Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] December 19, 2021 Instant Christmas Pageant As they enter, each worshiper will be handed a slip of paper with these words on them. Practice: Joseph: Stand, raise right hand, and say, “I’m here!” Mary: Stand, pretend to hold a baby, and say, “Ohhh.” Child: Stand, place hand over heart “Ahhh.” Angels: Stand with both hands – “Ta Da!” Shepherds: “Baaa” like sheep King Herod: “Boo!” Magi: Point up and say “The star!” During the opening part of the worship service anyone, adult or child, who wishes to dress in costume will leave the sanctuary to dress. There may be six Marys and only one wise person, but that’s what you get with an instant pageant. They will enter the first time you hear their name. When the magi first enter, they will carry a large star. The script is simply the words of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, with a few minor modifications. Listen to the Word of God from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1-20: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph (pause) also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary (pause) to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child (pause). While they were there, the time came for her to deliver. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. SING – Away in a Manger In that region, there were shepherds (pause) keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel (pause) of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel (pause) said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you, this day is born in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a child (pause) wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel (pause) a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God in the highest heaven, and saying, “On earth peace among those whom God favors!” SING – Angels We Have Heard on High When the angels (pause) had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds (pause) said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary (pause) and Joseph (pause), and the child (pause) lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what they were told and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds (pause) told them, but Mary (pause) treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. SING - What Child is This Now we shift to the birth story in Matthew. Matthew had no angels or shepherds or journey to Bethlehem to find no room in the inn. The magi only appeared in the Gospel of Matthew. But we all love the story of the magi so like many pageants, we add them today. So now listen for the Word of God from the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 2: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, magi (pause) came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod (pause) heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea. Then King Herod (pause) secretly called for the magi (pause) and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. (pause) When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard this, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child (pause) with his mother Mary (pause) and Joseph (pause). Falling to their knees, the magi (pause) honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod (pause), they went back to their own country by another route. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SING – Joy to the World
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