Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Christmas is always a special time for my husband David and me. This year, we were asked to be involved in a community event and create an outdoor “Live Nativity” performance with several young adults and missionaries from our church. Our fully costumed cast included Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus (a doll wrapped in swaddling clothes), one angel, four shepherds, three wisemen, and a narrator. We also had real animals—one horse and two sheep—to add reality to the nativity scene. Despite the cold weather and heavy Wyoming winds, which partially dismantled our “stable” before we began, our show continued on! Miraculously, the winds died down, and we were able to perform our 10-minute presentation eight times that evening during a two-hour period of time to a variety of audiences. After each performance, some children and adults wanted to pet the animals. Some little children wanted to come up and touch baby Jesus. It was a delightful time as the entire cast sang along with the recorded first verse of each song and acted out their parts in the nativity story in Luke.
After our last performance, the ferocious winds suddenly increased—in fact it flipped our “stable” over as we tried to take down the set. We knew we had been blessed to testify about our belief in our dear Savior’s divine birth during those two hours when the winds were calm. It was indeed a miracle!
You can read the program and narration below. You can also listen to our Spotify playlist of the Christmas carols we used at the end of this post.
Musical Presentation
“Christ The Savior Is Born”
1. NARRATOR
SONG #1: Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Phil Wickam)
Within the heart of every child is the joy that comes from the excitement of Christmas, but there is a deeper, more spiritual excitement that can be felt by each of us when we catch a glimpse of eternal realities and begin to understand the truth of Christ’s birth and what it really signifies. When this truth is understood, then a testimony is kindled, testifying even to the youngest hearts that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
2. NARRATOR
SONG #2: The First Noel (Josh Groberg, Faith Hill)
Who is this Jesus Christ to whom we pledge obedience? What manner of man, or God, was He that now, over 2,000 years later, we still revere? In actuality, it is not just His birth we rejoice in, for our joy reaches back into pre-existent realms where Jehovah, the first spiritual offspring of our Heavenly Parents, began a life of service and dedication to righteousness.
3. NARRATOR
SONG #3: Silent Night (Michael Buble)
Yes, Christ existed with our Heavenly Father prior to his birth, but he was not alone—we were there, too—all of us—billions of us—learning, growing, making choices, and using our intelligence. We were filled with light from living with our Heavenly Father, and we loved Him as He loved us.
4. NARRATOR
SONG #4: Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains (Nancy Hansen)
The Lord would be coming down to earth to be the Savior of all nations, kindred, tongues, and people, and we would be there also with our free agency to choose Him as our King! Yes, our King—our Savior—our God!
5. NARRATOR
SONG #5: Oh, Come All Ye Faithful (Casting Crowns)
Both the angels in heaven and the saints on earth were preparing themselves for this greatest event that the world had yet seen. What joy must have filled the heart of the angel Gabriel when the time finally arrived when he could go speak to Mary and tell her of his thrilling message.
6. NARRATOR
SONG #6: What Child Is This? (Martina McBride)
Little is recorded of Mary’s life as she waited those nine months, knowing that within her she carried the Son of God. During this time, she spoke these beautiful words:
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(Luke 1:46)
7. NARRATOR
SONG #7: Away in a Manger (Carrie Underwood)
The time was closer now than it had ever been for the prophesied birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The mother had been chosen and knew her divine calling.
8. NARRATOR
SONG #8 O Holy Night. (Vesislava—Instrumental)
All else that is recorded in the New Testament about Mary, prior to the birth of Jesus, is the journey that she and Joseph took to Bethlehem, the city where they went to be taxed.
The New Testament beautifully testifies of the truth of Jesus Christ’s humble, but profound, holy birth with these familiar words from Luke:
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.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9And, 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 Saviour, 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 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.
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.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
(Luke 2:6-20)
2026
I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!
I hope and pray that we can remember our dear Savior’s life and example of love and kindness throughout the whole year!