The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
Welcome to Nazareth!
A small town on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Nazareth is about 80 miles away from Bethlehem. Follow me as we begin our journey.
A small town on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Nazareth is about 80 miles away from Bethlehem. Follow me as we begin our journey.
Mary and the Angel
Mary, a young woman engaged to Joseph, has her life interrupted by an angelic messenger named Gabriel. Hear the story from Luke, chapter one: God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Mary, a young woman engaged to Joseph, has her life interrupted by an angelic messenger named Gabriel. Hear the story from Luke, chapter one: God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Joseph’s Dream
Joseph was upset and confused by the events that were happening. How could Mary possibly be with child? Joseph decided to break the engagement quietly to avoid exposing her to public disgrace. As he considered all these matters, he fell into a deep sleep. Hear the story from Matthew, chapter one: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph was upset and confused by the events that were happening. How could Mary possibly be with child? Joseph decided to break the engagement quietly to avoid exposing her to public disgrace. As he considered all these matters, he fell into a deep sleep. Hear the story from Matthew, chapter one: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Roman Census
A census is decreed and the young couple must travel to Bethlehem because Joseph belonged to the line of David. Hear the story from Luke, chapter 2: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Before we pass the Roman soldiers, we will need to give them our information for their census. Hand census cards to the Roman soldier - soldier DOES NOT say thank you, he simply says, “move along.”
A census is decreed and the young couple must travel to Bethlehem because Joseph belonged to the line of David. Hear the story from Luke, chapter 2: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Before we pass the Roman soldiers, we will need to give them our information for their census. Hand census cards to the Roman soldier - soldier DOES NOT say thank you, he simply says, “move along.”
Mary and Joseph Traveling
The journey was long and hard for the young couple. Mary was great with child and the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken several days. Perhaps Mary and Joseph were traveling slower than others. When they arrive in Bethlehem there was no room for them to stay with the other travelers. Because hospitality was important to people of their culture, a solution is offered and Mary and Joseph are allowed to bed down with the animals. We are going to walk through the inn, but be warned, its crowded so we will just be passing through!
The journey was long and hard for the young couple. Mary was great with child and the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken several days. Perhaps Mary and Joseph were traveling slower than others. When they arrive in Bethlehem there was no room for them to stay with the other travelers. Because hospitality was important to people of their culture, a solution is offered and Mary and Joseph are allowed to bed down with the animals. We are going to walk through the inn, but be warned, its crowded so we will just be passing through!
No Room
Guide knocks on the door before entering. Everyone in the room says “no room here!” As the guide opens the door. No narration read - Inn Keeper tells the guests, “there is no room for you here!” Guide leads guest through the room at a quick pace
Guide knocks on the door before entering. Everyone in the room says “no room here!” As the guide opens the door. No narration read - Inn Keeper tells the guests, “there is no room for you here!” Guide leads guest through the room at a quick pace
Angels and Shepherds
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Herod and the Wise Men
Enter the sanctuary, pause and look up into the balcony Look! A star! Rising in the East! Light comes on And look! Strange travelers from a foreign land. They must be magi. They are bringing gifts, gifts that are fit for a king. Walk down the aisle to the narthex. Open the double doors and a light will shine on Herod. Walk down the center aisle and then stop by Herod and read. Hear this story from the gospel of Matthew: Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. They gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Enter the sanctuary, pause and look up into the balcony Look! A star! Rising in the East! Light comes on And look! Strange travelers from a foreign land. They must be magi. They are bringing gifts, gifts that are fit for a king. Walk down the aisle to the narthex. Open the double doors and a light will shine on Herod. Walk down the center aisle and then stop by Herod and read. Hear this story from the gospel of Matthew: Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. They gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Nativity
Hold the curtain for the group to walk through. Hear the gospel from Luke chapter 2: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Fellow travelers, there was no room for him in the inn that night. Is there room for him in your world? In your life? In your heart? Will you make room for Jesus this Christmas season? Open your heart tonight and let him in. Thank you for taking this journey with us through the story of the first Christmas night. Let’s pray together the prayer that he taught us to pray, praying together… Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hold the curtain for the group to walk through. Hear the gospel from Luke chapter 2: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Fellow travelers, there was no room for him in the inn that night. Is there room for him in your world? In your life? In your heart? Will you make room for Jesus this Christmas season? Open your heart tonight and let him in. Thank you for taking this journey with us through the story of the first Christmas night. Let’s pray together the prayer that he taught us to pray, praying together… Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.