A Dramatic Reading of Luke 2:1-20 Using 3 Voices for Dec 24 or 25
This famous Christmas Eve scripture passage comes to new life using a technique of multi-part readers phasing in and out with each other. It is helpful to practice this technique together before presenting it in worship.
NIV Version:
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Birth of Jesus
Reader 1: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
Reader 2: And everyone went to his own town to register.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
Reader 3: to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: He went there to register with Mary,
Reader 1: who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
Reader 2: and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Shepherds and the Angels
Reader 3: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
Reader 1: and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and they were terrified.
Reader 2: But the angel said to them,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Reader 3: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Reader 1 & Reader 3: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Reader 1: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
Reader 2: which the Lord has told us about.”
Reader 2 & Reader 3: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,
Reader 3: and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Reader 3 & Reader 1: When they had seen him,
Reader 1: they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Reader 2: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: The shepherds returned,
Reader 3: glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: which were just as they had been told.
KJ Version:
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Birth of Jesus
Reader 1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Reader 2: And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
Reader 3: unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
Reader 1 & Reader 3: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Reader 1: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Reader 2 & Reader 1: And she brought forth her firstborn son,
Reader 2: and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: The Shepherds and the Angels
Reader 3: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Reader 1 & Reader 3: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
Reader 1: and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
Reader 1 & Reader 2: and they were so afraid.
Reader 2: And the angel said unto them,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: 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.
Reader 3: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Reader 1 & Reader 3: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Reader 1: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Reader 1 & Reader 2: Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
Reader 2: which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
Reader 3: and the babe lying in a manger.
Reader 3 & Reader 1: And when they had seen it,
Reader 1: they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Reader 1 & Reader 2: And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Reader 2: But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Reader 2 & Reader 3: And the shepherds returned,
Reader 3: glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
Reader 1, Reader 2 & Reader 3 in unison: as it was told unto them.
Note – All scripture is from either the KJV or the NIV (Zondervan Publishing)
Every year, around this time, I always try to fit in the song “Offering” by Paul Baloche in a worship service. It works well during the Offering for the Advent, Christmas or Epiphany seasons. Paul is very generous with free resources at his website, but you should report usage to CCLI if you have a license.
Intro to Silent Night
A Year of Jubilee is Coming!
December 9, 2008 at 11:09 pm · Filed under Delirious?, Messiah Lutheran Church ·Tagged Delirious?, Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?, Song Selection, Year of Jubilee
Sometimes the music that we choose for worship – just seems to fit so well. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit you know. At Messiah, we choose our music months in advance because the use of a Lectionary allows for this level of preparedness. Of course, we might update our song choices as the date approaches should the Holy Spirit moves us in some other direction.
Several months ago, I chose “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?” for this coming Sunday. Right now, it feels so right to me on so many different levels that it just has to be the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand.
Let me explain, and we’ll start with the song lyrics:
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?
Verse 1:
Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of;
Jesus Christ the risen One.
Verse 2:
Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of;
Jesus Christ the saving One.
BRIDGE 1:
And we can see that God You’re moving.
A mighty river through the nations.
And young and old will turn to Jesus.
Fling wide you heavenly gates;
Prepare the way of the risen Lord.
Chorus:
Open up the doors and let the music play,
Let the streets resound with singing.
Songs that bring Your hope,
Songs that bring Your joy,
Dancers who dance upon injustice.
Verse 3:
Do you feel the darkness tremble?
When all the saints join in one song.
And all the streams flow as one river;
To wash away our brokenness.
BRIDGE 2:
And here we see that God You’re moving.
A time of jubilee is coming.
When young and old return to Jesus.
Fling wide you heavenly gates;
Prepare the way of the risen Lord.
CCLI Song No. 1097028
© 1994 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Martin Smith
This is a song of hope, joy and unity in Christ. I originally chose it for this third Sunday in Advent because of the lyric “prepare the way for the Lord” and it’s natural tie-in to John the Baptist and the season of Advent. But as the date grew closer; other lines in this song began to resonate with me. For example, if you are a WELS reader (as many of you are), you will quickly associate with the “Year of Jubilee” line. Also, we are doing a responsive reading of Psalm 71 on this particular Sunday by age groups (young & old) which align with the song lyric “When young and old will turn to Jesus.” You can view our planned reading of this Psalm here:
http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/psalm-71-%e2%80%93-generational-responsive-reading-selected-verses/
Lastly, we are between Pastors right now and there’s a subtle air of brokenness among us, so the lyric that states: “When all the saints join in one song. And all the streams flow as one river; To wash away our brokenness” takes on a beautiful meaning. And by the way, our Shepherd is watching over his flock in South Windsor CT because we are being led by an interim semi-retired Pastor who’s just wonderful; and I might add, perfectly willing to worship God through the use of Contemporary music. I’ve heard it said that music transcends time! Our hymns certainly attest to this fact.
We are going to be singing this song with a lot of energy on Sunday. Music is such a wonderful gift from God. I have every expectation that as we come together in unity and belt out this chorus that God will be moving, people will tremble, our brokenness will be washed away, and yes the darkness will tremble as well. He does every time that our worship is this spirited.
Permalink Leave a Comment