Topic: Writing
Today's entry encompasses a wide range of things that I did for our Women's Ministries Christmas Dessert the first week of December. I was the chair of the program committee, suggested the theme, drew the logo, wrote the program, arranged for the people who would perform the program, designed the nametags, suggested the service project, designed wall decorations, and directed the napkin folding. These are all things I would like to share with you. If you would like to present this program with your group, there is no copyright to my script and I welcome you to use it. The logo is also available for your use.
The theme suggested was "Love Came Down: The Heart of the Christmas Message". This is the logo I drew:
These were used on the advertising, the tickets, the programs and were enlarged to hang from fishing line from the ceilings in the hall.
The program was written to present the plan of salvation through the Chtistmas story. Here is the program:
LOVE CAME DOWN: The Heart of the Christmas Message
Accompaniment: keyboard or piano
Narrator: “God loves every one of us and wants us to love Him in return so he can share his many blessings with us. But we cannot enter heaven on our own merits or even have a peaceful life on earth through our own efforts. Why? Because we are all sinful. And because of our sins we are separated from God. So, He made a way for us. He sent His son to earth in the form of a baby who would ultimately take the punishment for our sins. “
Group Singing: What Child is This?
What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Narrator: “Christmas is special because the birth of Jesus shows us how much God loves us. When God came to earth as a baby, hope of heaven became a reality for us. Christmas is about God’s love, hope, and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus. Christmas is when love came down.”
Soloist or Duet sings: Love Came Down at Christmas
Love Came Down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
Here He is, our sacred sign.
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
Narrator: “Within just a few month’s time Mary had several awesome encounters: an angel appeared to her foretelling the birth of her baby, telling her he would be called the Son of the Most High, have the throne of David and that his kingdom would never end. She met with Elizabeth who was filled with the Holy Spirit and called Mary’s baby ‘My Lord’. Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah testified that his son John would be a prophet of the Most High, preparing the way of the Lord. Then the baby was born to Mary, a virgin, just as foretold. Shepherds came to the manger, having been visited by angels, and immediately went out to tell everyone about the child. Pretty unusual stuff! Luke 2:19 tells us ‘Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart’.“
Soloist sings: Mary Did You Know?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know…
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.
Narrator: “Here he is. The very Son of God, come as a newborn baby, surrounded by an earthly mother and father and laid in a lowly manger.”
Group sings: Away in a Manger
Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
Narrator: “But what was the purpose? Jesus was born to ultimately serve as a sacrifice for us. He himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). God’s love came down so that we might be lifted up.”
Ladies trio sings a capella: God So Loved the World
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That whoso believeth, believeth in Him
Should not perish, should not perish
But have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world
To condemn the world,
God sent not His Son into the world
To condemn the world:
But that the world through Him might be saved.
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world.
Narrator: “John 3:16 is the source of the words we’ve just heard. Look at your nametag where we asked you to write your first and last name in the space provided. We did this to make this personal! Mine reads, “For God so loved NARRATOR’S NAME that he gave his one and only Son, that if she believes in him she shall not perish but have eternal life.” That is powerful, isn’t it? God loves each person personally and Jesus came to earth to save every one of us – not ‘the world’, or ‘the earth’, or ‘mankind’ – but individuals, including you and me. This requires a response from us, for a gift must be received as well as given. The response God wants is for us to receive the gift of his son, Jesus, into our hearts.”
Child sings: Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Child sings: Into My Heart
Into my heart,
Into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Come in today.
Come in to stay.
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Child sings: Jesus Loves Me (variant)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus likes to hear me say,
That I love Him every day!
Yes, I love Jesus!
Yes, I love Jesus!
Yes, I love Jesus!
In prayer I tell Him so.
Narrator: “But we can’t keep this good news to ourselves. Love came down for everyone! Mark 16:15 reads, “And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Let’s celebrate the Christmas season by telling everyone we know: ‘It’s not about Santa. It’s not about presents. It’s not about cards and letters. It’s not about trips to Gramma’s house. It’s not about decorated trees and fancy baked goodies. It is about the day that Love Came Down’.”
Trio sings: Go tell it on the mountain
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ was born.
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessèd Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ was born.
Narrator: Lead in prayer –
Thank God for reminding us of his love and for providing a way for us.
Ask for tender hearts to receive him.
Ask for courage to share the good news as we go into the Christmas season.
Pray God’s blessing and peace on each person in attendance.
Invite the group to join in singing one final Christmas carol
Group sings: Joy to the World
Joy to the world
the Lord has come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart
prepare Him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and heaven and nature sing.
M.C.: Thanks those who presented the program and offers a closing prayer.
(sorry fror the formatting problems of my blog editor)You can see in the narration that the name tags read. “For God so loved NAME that he gave his one and only Son, that if she believes in him she shall not perish but have eternal life.” We left a space for them to write in their own name and these were slipped into pin-on holders. After the program the ladies could slip out their name tag for use as a bookmark reminder.
We had a service project of 'representing the hands and feet of Jesus by bringing a gift of socks or gloves for the Clothesline Ministry'. We set up a table with baskets to collect them as people signed their name tags:
Because we were focusing on the nativity several people brought theirs for table centerpieces. I designed huge silhouettes using black roll paper. I drew them, other ladies cut them out, and groups of us hung them on the walls. We used the area above the chair rail so people in the room would not block the view of them. The palm trees are 7 foot tall. These are stuck up with blue painters tape rolled up on the back.
If you look closely you will see that the baby in the manger and the star are made from white posterboard that has been spray painted gold. Also, look up! There are four angels mounted on the ceiling over the nativity.
I designed and typed up the program. Here is the front:
So that's the whole of it. As I said, you are welcome to use any of these ideas for your own event. If you can use the artwork and want it in a format you can use, please email me and include your own email address (I cannot reply to you if you use the 'comments' for your request.
Ddd
