An Ugly Christmas Sweater
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT:
An Online, Interactive, All-Ages Extravaganza
Sunday, December 20 at 10:00 a.m.
with the Federated Church of East Arlington via Zoom
Optional but Super-Fun Checklist of Items to Wear or Have Handy
- Ugly Christmas Sweater (or other Christmassy attire!)
- Cup of hot cocoa 😊 (or coffee or tea)
- Figurines from a Nativity set
- A candle (one per person or one per family)
- Something in the shape of a star (a paper star, cookie cutter, ornament, one you draw or anything you can think of)
- Something blue (a towel, some jeans, a crayon – anything works!)
- A tea towel or bath towel
- A paper crown (or some other fancy hat!)
- A favorite thing (stuffed animal, book, piece of art – you pick it!)
- A picture (or two or three!) of someone you are missing this Christmas
Welcome and Announcements
Lighting of the Advent Candles
Leader: In our homes we gather with candles to pray our lost hopes, broken peace, limited joys, and love so hard to find and share in this season of coronavirus. We affirm that our candles mean we claim the power to call this season Advent when God’s light comes into the world and nothing can overcome it. We light the candles of hope, peace, and joy. (Light 3 candles)
People: We now light the candle of love even when many things dim our sparkling…(each name those areas of life and the world in need of love) (Light the 4th candle)
Leader: God’s love illuminates hatred and a compassionate heart
and brightens the path to the birth of Christ.
People: Emmanuel, God be with us in the week to come
lighting hope, peace, joy, and love on the wick of our lives, so that we may shine on our world your unconditional welcome to all. Amen.
(Sing together to the tune of The First Noel)
We gather ‘round with love in our hearts
Seeking blessings for all though we’re so far apart.
Apart, but in God’s great mystery
We are joined in a love that is flowing and free.
Refrain: The candles glow, showing us God’s light / Calling us forward, united in Christ.
Joys and Concerns (offered aloud or ahead of time via email)
Prayer of the People
Words of Introduction to the Pageant Rev. Kathy Clark
Gathering Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel Led by Patti Cody
O Come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God Appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine Advent here,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Prayer of Invocation
Jeff McConnell:
When the world was dark and all was quiet, God came. When the world was anxious and full of sorrow, God came. Today we remember the story of Jesus’ birth, the story of how God loves us, and comes to be with us, so we might be with God. Friends, come and listen, and take your part. Let’s tell the story together!
Karen Underhill:
Yes, and let’s start by waving to one another, and pass the peace sign of Christ to show that we’re ready to begin!
(Leave a few moments for participants to wave to each other and pass the peace)
Jeff McConnell:
And as we begin, if you have a picture of someone (or multiple people) you’re missing this Christmas, either because they are at a distance or because they have died, please share it now, so we can remember the cloud of witnesses all around us today.
(Participants may hold up the photos of the people they are missing this Christmas)
Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful Led by Michelanne Sylvester
O Come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels
O come let us adore him (x3)
Christ the Lord!
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God all
Glory in the highest
O come let us adore him (x3)
Christ the Lord!
Karen Underhill:
Long before that first Christmas, God sent prophets, visionaries, and truth tellers to get the people ready! This is what one of God’s prophets had to say:
Jeff McConnell:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone…For unto us a child has been born, a baby given to us; and this baby will grow continually, and there will be endless peace, and of God’s Kingdom of love and justice there will be no end.
Karen Underhill:
That was Isaiah’s story. And this is Luke’s, a story about a young woman named Mary, who traditionally pictured wearing the color blue – the color of the sky, the color of an empress. If you have something blue, now’s the time to show it for all to see, so we can get in the mood for Luke’s story!
(Participants display whatever “blue things” they have. A towel, some jeans, a crayon – anything works!)
Jeff McConnell:
In those days, Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to young woman named Mary; she was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. Upon arriving, the angel said to Mary, “Rejoice, favored one! God is with you! Blessed are you among women!” Now, Mary was much perplexed by these words and wondered what sort of greeting this might be. And so Gabriel continued: “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and you will bear a child, and you will name this baby Jesus – which means “God saves.”
Karen Underhill:
Now, move your hands from high to low and wiggle your fingers, like a shower of “jazz hands,” helping us imagine the sparkly Holy Spirit descending from heaven.
(Participants move their hands from high to low and wiggle their fingers – and Luke’s reading continues)
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will over shadow you – and the baby to be born will be called the Holy One of God. Know too that Elizabeth, your cousin, has also conceived a child in her old age and she was said to be barren. Don’t you see, Mary? Nothing is impossible with God.”
Jeff McConnell:
Everyone strike a superhero pose! (Pause)
And then Mary said to the angel, “Here am I, servant of God, let it be with me according to your word!”
Phyllis Warren:
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. So, everyone went to their hometowns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
You’re all invited to hold up the Mary or Joseph from your Nativity scene.
(Pause)
Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem Led by Patti Cody
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
And in the dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
Tammy Lang:
While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Hold up any sheep or donkeys or any stuffed animals or live pets for us to see, Everyone. (Pause)
Carol Away in a Manger Led by Michelanne Sylvester
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus lays down his sweet head
The stars in the sky look down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
Phyllis Warren:
The town of Bethlehem was sleeping that night, but in that region, there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
If you have a star or something sparkly please hold it up for all to see. (Pause)
Carol The First Noel Led by Patti Cody
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the king of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the king of Israel.
Tammy Lang:
Then an angel of God stood before the shepherds living in the fields, and the glory of God shone around them; they were sore afraid. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, God with us. This will be a sign for you: you will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
If you have an angel, now’s the time hold it up and let it shine.
Phyllis Warren:
And suddenly, right there in the fields where the shepherds were living, 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!”
Tammy Lang:
Friends let’s all say that together, with gusto – leave your microphone on mute, but fill up your home with a strong voice, and repeat after me:
“Glory to God in the highest!”
ALL: “Glory to God in the highest!”
“And on earth, peace!”
ALL: “And on earth, peace!”
And now wave your hands or your arms like angels’ wings. Let’s become the heavenly host!
(Participants wave hands and arms like angels’ wings)
Phyllis Warren:
And then, when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
If you have a tea towel or bath towel, pop it on your head like a shepherd, and then let us sing together:
Carol Angels We Have Heard on High Led by Patti & Michelanne
Angels we have heard on high
Singing sweetly o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo (x2)
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo (x2)
Sue Wirkki:
If you have a crown or some other kind of fancy hat, now’s the time to put it on!
(Participants sport paper crowns and fancy hats)
Olavi Wirkki:
Now in the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise ones from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”
Sue Wirkki:
Let’s bring out our stars again!
(Participants display their stars)
Olavi Wirkki:
Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for this child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Sue Wirkki:
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
Jazz hands, everyone!
Upon entering the house, the wise ones saw the child with Mary, his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Olavi Wirkki:
Did everyone bring a “favorite thing?” Something you love? Something that’s valuable? Something like “gold, frankincense, and myrrh?” Such wise ones you are. Lift them up so all can see them.
(Participants display their “favorite things.”)
Carol We Three Kings Led by Michelanne & Patti
We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star.
O, star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Sue Wirkki:
When the world was dark and all was quiet, God came. When the world was anxious and full of sorrow, God came. Tonight, we remember the story of Jesus’ birth, the story of how God loves us, and came to live with us, so we might live with God. Friends, look around at all these smiling faces, everything is glowing with the goodness of Christmas, everything today is soft, and radiant, and full of peace, full of love, full of joy.
Everyone make the ASL sign for “I love you!” Just extend your pinkie, pointer finger, and thumb out straight and your middle two fingers down against your palm. Hold up the sign now.
Carol Joy to the World Led by Patti & Michelanne
Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receiver her king!
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing (x3)
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns,
Let all our songs employ!
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy (x3)
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love (x3)
Olavi Wirkki:
And now let’s bring our lights down low if possible and light any candles we may have. We still want to see your faces.
Carol Silent Night Led by Michelanne & Patti
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace (x2)
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia”
Christ the Savior is born (x2)
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace (x2)
Benediction
(All blow out candles, and bring lights back up)
Carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Led by Patti & Michelanne
Hark! The herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest Heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased on earth with us to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”