Anyone who purchases the Kindle version is given permission to make twenty copies of the service to distribute to the readers and others involved.
Characters included in this Christmas Eve service—Elizabeth, Zachariah, Anna, Simeon, a shepherd, an angel, three wise men, the innkeeper’s wife, Joseph, and Mary.
Carols included in this Christmas Eve service--1. What Child Is This? 2. O Come, O Come Emmanuel 3. O Come, All Ye Faithful 4. O Little Town of Bethlehem 5. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 6. Angels from the Realms of Glory 7. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 8. We Three Kings 9. O Holy Night 10. The Birthday of a King 11. Silent Night 12. Joy to the World.
If you would like a copy of the PowerPoint slide presentation, please contact Pastor Joe Ellis at joecellis@comast.net.
Here is the link to purchase the Kindle version for only $3.99:
What Child Is This -- A Powerful Christmas Eve Service
Below you will find the first three pages of the service and optional slides that may be included in your service:
CHRISTMAS
EVE PROGRAM – WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Slide 1 -- Bethlehem Sky at Night
Open with
solo or duet: What Child Is This?
Slide 2 -- Mary Greeting Elizabeth
What child
is this indeed? My name is Elizabeth. Months ago my cousin Mary visited me. She
was with child . . . and so was I. When Mary entered the room my baby within me
leaped for joy. Six months ago my son, John, was born. Ever since Mary greeted
me that day, I have known the answer to that question—What child is this?
Slide 3 -
Creation
God Almighty
who created the heavens and the earth revealed the answer to me. We human
beings were given life by our Creator. God wanted fellowship with us, to love
and be loved.
But love is a choice. You cannot love without
the freedom to choose not to love. God granted us this power of choice.
Slide 4 – Adam
and Eve and Serpent
However,
this human nature we all share is a rebellious nature. God gave life to those
first human beings, but they chose to go in their own direction. Instead of
loving and seeking God, they pursued a serpent’s sales pitch, one that promised
illumination and life but instead led them to darkness and death.
Slide 5 – Expulsion
from the Garden
Despite our
defiance and disobedience, God promised humankind that one day the seed of a
woman would rise up to defeat the evil one who has led us astray.
Slide 6 –
Jesus praying
The serpent
would strike this Messiah’s heel, but the Savior would crush the serpent’s
head. What child is this? He is the promised seed.
Scripture Reading – Genesis 3:14-15 -- 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all
livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you
will eat dust all the days of your life.15 And I will put
enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”
and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Carol: 123 O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Slide 7 –
Jerusalem at night
Enter
Zachariah:
Slide 8 –
Zachariah and Angel
I confirm
those words: O come, O come Emmanuel. My name is Zachariah, the husband of
Elizabeth. For months I could not speak because I doubted God’s power. I
questioned whether or not an older couple like Elizabeth and me could conceive
a child. Impossible, I thought. But what is impossible with man is possible
with God. When I hold my son, John, in my arms I am reminded of God’s power.
And now I
can speak. I cannot keep quiet about another child soon to be born. He will not
only impact the nation of Israel, but he will change the history of the world.
How do I know this? I am a priest of Israel. I know our history and the
covenants God made with us.
Slide 9 –
Abraham and Sarah
How would
this Emmanuel arrive? It started with a promise to Abraham and Sarah. Like
Elizabeth and me, they were an older couple, but God’s power worked through
them too. They had a son named Isaac. They eventually became great-grandparents
to twelve boys whose families would be the basis of a new nation, God’s people,
the nation of Israel. Through this nation the entire world would be blessed.
Emmanuel would open the door for every nation, every race, every culture, every
person to know God and the eternal life God offers.
Slide 10 –
12 Sons of Jacob
Scripture Reading – Genesis
12:1-3 -- The Lord had said to
Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the
land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Through this
child soon to be born all nations of the earth will be blessed.
Slide 11 –
God blessing the world
Carol: 145 O Come All Ye Faithful
Slide 12 –
Bethlehem bathed in starlight (verse 1)
Enter Anna:
Yes, O come
all ye faithful. I understand those words. I have come to the temple and I have
been waiting faithfully.
Slide 13 –
Anna standing in the temple court
My name is
Anna. I am a prophetess. Ever since my husband died years ago I have been
spending night and day here at the temple. I am waiting for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
Moses
delivered my people from Egypt and gave us the law. Joshua led my people into
the Promised Land. We saw God’s covenant with Abraham fulfilled as Israel
became a mighty nation under the leadership of the judges and our early kings.
Slide 14 –
King David
But then God
made another covenant with our greatest king, King David. God promised David
that through one of his descendants an eternal kingdom would be established.
This special Son would have an everlasting throne and God would be his father.
The prophet
Micah spoke about this coming king:
Slide 15 –
But you, Bethlehem . . .
Micah 5:2 --
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans
of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose
origins are from of old, from ancient times."
As I wait
for the redemption of Israel, I wonder how near the day of my Savior’s birth
will be. Will I live to see that day? Could it be tonight?
End of sample
I hope you enjoyed the beginning of What Child Is This--A Simple Yet Powerful Christmas Eve Service. Again, here is the link to the Kindle version:
What Child Is This?
If you buy the Kindle version and would like to receive the PowerPoint slide presentation, please email me at joecellis@comcast.net and I will send you the file.
