Family/Kid Christmas Eve SErvice

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Permalink Reply by Linda Sines on November 17, 2008 at 5:24pm

My all-time favorite is a "reader's" theater, "The Three Trees". It is a wonderful, delightful and sweet (can I gush any more?) parable that can by used at Christmas and at Easter. The play is short (15 minutes?) and works well with all age groups and attention spans. Because it is a reader's play, the nararator can use a mike and that has much better sound quality than those clip mikes used during most dramatic presentations. Props / costumes are easy but can be kicked up a notch as desired, "backdrop" powerpoint can be added if your church has large screens, and they don't have to be behind the actors to provide a great effect. Sound effects and music can be used or not used. It really is quite flexible to the degree you want to add creativity and time. I like using this play for Christmas because it puts the birth of Christ, the life of Christ and the Death of Christ and the best part--resurrection, God alive!--into perspective. You don't have to a drama team--or even volunteers with much talent to provide a powerful story. I suggest using your youth/middleschool-highschool to present this to the rest of the church. I use about nine people, but that is even flexible. I let the nararator say the part--for example--of "tree one", then let "tree one" repeat the part with a loud voice (no mike). There isn't any real memorizing to do, since they just repeat the sentence they just heard being read. They only need to be familiar with what they are to say and when it is their turn to repeat the narrator. But you can do the drama with just the narration if you desire. It is hectic around Christmas time and practice time is scarce, this little drama makes it less stressful since it does not require hours and hours of rehearsal time. If you go to www.instantred.com and under 2003 archive for December 13 you will see a mini documentary of the reader's theater. I've attached two pictures and a link. http://www.instantred.com/weeklyred121303.htm

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Permalink Reply by Richard Schwedes on November 24, 2008 at 4:42pm

We are part of a parish with a number of small congregations.

Over the last few years we have used an interactive Christmas pagaent where the entire congregation is involved, it seems to have all the kids focussed.

Also Colin Buchanan, an Australian musician has produced a cd called the king of Christmas which children tune into.

If you are interested I can send a copy to you....

I also have listed a number of Christmas options at www.lutheranmission.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Glen Wells on December 3, 2008 at 10:06am

Linda Sines said:

My all-time favorite is a "reader's" theater, "The Three Trees". It is a wonderful, delightful and sweet (can I gush any more?) parable that can by used at Christmas and at Easter. The play is short (15 minutes?) and works well with all age groups and attention spans. Because it is a reader's play, the nararator can use a mike and that has much better sound quality than those clip mikes used during most dramatic presentations. Props / costumes are easy but can be kicked up a notch as desired, "backdrop" powerpoint can be added if your church has large screens, and they don't have to be behind the actors to provide a great effect. Sound effects and music can be used or not used. It really is quite flexible to the degree you want to add creativity and time. I like using this play for Christmas because it puts the birth of Christ, the life of Christ and the Death of Christ and the best part--resurrection, God alive!--into perspective. You don't have to a drama team--or even volunteers with much talent to provide a powerful story. I suggest using your youth/middleschool-highschool to present this to the rest of the church. I use about nine people, but that is even flexible. I let the nararator say the part--for example--of "tree one", then let "tree one" repeat the part with a loud voice (no mike). There isn't any real memorizing to do, since they just repeat the sentence they just heard being read. They only need to be familiar with what they are to say and when it is their turn to repeat the narrator. But you can do the drama with just the narration if you desire. It is hectic around Christmas time and practice time is scarce, this little drama makes it less stressful since it does not require hours and hours of rehearsal time. If you go to www.instantred.com and under 2003 archive for December 13 you will see a mini documentary of the reader's theater. I've attached two pictures and a link. http://www.instantred.com/weeklyred121303.htm

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Permalink Reply by Rachael McClair on December 8, 2008 at 8:52am

Hey- I'm looking for some ideas, too-

I'm looking for some liturgy for Christmas Eve that is just for kids- I'd love to find something energetic that has a repeating line for kids to shout together. Our idea isn't super new- we'll have the kids come forward to listen to the Christmas story, and then respond with this liturgy before getting a candy cane and returning to their seat for the remainder of the service.

Anyone have any pieces of liturgy that might work?

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Permalink Reply by Josh Linman on December 23, 2008 at 8:37am

Share your family/kid Christmas eve service ideas then check out all the Christmas ideas from around the CWT site on this conversation I created here.

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Permalink Reply by Duke Vipperman on December 1, 2009 at 5:54pm

I have a fresh idea or two for a family Christmas service- in exchange for your ideas!

Peace.

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Permalink Reply by Nate Woodward on December 7, 2009 at 12:22pm

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.

I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.

I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny Cudahy on December 8, 2009 at 10:45am

Nat and....I'd love to see a copy of the skit from the Jesus Storybook Bible. We use it every week, and I'd love to use it for Christmas.



Nate Woodward said:

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.

I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.

I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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Permalink Reply by Duke Vipperman on December 8, 2009 at 10:51am

me, too, please. duke.vipperman@sympatico.ca

Jenny Cudahy said:

Nat and....I'd love to see a copy of the skit from the Jesus Storybook Bible. We use it every week, and I'd love to use it for Christmas.



Nate Woodward said:

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.

I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.

I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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Permalink Reply by keith on December 10, 2009 at 1:50pm

Yes, kindly shoot a copy over to pilotriteATaolDOTcom thanks

Nate Woodward said:

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.

I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.

I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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Permalink Reply by Loril on December 15, 2009 at 11:40am

Hi Nate, I would LOVE a copy of what your wife is doing for the family worship service Christmas Eve.
Thanks!! My email address is revloril@optimum.net

Loril

Nate Woodward said:

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.
I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.
I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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Permalink Reply by mkmacphee on December 16, 2009 at 1:24pm

HI Nate - I would love to have a copy of your wife's script. My email address is mkmacphee@gmail.com. Thanks!

Nate Woodward said:

My wife has adapted the Luke 2 story from the Jesus Storybook Bible (http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com) into a script for children (and some adults) that we are doing at our church.

I probably shouldn't post it for copyright reasons, but if anyone is interested in previewing it, send me a message on my profile page.

I HIGHLY recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible for anyone doing children's ministry, especially if you want to integrate children into the life and worship of the rest of the church. It is definitely written for children, but it is so deeply profound and beautiful that it makes me weep when I read it myself.

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