41. Celebrate the Christmas Season

Do you have writers, actors, singers, narrators, seamstresses, directors, or prop builders lurking around your home? Volunteer your family’s time to help put on a Christmas program for members of your church. Speak with your pastor about posting a sign-up sheet on a bulletin board in the church foyer. On the sheet, request that people of all ages join in for this fun presentation. (See the templates section for an example of a sign-up sheet for this activity.) Use this sign-up sheet to gather your participants for the production.

A Christmas program is guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of the congregation. Some things to think about when organizing your program:

•  What is a good time to schedule the performance? Will there be only one?

•  How many practices will you have? When will they be held? Remember to begin rehearsing early—beginning in October will give your crew plenty of time to perfect their performance.

•  Will you be presenting a musical or a dramatization of the Christmas story or both?

•  Who will write the script?

•  Will one or more narrators be a necessary part of the performance?

•  Does a member of your family know how to use the sound equipment? If not, can someone in the church volunteer?

•  Will the church choir be available for back-up singing if necessary?

•  Can a member of your family sew costumes? If not, enlist the assistance of someone who can.

•  Will props be necessary? Does the church have some in storage that may be used, or will some need to be made?

•  Will refreshments, such as Christmas cookies, apple cider, or hot chocolate, be served after the program? Who will bake them?

•  Can you announce the program to the community? Outreach is a vital part of ministering to those who don’t believe. Remember to announce it at least a month in advance.

•  Is there someone who will be available to film the performance for those who are unable to attend?

•  Who will be part of the clean-up crew after the program?

Remember that the main focus is on the reason we celebrate Christmas: the wonderful blessing of God’s Son sent to us as a baby. Keep the focus on this important point, and the program will be a success!

Up for Discussion

What type of program did you provide for your church? Who wrote it and why? Was your program well received? How can you make it a yearly event? Why is inviting those who don’t go to your church important? How did you publicize the event?

1 Corinthians 14:12 states, “Try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” How does this activity promote the use of the gifts God has given us?

Read the entire Christmas story in your Bible, beginning with Luke 1. Imagine for a moment that you lived during the time of Jesus’ birth. How do you think you would have responded to the news? Fast forward to today’s time—do people respond better now than they did at that time?

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.

—Matt. 1:21