This anthology provides an ample selection of seasonal worship, drama, and children's resources by popular authors from a variety of denominations. Whatever your congregation's size or worship style, you're sure to find something in Christmas Treasures to help you create memorable Advent and Christmas services. Copying privileges are included for all segments. Litany For Advent And Christmas Candle Lighting provides brief responsive prayers and creative congregational activities for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, and Epiphany. It's excellent for worship services or as a Sunday school opener. Christmas Treasures offers three sets of short readings and prayers for the candle lighting portion of Advent and Christmas Eve services. Each 2-3 minute narrative links aspects of the nativity with events in our modern lives, both global and personal, and challenges worshipers to reflect on current issues and respond in ways that glorify the Lord. Six Christmas Testimonies depicts the Christmas events and their meaning from the viewpoint of John the Baptist, a magus, the innkeeper, Joseph, a shepherd, and Mary. Especially powerful when read in sequence, these concise dramatic readings are an excellent way to have members participate in Advent or Christmas Eve worship services. The Christmas Gift utilizes a creative approach to the seasonal children's program -- a "talent show" is cleverly included as part of a simple yet powerful play based on Luke's Christmas scripture. It's a practical presentation for any size congregation -- many of the speaking roles have only a few lines, and some parts can be combined. A prop list, set diagram, and sample rehearsal schedule are included to aid novice directors. Performance time is approximately 15 minutes (plus talent show time). Who Are You In Bethlehem? and The Promise are two dramatic presentations for the entire congregation with roles that can be performed by any age. Each combines the reading of scripture and singing of familiar hymns with brief narrations to telling the Bethlehem story, focusing on how we respond to the Savior -- asking us if we have truly welcomed the babe into our hearts. These inspirational services are flexible enough to be performed by as many participants as are available without requiring extensive memorization. Revelations Of Jesus, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth, Nativity, and If It Happened Today are four flexible, Bible-based plays with parts for young people of all ages. Revelations Of Jesus tells the story of Jesus' coming and how word of it spread, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth takes a whimsical glimpse at the angels' preparations for the first Christmas, and Nativity is a simple, straightforward retelling of the nativity story. If It Happened Today combines seven brief sketches with scripture readings and well-known songs. It's a humorous but thought-provoking look at how we might react if some of the events in the Christmas story happened to us. Director's notes with suggestions for simple costumes, props, and staging are included for each play. Do You Hear What I Hear? tells the story of Jesus' birth in song and narrative. It's an inspirational pageant with something for everyone, including songs for each grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade, dramatic scenes, and congregational hymns. Christmas Wonder offers nine short children's sermons for Advent and Christmas in the form of imaginative stories. Drawing on the rich imagery of the season to illustrate God's grace and unconditional love, each message includes brief talking points and a prayer. Reading The Christmas Eve Scriptures is a simple but extremely effective interweaving of several familiar Bible verses for two narrators. The reading links the events of Christmas with those of Holy Week and Easter, providing a powerful flow of themes that underlines the larger story of the incarnation.
