Divide the group into four smaller groups and assign each
group one of the words listed below. Read the story. After each
of the words is read pause for the group to sing the first line
of the song.
MANGER: Away in a Manger
ANGEL: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
BABY: What Child it This
BETHLEHEM: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
Narrator: This is Mary,
a girl of Galilee. She lived long years ago, but such a wonderful
thing happened to her that we remember and love her still.
One day an ANGEL___ appeared to Mary.
Angel: You are blessed
among women, for you shall have a son, whom you shall name Jesus.
He shall be called the Son of God, and his kingdom shall never
end.
Mary: I am glad to serve
the Lord, May it be as you have said.
Narrator: Then the ANGEL___
left her.
Mary married a good man from Nazareth. His name was Joseph,
and he was a carpenter by trade. Joseph had to go from Nazareth
up to BETHLEHEM___ .
He had to go there to pay taxes. Mary went with him. It was
a long, weary journey for her as she was expecting a BABY___.
When they reached BETHLEHM___ it was crowded. All the
inns were full.
Though Joseph asked shelter only for his wife, every innkeeper
turned them away. At last one innkeeper, seeing that Mary was
weary and expecting a BABY__
Showed them to a stable full of warm, sweet hay. Joseph cleaned
the animals' food out of a MANGER___ then he filled it
with staw for the BABY___ to sleep in.
There in BETHLEHEM__ in the animal stable Mary gave
birth to a BABY__ . She wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in the MANGER__.
There were in that same country shepherds in the field, keeping
watch over their flocks by night. An ANGEL__ of the Lord
appeared to them in shinning glory, They were all afraid.
Angel: There is nothing
to fear, I come to bring you news of great joy which shall come
to all people. For a child is born this day in BETHLEHEM___
a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to
you. You shall find the BABY___ wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a MANGER__.
Narrator: Suddenly the
sky was full of ANGELS__, praising God and saying. Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
When the ANGELS___ disappeared into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, Let us go to BETHLEHEM__ and see
this thing which the Lord has made known to us.
They hurried to the town of BETHLEHEM__ and found Mary
and Joseph, and the BABY__ lying in the MANGER___.
Afterwards the shepherds told everyone they met about the child.
The BABY__ was called Jesus, the name given by the
ANGEL__ before he was born. And the child grew and became
strong in spirit and full of wisdom. And the grace of God was
upon him.
Now you hurry out and tell everyone you meet about the BABY___
lying in a MANGER___ in BETHELEHM___.
Kids sing: Go Tell It on the Mountain