Two Ward Choir Christmas Programs

I started this blog with the intent of it being a resource for my ward choir.  I don't think very many of them look at it, but I'm happy to say that it has been a useful resource for other ward choir directors.  I've had a lot of people try to access the pdf files of my Christmas Programs, and they worked for awhile, but then one day they just disappeared, and I have no idea where they went.  

So, since my pdf links didn't work out, I'm just putting my first two Christmas programs right in this blog post, so now all four Christmas programs that I've done with ward choirs are here on the blog (2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012).  

I apologize in advance that the formatting isn't consistent, but I just don't have time to fix them.  Feel free to copy and paste into your own document and edit to your heart's content.  Add new songs or use different arrangements, or use your own narration.  Whatever you want.  It's just nice to have ideas to work with.  Also, if you want my digital files, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send them to you.  (Maybe those would be easier to edit?)

I'm reusing my 2006 program for this year, so I won't have a new program to share this year.  But if I'm still pluggin' away at this next year, I'll probably do a new one, just to keep things interesting.  

PROGRAM #1

Written for Cherry Hills Ward Choir Christmas Program 2006

NARRATOR:  (Luke 2: 1, 3-5)

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all his empire 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.”

1. Primary Children—When Joseph Went to Bethlehem  2.5 min

NARRATOR:  (Luke 2: 6-7)

“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 inns.”

2. Away in a Manger, From Hymplicity, 3 min

3. Baby, What You Goin’ To Be? By Natalie Sleeth, 4 min

NARRATOR:  (Luke 2: 8-12)

 “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 of the Lord 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.”

4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Arr. Sally DeFord with flute 4-5 min

NARRATOR:  (Luke 2: 13-14)

  “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.”

5. Congregation—Far Far Away, Hymn book 4 min

NARRATOR:  (Luke 2:15-20)

  “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.”

6. All is Well, by Michael W. Smith, 4 min.

NARRATOR: 

President Hinckley has said, “There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter.  The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.

“I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal, Living God.  None so great has ever walked the earth.  None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing.  He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world.  I believe in Him.  I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise.  I love Him.  I speak His name in reverence and wonder. . .

“Our joy at this season is because He came into the world.  The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself—these are the of the true essence of Christmas.”  (Liahona 2000)

7. Did You Sing at the Birth of the Savior? By Janice Kapp Perry, a cappella 2 min

NARRATOR:

We read the following in a declaration entitled “The Living Christ” written by the apostles:

“We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

8. Christmas Medley- arr. Larry Beebe, includes Joy to the World, Angels We have Heard on High, Silent Night (piano & organ accompaniment, with the congregation joining on the last verse) 5-6 min

Total estimated music time:  31 min

Total estimated Narration time:  10 min

Estimated length of program:  41 min

PROGRAM #2

Written for Cherry Hills Ward Christmas Program 2007

Primary Child 1:  For ^aGod so ^bloved the ^cworld, that he ^dgave his ^eonly begotten ^fSon, that whosoever ^gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have ^heverlasting ⁱlife. (John 3:16)

 Primary Child 2: And he shall be called ^aJesus ^bChrist, the ^cSon of God, the ^dFather of heaven and earth, the ^eCreator of all things from the beginning; and his ^fmother shall be called Mary.  (Mosiah 3:8)

Primary Child 3:  And lo, he cometh unto his own, that ^asalvation might come unto the children of men even through ^bfaith on his name; (Mosiah 3:9)

He Sent His Son—Primary Children (2 min)

Reader 1:  For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even ^aall the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things? (Mosiah 13:33)

Reader 2:  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a ^asign; ^bBehold, a ^cvirgin shall conceive, and bear a ^dson, and shall call his name ^eImmanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

 Reader 3:  I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. (Alma 5:48)

Reader 1:  And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. (Alma 13:25)

Come Lord Jesus Come (pt. 1)  (1 1/2 min)

(from Savior of the World, available through the church website)

Reader 2: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his ^aname ^bJESUS: for he shall ^csave his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  ^aBehold, a ^bvirgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his ^cname ^dEmmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)

Gentle Jesus  (3 min)

Arr. James Kasen

(to be read during intro to next song.)

Reader 3:  He is the ^alight and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. (Mosiah 16:9)

Born is the Light of the World (3 min)

By Sally Deford

Reader 1:  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 ^aglory 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 ^agood tidings of great ^bjoy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.  And this shall be a ^asign 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,  ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

Hark the Herald Angels Sing w/ Congregation (2-3 min)

Hymn Book

Reader 2: 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 ^ahaste, 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 ^awondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  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 2:15-18, 20)

Star of Bethlehem (3 min)

By Dan Carter

Reader 3: Now when Jesus was ^aborn in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  Saying, ^aWhere is he that is born ^bKing of the Jews? for we have seen his ^cstar in the east, and are come to ^dworship him.  And [Herod] sent them to Bethlehem, . . . When they had heard the king, they departed; 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 ^afrankincense, and myrrh.  (Matthew 2:1-2, 8-11)

With Wondering Awe (3-4 min)

Arr. Sally DeFord

Reader 1: . . . and [he] shall go forth amongst men, working mighty ^fmiracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the ^gblind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

 Reader 2: And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities. (Alma 7: 11-12)

Reader 3: Behold, they will ^acrucify him; and after he is laid in a ^bsepulchre for the space of ^cthree days he shall ^drise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. . . . (2 Nephi 25:13)

Reader 2:  And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no ^asting, there could have been no resurrection.  But there is a ^aresurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of ^bdeath is swallowed up in Christ.  (Mosiah 16:7-8)

What Child is This?  (duet)

Arr. Sally DeFord

Reader 1: Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I ^acreated the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.  I came unto my own, and my own ^areceived me not. And the scriptures ^bconcerning my coming are fulfilled.  I am the ^alight and the life of the world. I am ^bAlpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  Behold, I have come unto the world to bring ^aredemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.  Therefore, whoso ^arepenteth and cometh unto me ^bas a ^clittle child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have ^dlaid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.  ( 3 Nephi 9:15-16, 18, 21-22)

Reader 2: Yea, ^acome unto Christ, and be ^bperfected in him, and ^cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and ^dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be ^eperfect in Christ; . . . (Moroni 10: 32)

O Come All Ye Faithful w/ Congregation and organ  (3 min)

Hymn Book

Reader 3: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall ^bcome in.  (Psalms 24: 7)

 Reader 1: And then shall appear the ^asign of the Son of man in ^bheaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth ^cmourn, and they shall see the ^dSon of man coming in the clouds of heaven with ^epower and great ^fglory.  And he shall send his ^aangels with a great sound of a ^btrumpet, and they shall gather together his ^celect from the four winds, from one end of ^dheaven to the other.  (Matthew 24:30-31)

Reader: 2: Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his ^aglory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the ^bKing of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. (Alma 5: 50).

Joy to the World (4 min)

Arr. John Rutter (from his book of carols)

The following scriptures to be read during intro of Come Lord Jesus, Come/Jesus Once of Humble Birth.

Reader 2: And she brought forth her ^afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

Reader 1: . . .and thou shalt call his ^aname ^bJESUS: for he shall ^csave his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Reader 2: . . . and [he] shall go forth amongst men, working mighty ^fmiracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, . . .  and curing all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

Reader 3: And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; . . . (Alma 7:11)

Reader 1: Behold, they will ^acrucify him; and after he is laid in a ^bsepulchre for the space of ^cthree days he shall ^drise from the dead, with healing in his wings . . . (2 Nephi 25:13)

Reader 2: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into ^aheaven? this same Jesus, which is ^btaken up from you into heaven, shall so ^ccome in like ^dmanner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

Reader 1:  I Jesus have sent mine ^aangel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the ^broot and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning ^cstar.  And the Spirit and the bride say, ^aCome. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the ^bwater of life freely.  (Revelations 22: 16-17)

Reader 3:  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I ^acome quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (Revelations 22: 20)  

Come Lord Jesus, Come/ Jesus Once of Humble Birth  (4 min)

From Savior of The World available on church website

Total approximate performance time:  45 min.