MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LIFEWAY WORSHIP

Thank you for downloading this Build Your Own Christmas

Program PDF from Lifeway Worship.

No matter your church size or musical capabilities, Lifeway

Worship is here to equip your worship ministry with
everything you need to create a meaningful and memorable
Christmas experience. This free downloadable PDF features a
complete outline for a Scripture-based Christmas service
that’s simple to use and deeply impactful.

Inside, you’ll find:

Four thematic Scripture readings designed for two

readers, perfect for weaving the story of Christ’s birth
throughout your service.

Suggested musical moments that include choral anthems for

your kids, student, or adult choirs or worship songs and
traditional hymns to include your congregation.

Links to purchase and download music, making planning

seamless and stress-free.

Flexible service options so you can present the full

program in a single service or divide the segments across
the Sundays of Advent.

Ideas for adding your own creative additions, such as a

live nativity, Communion, and congregational sing-alongs,
to engage your entire church family.

Whether you follow the guide exactly or customize it to suit

your unique ministry style, this resource is designed to
involve every area of your worship team—making it easier
than ever to craft a Christ-centered Christmas celebration.

Thank you again for downloading this PDF and now start
building a service that proclaims the true meaning of
Christmas with beauty, joy, and unity.
 2.

PART ONE: PROPHECY AND HOPE

MATT 1:18-22; LUKE 1:26-38; ISA 7:14; ISA 11:1-2 (CSB)

While these scripture readings are

divided between two readers, don't
feel constrained to two people
only. Use different readers for
each section, for example. Or use
readers of different age groups. If
you really want to get inventive,
use Biblical costumes and break the
dialogue up between characters and
act out some of the action
described.

READER ONE
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way:

READER TWO
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a
town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a
man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name
was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings,
favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

READER ONE
But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering
what kind of greeting this could be.

READER TWO
Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you
have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and
give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the
Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He
will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom
will have no end.

READER ONE
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had
sexual relations with a man?”

READER TWO
The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of
God . . . For nothing will be impossible with God.”

READER ONE
“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to
me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
 3.

READER TWO
After Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered
before they came together that she was pregnant from the
Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man,
and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce
her secretly.

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the

Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

READER ONE
“Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the
Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to
name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their
sins.”

READER TWO
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the
Lord through the prophet: "Therefore, the Lord himself will
give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son,
and name him Immanuel."

READER ONE
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—

READER TWO
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

READER ONE
a Spirit of counsel and strength,

READER TWO
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

SUGGESTED CHORAL ANTHEMS

1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

2. A Flower Bright (Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming)
3. And His Name

SUGGESTED WORSHIP SONGS

1. A Baby Will Come

2. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
3. Light of the World
4. He Shall Reign Forevermore
 4.

SUGGESTED HYMNS

1. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

2. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
3. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
4. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
 5.

PART TWO: PEACE AND PREPARATION

ISA 40:3-5; LUKE 2:1-7 (CSB)

READER ONE
A voice of one crying out:

READER TWO
Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

READER ONE
Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled;
the uneven ground will become smooth
and the rough places, a plain.

READER TWO
And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

READER ONE
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that
the whole empire should be registered. This first
registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

READER TWO
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family line of David, to be
registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was
pregnant.

READER ONE
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped
him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there
was no guest room available for them.

SUGGESTED CHORAL ANTHEMS

1. This Wondrous Night

2. Night of Glory
3. Love Will Make a Bethlehem (Multi-Generational Worship)
4. O Holy Night!
5. All Is Well
6. Christmas Day
 6.

SUGGESTED WORSHIP SONGS

1. Come Adore the Humble King

2. Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)
3. Manger Throne
4. Noel

SUGGESTED HYMNS

1. Away in a Manger
2. O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. The Birthday of a King
 7.

PART III: JOY AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Luke 2:8-20 (CSB)

Use the following narration and

musical sections to build your own
Living Nativity utilizing Biblical
costumes or props.

READER ONE
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields
and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel
of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified.

READER TWO
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I
proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for
you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for
you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying
in a manger.”

READER ONE
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the
angel, praising God and saying:

READER TWO
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!

READER ONE
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to
Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us.”

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the
baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they
reported the message they were told about this child, and
all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to
them.

READER TWO
But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and
meditating on them.

READER ONE
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all
the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they
had been told.
 8.

SUGGESTED CHORAL ANTHEMS

1. What a Glorious Night!

(Includes partial narration from above, plus includes
Children, Students, and Adult choirs)
2. The King Is Born in Bethlehem (Kids Choir Series)
3. Gloria
4. Worship the King
5. The Table (A Candlelight Communion Service)
6. Adore

SUGGESTED WORSHIP SONGS

1. Angels (Glory to God)

2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with King of Heaven
3. He Has Come for Us (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen)
4. Glory (Let There Be Peace)
5. Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)

SUGGESTED HYMNS

1. Angels We Have Heard On High

2. Angels, from the Realms of Glory
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
5. O Holy Night!
6. Silent Night, Holy Night
 9.

PART IV: LOVE AND WORSHIP

John 1:14; Galatians 4:4-5; John 1:10-13; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah
40:9-10 (CSB)

READER ONE
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his
glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

READER TWO
When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of
a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.

READER ONE
He was in the world, and the world was created through him,
and yet the world did not recognize him.

READER TWO
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

READER ONE
But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be
children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were
born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh,
or of the will of man, but of God.

READER TWO
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be
named Wonderful Counselor . . .

READER ONE
Mighty God

READER TWO
Eternal Father

READER ONE
Prince of Peace.

READER TWO
Zion, herald of good news, go up on a high mountain.
Jerusalem, herald of good news, raise your voice loudly.
Raise it, do not be afraid!
 10.

READER ONE
Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

READER TWO
See, the Lord God comes with strength,and his power
establishes his rule. His wages are with him, and his reward
accompanies him.

SUGGESTED CHORAL ANTHEMS

1. Go Tell It
2. Receive Our King
(Includes Children, Students, and Adults, PLUS bonus
Candlelight Service version)
3. Glory All Around (Includes Children, Students and Adults)
4. Christmas Hymn (Includes Children's Choir)
5. Christmastime (Includes Children's Choir)

SUGGESTED WORSHIP SONGS

1. Behold the Lamb of God

2. Emmanuel God With Us
3. O Come, All Ye Faithful (His Name Shall Be)
4. O Come, All You Unfaithful
5. Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)
6. Behold
7. Sing We the Song of Emmanuel
8. Crown Him (Christmas)

SUGGESTED HYMNS

1. A Communion Hymn for Christmas

2. Go, Tell It on the Mountain
3. Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come
4. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee