Christmas Nativity Program
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One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to reenact the story of the Savior’s birth. I remember as a child I got to play an angel in our ward Nativity program. Yes, I was sad I didn’t get to be Mary, but being an angel with my best friend and cousin, Michael, was the next best thing!!! This is an experience I will never forget, and one that I cherish!
In our church, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”, we belong to small units called “wards”. The children, ages 3-11, go to what we call “Primary” each Sunday to learn about Jesus, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost. Men and women are called to teach the different ages of kids, and generally there is a Jr. Primary and Sr. Primary. Each December we have a ward party, and quite often the Nativity is reenacted there.
I have spent many years of my life serving in various callings in the Primary organization. A few years ago I was called to be the Primary President. Our ward was growing quickly, and by the time I was released we had over 200 children in Primary!!! That is A LOT, and more than what an average ward usually has!!!! Today, our Primary has 36 children by comparison. When Christmas rolled around, I knew I wanted to have our kids reenact the Nativity, and I wanted the costumes to be AWESOME!!!! I didn’t want anyone to feel bad because they didn’t get to be Joseph or Mary. So each costume was carefully planned with extra care to ensure each child felt special and that their part in the program was just as important as Joseph and Mary.
I went all out on the wise men, and had a blast designing and creating each one in three different colors. The crowns were especially fun to make. I used a metal Christmas tree topper in the form of a crown from Hobby Lobby to make the green one! There were many modifications to the tree topper to make it work – but I’ve never been one to back away from a good challenge. I spray painted a basket to make the burgundy one and added snowflake ornaments, tassels, and a drape. The blue one was made using a plastic form covered with thin batting, and then a stretchy silver fabric. This one also had ornaments that I glued on it, as well as a drape. I bought a cool treasure chest at Hobby Lobby to hold the gold, and used an antique incense burner from Switzerland for the frankincense, and a metal vase from Jerusalem for the myrrh.
The angel’s gowns were made of bright white silky fabric with drapey sleeves, a light-up star necklace, and a battery operated candle in a candlestick to hold.
Instead of having an inanimate star hanging from somewhere, I made the star into a part for a child to play. This includes a special “star costume” and a “star pole” with a light-up star at the top. It has a bit of a “Narnia” feel to it. ☺
The shepherds also got cool shepherd costumes, along with realistic looking stuffed animal lambs, and a real live shepherd’s hook!
Mary was dressed in blue and white. Because her lineage was of the House of David, she was allowed to wear the colors befitting royalty. Likewise the embroidery on the swaddling bands was also done in blue. The embroidery was so fine, it looked the same on both sides, and signified the lineage of the baby. There was no doubt who He was when the shepherds came, because they could see his ancestry embroidered on the swaddling bands.
Joseph was dressed in a simple brown tunic with a headpiece and a staff.
Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling bands, and was placed in a manger. His manger was more than likely made of stone and not wood, as it was actually a feeding trough for the animals. Someday I will figure out how to make one to look like stone, but for now, the wood one made from my great-grandfather’s barn has great meaning and sentiment to me.
A wonderful woman in one of my previous ward’s donated the simple stable to my Nativity collection, made by her father. We added a string of lights, and some palm trees made from empty carpet rolls, and butcher paper.
I love it when children do this reenactment instead of adults. Jesus love the little children, and so do I!!! Having kids play these parts brings a more simple, pure, and heartfelt meaning to me. I LOVE to see how the kids “feel” the importance of what they are doing, and how their testimonies grow when provided with these sacred opportunities. I have many different Nativity scripts I have collected through the years. Some are short and sweet, and others are longer with Christmas songs the audience can sing along to. I have included the script our ward used last week. I like how it adds Elizabeth, Zacharias, Hannah (Anna), and Simeon for more depth – and an opportunity for older youth to participate as well.
You might want to add a Nativity reading to your own Christmas Tradition list! You don’t need fancy costumes to pull this off, just gather whatever you have around the house. Each year, add something new to the costume bin, and before you know it, you’ll have a complete set! As we celebrate this joyous Christmas season – the season of our Savior’s birth – may we look for opportunities each day to serve someone, and share of our LIGHT!!! For as we share of our own LIGHT, we are also sharing the LIGHT of Christ!
Love Ya, Les ☺
Christmas in Bethlehem – Nativity Program
Welcome & Introduction by XYZ
Presentation & Opening Prayer by XYZ
Elizabeth & Zacharias
Elizabeth
My name is Elizabeth. I am the wife of Zacharias, a high priest in the temple. I lived a righteous life and strove to uphold all the commandments of God. Zacharias and I had grown old wanting children but never being blessed with them.
One day as my husband worked in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. He told my husband that our prayers for a child were going to be answered. We were to be blessed with a son and his name was to be John. He was going to prepare the way for the Messiah.
My husband did not believe, and because of his doubt was struck dumb. I did believe and soon discovered I was with child. While I was carrying this baby in my womb, a cousin of mine from Galilee came to visit me. Her name was Mary. When I saw her and she told me that she too was with child the babe in my womb jumped inside me, as if leaping for joy. I felt the Spirit come over me and said to my cousin, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb”. I knew that her baby would be the Christ.
Soon after the birth of my son my husband’s speech was restored and he, too, bore witness of our son’s mission on earth and of the Savior. We felt humbled and blessed to be raising a special child such as John who would lead the way for the Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Zacharias
I am Zacharias. When Herod was the king of Judea, I served as a priest in the temple. My wife, Elisabeth, was a daughter of Aaron and we both strived to be righteous and serve the Lord.
We had not been blessed with any children and we were now well beyond our child-bearing years. One day while I was attending to my duties as a priest, burning incense, an angel appeared standing on the right side of the altar. I was afraid but the angel told me to “fear not”. He then told me our prayers had been heard and that my dear Elisabeth would conceive and bear me a son. He also instructed that his name should be John and that he would be great in the sight of the Lord. He said he would have a special mission to go before the Savior and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.
I could hardly believe what the angel told me and I protested. But the angel told me his name was Gabriel and he had been sent to give me these glad tidings. He then told me that I would not be able to speak until the day these things would be accomplished.
After our son was born he was brought to the temple to be circumcised. It was assumed that he would be named after me. But Elisabeth, following the instructions of the angel, said that his name should be John. They turned to ask me how he should be called and I wrote upon a table that his name would, indeed, be John. AT that moment my speech was restored and I bore witness to the things the Spirit had taught me about my son and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Song: Joy to the World, 1st verse
Congregation/Group
Anna
I am Hannah, known better as Anna. I was widowed at an early age and so I filled my life by serving in the house of the Lord- the temple at Jerusalem. I had been given the gift of prophecy and knew that a Savior was coming. I waited in faith for the Messiah that the prophets had taught of to come. One day, when I saw a young couple that had brought their baby to the temple, the Holy Ghost filled my heart. The Spirit told me that this small, perfect baby boy was Christ, the Son of God. Joy and faith overwhelmed me as I reverently touched his beautiful face. I felt blessed above all to see this little king and from that time forth testified of him.
Simeon
I am Simeon of Jerusalem. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, the Holy Ghost led me to the temple. I had been promised that I would not die until I had seen the Christ child. There in the temple I looked upon this baby and held him in my arms. I thanked the Lord that I might now leave my mortal experience in peace because I had seen the light of the world.
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem, 1st verse
Congregation/Group
Shepherds
My friends and I were watching over the temple flocks when an angel of the Lord appeared to bring us a heavenly message. He proclaimed good tidings of great joy about the new little king and the heavenly host sang songs of joy and praise. What excitement! We were physically and spiritually awakened to the truth of the message. We rushed with eagerness to see the tiny babe who would become the greatest and most loving Shepherd of all.
Song: Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains, 1st verse
Wise Men - XYZ
Wise Men
#1- We are the wise men, scholars and sages. We studied the words of the prophets and learned of a child, a king that would be born to save the world. We decided to find this infant king.
#2- We searched a long time and traveled very far to find this child. We were guided by a Heavenly light. Not many realized that there was a new star that lit the heavens, only those who were looking for it. This star led us to the baby, the light of the world, and we laid our gifts before him.
#3- Each gift was a symbol of love and respect for the light and truth that He would exemplify. We gave him gifts, and yet it is we who were given the greatest gift through him.
Together: Wise men sought him, and wise men still do.
Song: With Wondering Awe, 1st verse
Congregation/Group
Angels - XYZ
Angels
We shouted for joy!!!
Song: Angels We Have Heard on High, 1st verse
Congregation/Group
Joseph - XYZ
Joseph
I am Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter. Mary was the love of my heart and when she told me that she was with child I was devastated. I didn’t understand how it could have happened and I felt my life surely was ruined. But that night an angel appeared to me and told me about Mary’s child, how he would be the Savior of the world, the Messiah we had waited and prayed for. The Spirit of God was with me that night and I knew what I needed to do. I took Mary as my wife, in spite of what others may have thought or said. I knew how pure and holy she was and how blessed we were as a couple to care for God’s Only Begotten Son.
How I loved Jesus. I felt blessed every day to teach him. I taught him how to become a carpenter, how to work with wood and tools. I taught him about building. As he grew he began to teach me. He taught me about building also- about building our Father’s kingdom. I was a carpenter but He was the master carpenter- a builder of worlds and lives.
Song: When Joseph Went to Bethlehem, 1st and 2nd verse
Congregation/Group
Mary - XYZ
Mary
Many people recall the great man who taught others, served so willingly and who was crucified on Calvary’s Hill. But I will never forget the divine child, sent to me on a cold, star-filled night. I was humbled to think that I must raise and teach the son of God. That night I began to worry and fear for my little one. How could a baby so innocent and helpless save the world? Yet when I looked into his eyes I felt the peace and love of God. I didn’t know or understand how, but I knew that one day my infant son would be the Redeemer of all.
Song: Silent Night
Testimony/Remarks from XYZ
Closing Prayer/Prayer by XYZ