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Traditional Nativity Play Here is what I did for our Relief Society
Christmas program in 2006. We used the Primary children and they were completely
darling and did a great job. We used the Youth for narrators. It could easily be
adapted for a Ward activity.
The children
were so cute. We had the round tables set up for the sisters for dinner and
then we dimmed the lights so that only the red stage lights were on and one row
of the cultural hall lights. You should have seen Mary & Joseph and the
Shepherds and the Wise Men. We had then enter through the back door of the
cultural hall and wind their way through the tables to the stairs for the
stage. I had one sister sitting next to the stairs and she made sure everyone
got onto the stage safely. The sisters wept as little Mary & Joseph and all the
others walked right by their tables. The angels entered on the stage. They all
looked so cute and the Spirit was so strong.
Donna One Silent, Holy Night Relief Society Christmas Program - 2006 Welcome: Relief Society Presidency Chorister: Pianist: SONG: I HEARD THE BELLS (Hymn #214) All Sisters all verses Grandmother (Sitting on a couch on the stage with a little girl sitting next to her): Peace on earth, good will to men. These words echo the thoughts and hopes in all of our hearts today. But Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the author of those lyrics, did not make up that phrase. Those words are part of a story that began a long, long time ago. Come, my grandchild and I will tell you a beautiful story. The Most Beautiful Story Ever Told. The story of One Silent, Holy Night. Song: The Most Beautiful Story Ever Told - Soloist Narrator #1: More than 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah declared: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah _7:_ (javascript: selectVerse( 14,52067) ;) 14) . On the American continent, King Benjamin said, “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent … shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay.… He shall suffer temptations, and pain.… And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.� (Mosiah 3:5, 7-8) Narrator #2: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.� (Mary & Joseph enter from back of cultural hall and walk up the steps to the stage.) Song: O, Little Town of Bethlehem – Men's Quartet Narrator #1: On the eve of the Lord’s birth, the voice of the Lord came to Nephi, saying, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.�(3 Nephi 1:13) “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.� (Luke 2:5-7) Song: Away In A Manger – piano solo - Young Woman Narrator #2: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.� (Luke 2:15,16) Song: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (Hymn #211)-All Sisters (Shepherds enter from the back of cultural hall and walk up the steps to the stage.) Narrator #2: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.� (Luke 2:8-14) Song: Angels We Have Heard on High (Hymn #203) – All Sisters (Angels enter from stage left and take their places on stage. I asked the girls to wear white dresses.) Narrator #1: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star (Angel carrying star enters on stage) in the east, and are come to worship him. … and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.� (Matthew 2:1-2,9-11) Song: With Wondering Awe (Hymn #210) – Men’s Quartet (Wise Men enter from back of cultural hall and walk up the stairs to the stage.) Narrator #2: The wonder and awe of that holy night has blessed us all and brought to all mankind the possibility of exaltation and eternal life. This was, indeed, a most wonderful night of miracles. Truly it was a sacred, holy night. Song: O Holy Night - Soloist Narrator #1: The wonderful night of the Savior’s birth, was the beginning of his mortal ministry. Centuries later, after Jesus had died, He appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith to restore His true Church to the earth. Of Him, the Prophet Joseph said, “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of Him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we leave of Him: that He lives! For we saw him.� (D&C 76:22-23). President Thomas S. Monson said, “Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law.� He brought peace and joy to all the world. Song: Joy to The World – All Sisters Narrator #2: This truly is the month of journeys and the month of miracles. The miracle of the new star, the miracle of the angelic message to the Shepherds, the miracle of Heavenly Choirs, the miracle of safe arrival of Mary & Joseph in Bethlehem, the miracle of the birth of our Savior. All these miracles are woven together with the golden threads of love. The Christmas Spirit is the spirit of love, peace, joy, devotion, beauty, forgiveness, grace, gratitude, sharing, and charity - the pure love of Christ. May we, like the Wise Men of old, journey from our every-day life into the light and spirit of Christ. Narrator #1: This is the month when all the world looks heavenward and walks in the light of that new star that shone so long ago. This is the month when all the world is aglow with lights representing the Light of Christ, when all the world resounds with the eternal hymns of Christmas, when all the world pauses to smile and to reflect, when all the world remembers the greatest miracle of all – the birth of the Savior of mankind in a stable so far away. This, then, is the most beautiful story ever told. The story of that silent, holy night, when the Son of God, our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, was born. Song: Silent Night – All Sisters Closing Prayer End
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