A Service of The Nativity
Monte Nabors and Dennis Bratcher
 Background for the Service
This is a simple service of worship for the Christmas Season. It can
provide the opportunity for worshippers to hear and see the Christmas
story proclaimed in a format that goes beyond just reading the story, yet
without the elaborate production that Christmas plays and musicals entail.
Some participation is required in the service and by using different
readers and singers as many as 20 people can be involved. It is written as
a service of worship for Christmas Eve, but can easily be adapted for the
first Sunday of Advent, or as part of the ongoing celebration of
any of the Sundays of Advent. With some modification, it can even be used
as a Christmas Day service or for one of the Sundays of Christmas.
It can also be adapted as a children’s program, although as written it
will have probably have more significance as a service of worship for the
entire congregation.
The focus of the service is a nativity scene that is constructed during
the service. As the service progresses with the readings and music, the
various elements of the scene are added until the entire nativity is
complete. This can be as simple or as elaborate as the planners wish. The
service is written here for a particular nativity scene used at our
church. It uses simple carved wooden figures that range up to about a foot
(30 cm) high placed in a wooden stable background measuring about three
feet (90 cm) across. The advantage of using a nativity set is that many
small churches can conduct this service without a lot of expense or
resources. One disadvantage is that the figures must be large enough to be
seen easily from throughout the sanctuary, which entails its own expense
unless a large nativity set can be borrowed or is donated.
The service can also be adapted to use a living nativity scene complete
with participants in costumes in which the entire front of the church
becomes the stable. In this case, for obvious reasons, the animals will
most likely be eliminated or symbolic figures of animals used. I have seen
churches use cardboard cutouts of animals made by the children of the
church; the "quality" of the figures is not as important as the
participation in the service by all members of the congregation, including
the youngest! The advantage of a living nativity scene is the possibility
for wider participation in the service and the effect of more personal
involvement, especially on children. The disadvantage is the additional
expense of costumes and the added time and responsibility of coordinating
the service.
Both the selection of music and how it is used can be adapted to the
resources available in a local church. Normally, the music would be a
combination of congregational singing and special numbers sung or played.
However, this is one type of service that does not suffer by using taped
music while the nativity figures are placed in the stable since the focus
is more on the movement than on the music. This is especially useful for
small churches with limited resources.
The rather relaxed atmosphere created by the movement of people during
the service, as well as the gathering of the congregation as the climax,
allow this service to be a change of pace from some of the more structured
services of worship during the Christmas Season. Likewise, the relaxed
atmosphere can contribute to the sense of community that is so much a part
of this season of the church year.
The opening of the service directly ties this time of worship to the
celebration of Advent during the preceding four weeks by lighting the four
Advent candles (the fifth Christ Candle is not lit until later in the
service). The lighting of the candles is accompanied by the Lectionary
Readings from the Book of Common Prayer
for Christmas Eve. If this service is conducted earlier in the Advent
Season, the number of candles lit should correspond to that week of Advent
(other appropriate Scripture readings may be found in
Daily Advent Readings from the Book of Common Prayer). If a
shorter service is desired, the Scripture readings at the beginning,
except for the Psalm, can be omitted.
Liturgy and Theology
Some care should be taken that there is no movement or distraction
while Scripture is being read. The Scripture reading is not "background"
for the lighting of the candles, but is the proclamation of the written
word of God that is the heart of the service. The lighting of the candles
should only be done after the Scripture reading is finished. They
symbolize the light that God brings into the world, but it is the
Scripture that bears witness to that light and defines its purpose. The
movement of people should be carefully planned to allow all of the
congregation to concentrate on the Scripture reading.
It should be noted that this service is a deliberately constructed
liturgy of worship. It does not try to duplicate the historical details of
the nativity, except as a Faith confession that celebrates these events.
For example, most historians acknowledge that the Magi, the Wise Men, were
not present at the nativity but came perhaps as much as two years later
(evidenced by the fact that Herod sought to kill all the boys in Bethlehem
under two years old; Matthew 2:7, 16). Yet they are an integral part of
the Christmas story as told by Matthew, and so are incorporated in this
service.
The various elements of the story come from different Gospels, Matthew
and Luke. Each of those Gospels have different purposes in emphasizing
different dimensions of the story. It is Matthew who presents Jesus as
King of the Jews, with the story of the Magi and Herod. It is also Matthew
that speaks of Jesus throughout the Gospel in royal imagery, with the
Kingdom of God and Kingdom of heaven as a major theme. Matthew presents
Jesus as the fulfillment of the expectations of the Jews for a new king,
the fulfillment of the covenant with David. So he uses royal language and
symbols as well as details from the life of Jesus to portray him not only
as the Messiah, King of the Jews, but also as the King of Kings.
Luke, however, emphasizes a different perspective. Luke is the Gospel
of the outcasts. He goes to great lengths in his Gospel to portray Jesus
as the friend of those whom society had rejected or who were considered
socially inferior: lepers, the lame and sick, gentiles, women, and tax
collectors, (for example, the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector only appears in Luke).
There are many details throughout the Gospel where that emphasis becomes
obvious. For example, in Matthew's version of the Beatitudes he has
"blessed are the poor in spirit," while Luke has only "blessed are the
poor" (Matt 5:3, Luke 6:20). It is easy to see Luke emphasizing Jesus'
mission to the poor and despised of the world, a theme established early
in the book of Luke as Jesus read the Isaiah scroll in Nazareth (Luke
4:16-30; see Lectionary Commentary on
Luke 4:14-21). If we understand the book of Acts to be the second
volume of Luke, we see that theme carried through Acts as the church
embraces the Gentiles. This suggests that, for example, Luke's inclusion
of the shepherd's story is a deliberate theological statement about Jesus'
mission and thereby of the nature of God at work in the Incarnation, and
as a consequence the nature of the Church as the proclaimer of Good News.
It is not that one perspective is better, or more historical, or the
"correct" version, that either Jesus is King or he is a friend of the
outcasts of society. Both Matthew and Luke offer us truths about Jesus the
Christ. As the exalted Christ, he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the
incarnate Son of God for whom all the royal imagery in the world is
woefully inadequate. Yet, he is also the "man for others," the physical
expression of the love and compassion of God that sees value even in the
worst of sinners, hope in the most hopeless of physical circumstances, and
possibility where we see only endings. And in stooping to touch lepers, in
speaking gently to prostitutes, and in weeping with friends at the pain of
loss, Jesus reflects the compassion and grace of the King of Kings for
ordinary people, symbolized so well in the Nativity by the poor and simple
shepherds kneeling beside the wealthy Magi.
Preparation
The preparation for this service will depend on the type of service
presented. Obviously, the preparation for a living nativity will be more
time consuming. Likewise, if Communion is a part of the service, that will
need to be prepared as well. While the service is not at all
complicated, it is always better to have at least a rehearsal reading of
the service with the participants. This helps participants focus on the
service ahead of time as a service of worship, as well as allowing them to
become familiar with the flow of the service to cut down on distractions.
A time of prayer with all participants will emphasize that this is not
just something to do for Christmas, but is a proclamation of the Good News
of God’s grace.
The readers should be carefully chosen and if necessary coached on
reading. Nothing distracts from a service such as this more than a wooden
reading of the Scripture. Readers do not have to memorize the material
(requiring memorization will eliminate many people from being able to
participate). But they should have the scripts far enough ahead of time to
be thoroughly familiar with it and practice a lively reading with
intonation. Different parts are not marked for different readers
beyond the leader; the
reading can be divided up according to the number of participants desired.
Choosing the people to place the pieces in the Nativity can be a matter
of preference. It can be done ahead of time and the people encouraged to
participate in a read-through rehearsal before the service. In smaller
churches, it can be done very informally at the beginning of the service
with people invited to choose a piece that they would like to place in the
nativity (children should always be included in such activities).
The crèche should have an internal light that can be easily turned on
at the appropriate point in the service. A strong spotlight can also be
used. For a Christmas Eve service a large white candle near the nativity
can also be used, and lit along with the Christ candle on the Advent
wreath at the appropriate place in the service. If this is a service
earlier during Advent, neither candle should be lit since traditionally
the Christ candle is not lit until Christmas Eve.
As a Christmas Eve service, the final gathering of the people around
the Nativity can also be the occasion for sharing Communion or Eucharist.
Care should be taken with Communion on Christmas Eve that it does not
become a somber occasion, but a genuine Eucharist, a thanksgiving. It is a
remembrance of Jesus’ death, but it is also a celebration of new life,
symbolized even more powerfully by the images of the nativity and the
Christ-child.
The Nativity should be placed at the front of the church and left in
place until Epiphany (January 6), the end of the
Twelve Days of the Christmas Season. In many evangelical churches, it
is common practice to use the communion table for seasonal decorations.
While that might be appropriate for some symbols used in worship, the
Advent Wreath for example, it is usually a better practice to use a
separate table for seasonal symbols. In the case of the Nativity, it
should not be placed on the Communion table, since it is likely that
Communion will be celebrated before Epiphany.
A Service
of the Nativity
Greetings and Introduction
Leader: Welcome to our Service of the Nativity. We began
a journey four weeks ago, a journey that will follow Jesus through this
church year. We have watched and waited these past four weeks of Advent,
anticipating the Coming of the Christ. And now our wait is over as we
celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. But even as we celebrate on this
night a new act of God in history, we realize that this is not the end of
our journey. It is only the beginning. There is much yet to come. And much
to do. But here tonight, we come before God in praise and celebration,
because of the newness and possibility that God has brought to us in the
birth of this Child.
We will light the candles of Advent tonight to
remind us of the journey that we have begun. The increasing light reminds
us of the light that is coming into the world to enlighten every person.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the
mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and
foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the
city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst
of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning
dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his
voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob
is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations
he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the
earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields
with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted
among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." The LORD of hosts is with
us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Action: The First Advent Candle is lit.
Isaiah 35 (Alternate Reading: Isaiah
59:15b-21)
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice
and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice
with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the
majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the
majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the
feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do
not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible
recompense. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall
be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap
like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters
shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the
burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of
water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become
reeds and rushes.
A highway shall be there, and it shall be
called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be
for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion
shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall
not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed
of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy
shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Action: The Second Advent Candle is lit.
Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was
in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be
exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born
in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and
became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave
him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
Action: The Third Advent Candle is lit.
Leader: Will everyone please stand for the reading of the
Gospel.
Luke 1:67-79
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this
prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked
favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty
savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the
mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our
enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our
ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore
to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the
hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and
righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of
the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to
give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their
sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break
upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Leader: This is the Good News of God's Word to His
people.
Congregation: May it be so among the people of
God.
Leader: Please be seated.
Action: The Fourth Advent Candle is lit.
The Service of the Nativity
Leader: The Nativity brings together Mary, Joseph, the
Christ Child, the Shepherds, and the Angels. And even though the wise men
probably did not appear at the manger, they are an integral part of the
Christmas story. And so we include them in the scene in order to tell the
story of the birth of Jesus the Christ.
The Nativity is a visual proclamation of the
Christmas story. Each piece of the Nativity unfolds the story of Christ’s
birth. As in the day of Jesus’ birth, so today his coming brings joy and
hope to many. To some, the Nativity is an issue of controversy. They say
that The Nativity is a religious expression, a Christian symbol. We must
agree with those in our day who claim that the Nativity is a religious
expression. It is a pictorial statement of faith, a uniquely Christian
symbol of what we believe about God and His revelation of Himself in our
world. In placing the Nativity in our yards and on our mantels we are
declaring our hope in the God who invaded human history. In so doing He
reveled Himself to humanity, expressing the reach of His love as He chose
to walk along side those whom He created in His own image.
So, we have placed a Nativity in the front yard
of our Church. It declares to those who drive by that we have a wonderful
story to tell. That story is how the Creator God became one with those He
formed. It is a story of hope because God built a bridge of Divine Love
from Himself to us. It is a story that shines through the birth of every
child and resonates in the supportive ties of every family.
And tonight we begin our Christmas Season with
this Service of the Nativity. Through it we will again tell our story.
Congregational Song: Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
Mary’s Story
It had all began some time ago when Mary and
Joseph were making wedding plans. They dreamed of their future together.
The love that united them seemed indestructible. Then, unexpectedly, Mary
was encountered by a heavenly visitor.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name
was Mary.
And having come in, the angel said to her,
"Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you." But when she saw
him, she was troubled at his saying, and pondered what manner of
greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your
womb and bring forth a Son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God
will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever and of His Kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be,
since I have not known a man?" And the angel answered and said to her,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will
overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be
the Son of God. . . . For with God nothing will be impossible." Then
Mary said, "Here am I, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me
according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)
Special Song: Breath of Heaven Alternates: Mary Did You Know?,
One Small Child, Ava Maria as an Instrumental
Action: Mary is brought and placed in the
Nativity during song.
Joseph’s story
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in
this way: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they
came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph
her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public
example, intended to put her away secretly. But just when he had
resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your
wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she
will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will
save His people from their sins." . . . Then Joseph, being aroused from
sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his
wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.
(Matthew 1:18-25)
Special Song: How Could it Be? (Joseph's Song)
Action: Joseph is brought and placed in the
Nativity during song.
Joseph and Mary in
Bethlehem
And it came to pass in those days that a decree
went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So
everyone went to their own towns to be registered. And Joseph also went,
out of the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. He
went to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was expecting a
child. (Luke 2:1-5)
It was a crowded city that night, Bethlehem, the
city of David. People from all over had returned to the city of their
fathers. Here they would register and a census would be taken. Joseph
and Mary sought for a place to stay. An inn. A room somewhere, anywhere.
A safe place from the chilly night air. But there was no place, no room
in the inn. At the city’s edge was a stable, a place where animals could
be protected and fed. There, in a stable, Mary and Joseph found warmth
and protection. They would stay here until a new day brought light.
Congregational Song: O Little Town of
Bethlehem (verse 1)
Action: The Nativity light is turned on. (If
the manger is a separate piece without the infant Jesus, it is put in
place before the light is turned on.)
The Birth of Jesus
So it was, that while they were there, the days
were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her
firstborn Son, wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)
Congregational Song: Away In A Manger, Verse
1
Action: Jesus is brought and placed in the
manger during the first verse.
Congregational Song: Away In A Manger, Verse
2
Action: The animals are brought and placed
around the Nativity during the second verse.
God Is With Us
All this took place to fulfill what was spoken
by the prophet, "A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and they
shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." (Matthew
1:22-23)
Special Song: What Child is This?
Action: The Christ Candle in the Advent wreath
is lit (as well as the white candle near the Nativity, if one is used).
[This is only used for a Christmas Eve service (or later); at any other time before
Christmas Eve, none of
the white candles are lit.]
The Shepherds’ Story
Now there were in the same country shepherds
living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And
behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Then the angel said to
them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
for all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you; You
will find a Child wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the heavenly host
praising God and saying; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will among all people!" So it was, when the angels had gone
away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let
us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which
the Lord has made known to us." And they came quickly and found Mary and
Joseph, and the Child, who was lying in a manger. (Luke 2:8-16)
Congregational Song: While Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks, Verses 1-2
Action: The angels are brought and placed in
the Nativity during the first verse.
Congregational Song: While Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks, Verse 3
Action: The shepherds are brought and placed
in the Nativity during the third verse.
The Magi’s Story
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, asking, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to pay him homage."
When King Herod heard these things, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had called together
all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; For from you shall
come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and
determined from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he
sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the
child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and pay him homage also."
When they had heard the king, they departed;
and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its
rising, until it came and stood over where the child was. When they saw
the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had
entered the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and fell
down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they
presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being
divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed for their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12).
Congregational Song: Birthday of a King Alternate: We
Three Kings
Action: The Magi are brought and placed in the
Nativity.
We Gather at the Manger
Leader: Heaven looked down on that Holy Night as a manger
became an altar and a stable became a cathedral. History now looks back to
that moment in time when God came in Jesus to reveal Himself to people
everywhere. The humble shepherds were there. The Wise Men bowed before
Him. And tonight you and I join them as we gather around the manger. What
a night! A Holy Night! A night of hope for today and tomorrow.
Special or Congregational Song: O Holy Night
Action: During this song, the
congregation gathers around the Nativity.
[Communion is observed here with
appropriate liturgy]
Closing Prayer (adapted from The Book of Common Prayer)
Leader: O God, you have caused this holy night to shine
with the illumination of the true Light. You have given us your
only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Him to reveal to us your glory
and grace. As you have given this gift in love, may we receive it with
joy. Grant that we, being regenerate and made your children by adoption
and grace may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit. Grant us, we pray,
that as we have known the mystery of that Light upon earth, so may we also
reflect that light to a darkened world; through the same Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen.
-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©
2018, Dennis
Bratcher, All Rights Reserved
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