of Christ’s Mass

- Wonderful & terrible things happen to our baby

- he grows up & works to help his people, but finally he's killed

-But story doesn't end there - he doesn't stay dead

- And from this our family begins to grow

-Grows through good and bad

- Family produces some villains, but also some heroes

- Story of Nicholas of Myra: Remember Robin Hood & how Herod did opposite? - Nick got it right

- Nick made sure people shared in everything especially in our great feast - the Lord's Supper

The Bishop & helpers collect offering (This where the nun and the princess came in, Annal introduced them and made up reasons why they were helping St. Nicholas - LF)

▲ Now the joyful bells a-ringing

(Nos Galan/Deck the Halls)

Now the joyful bells a-ringing,