resources for effective ministry 

    There are many Holiday Traditions families and churches observe . . . some are looked forward to each year - others are not!  One tradition fits both categories . . . some people look forward to the yearly Christmas program and others dread it!  We will look at several resources for Christmas Programs - some are quite easy to prepare and present and others take some work.  If you decide to present a Christmas program this year ask yourself a few questions:
 

• First, why are we doing this?  Is there a reason for the program, or is it because you always do a program?  There are good reasons to present a Christmas program

• opportunity to provide children an opportunity to minister to the church and community and to utilize their gifts and talents
• opportunity to enjoy drama and music and to be a part of the ministry team
• see others come to Christ

• Do not present a program if it has a negative impact by stressing out volunteers at an already stressful time of year
• Do not present program if the only reason you do so is because you always do - have a reason and goal
• Do not present program if you or the parents have to force the kids to participate

• Three month's before

•  pick your program
•  recruit volunteers to help
•  develop a specific goal
•  promote goal and have sign ups throughout the church
•  set your date
•  begin to assign parts
•  find people to build props and handle light and sound

• Two months before
•  continue practices
•  continue to promote in the church and community
•  make sure any costumes are ready

• Once month before
•  continue practices
•  continue to promote
•  set date to put up props
•  schedule final practice

• Day or Evening of
•  have a terrific time
•  encourage and affirm everyone - even if mistakes are made

• Day after
•  clean up
•  send out thank-you's to cast and crew and invite to a cast party
•  follow-up on any decisions

Holiday Skits  Author - Tom Boal Publisher - Gospel Light Publishing

    I like this resource as it provides short skits you can work in a total program with music.  There are five Advent and Christmas skits ranging from short and simple skits to a series of excellent skits you would present throughout Advent or as one longer play.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• reproducible
• all ages can participate
• non speaking parts
• information to help you get ready
• helpful tips for production
• help for how to utilize with poor readers
• each skit includes a synopsis
• each skit includes stage setting ideas
• each skit lists players and recommended ages
• each skit lists suggested props
• each skit includes directors tips
• each skit lists approximate time

Come See the Wonder Author - Gail Gaymer Martin Publisher - Standard Publishing

    This resource provides four complete Christmas programs for use at church or school.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• each skit has an introduction with helpful information for the director
• each skit provides a bulletin/program format
• three skits include an Advent activity
• each skit includes carols for the congregations
• skits do not have to be memorized
• parts are small - includes everyone

The Fumbly, Bumbly Angels - Instant Christmas Pageant Authors - Sandy Cope & Sandy Dillbeck Publisher - Group Publishing

    Sometimes while we may want to put together a Christmas program, we may not have a lot of time to prepare, but we may really want a program.  Or, you may be looking for a resource you could use for an outreach to a homeless shelter or in a nursing home and therefore need something simple and uncomplicated.  If this sounds like your situation, Group has a resource just right for you!  Instant Christmas Pageants are just that - you just need to add people - children and/or teens and/or adults, a little simple costuming and a few practices and you are all ready!

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• flexible to allow parts for all who want to participate
• no memorizing of parts
• CD included has all speaking parts, music and sound effects
• involves audience in singing carols
• reproducible clip art
• CD includes additional clip art
• CD music can be copied for $1.00 each

uses:  church, christian school, homeschool group, youth group, outreach groups, puppet ministries

other titles available in Instant Christmas Pageants Series

• The Mouse's Tale
• Live from Bethlehem
• The Not-so-Silent Night

Hymn Stories for Children - the Christmas Season Authors - Phyllis VosWezelman & Anna Liechty Publisher - Kregel Publications

    This unique and interesting resource would make a fun and different children's Christmas program resource as well as serve as an excellent teaching tool as it provides the story of the origination of our favorite Christmas hymns as well as their meanings.  This resource can be utilized in classrooms extremely well, but would also work as a program by having each class select one to three songs to learn about, perform and present.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• 25 favorite Christmas Hymns and their history and meaning
• each hymn lesson includes a craft to help illustrate the history or meaning
• words for the hymns included in each lesson
• would make a terrific program
• each song lists composer, year of publication, tune and scripture reference
• each lesson includes the theme for the hymn
• each lesson includes a list of supplies needed for craft and complete directions

uses:  Sunday School, Children's Church, mid-week program, choir, school, home
 

    Many times when we begin looking for Christmas plays, we either look for a program already written out with the music and drama - such as the ones listed above - or we start from scratch and write our own.  Both options can and often do work well, but there is another option available where you combine the two by finding a good story book and write your own play based on the book.  This can be a way to do something new and unique without starting totally from scratch.  I'm going to recommend several books, each of which would make excellent resources to adapt into a Christmas program.  (These books would also make excellent additions to a Christmas Book Fair)
 

The Legend of the Candy Cane Author - Lori Walburg Illustrator - James Bernardin Publisher - Zondervan Publishing House

    This is a truly delightful story!  It is well written and would work extremely well as a program - lots of parts for all who want to participate.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• delightful story
• includes true meaning of Christmas and why Jesus came
• artwork in book is fabulous - deep, rich, vibrant colors - excellent!

uses:  Christmas play;  home;  church;  christian school;  homeschool;  story for outreach ministry (last year the 5th & 6th grade kids from our church took gifts to kids in a homeless shelter and had a party for them.  We read this book during the party and sang Christmas songs)

Only a Star Author - Margery Facklam Illustrator - Nancy Carpenter Publisher - Eerdmans

    With a little creative work, this book could make a nice short play for young children.  It is also a beautiful book and story to be read and enjoyed!

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• short story - not a lot of words to a page
• beautiful, colorful illustrations - excellent
• information in the back about each animal/bug

Silent Night - the song and it's story  Author - Margaret Hodges Illustrator - Tim Ladwig Publisher - Eerdman Publishing

    This is another excellent book that with a little creativity and work could be made into an interesting and fun christmas program.  The carol "Silent Night" has long been a favorite for all ages down through the years and the story behind the song is quite interesting.

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• beautiful, colorful illustrations
• would work well as an unique Christmas program
• story behind a favorite carol

The Very First Christmas  Author - Paul Maier Illustrator - Francisco Ordaz Publisher - Concordia Publishing House Ages 5 - 10

    I love the "heart" behind this book!  So often we do tend to get caught up in all the "fluff" of Christmas, but there really is a reason for this season - Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sin.  And while there are many excellent books with fun Christmas stories - some of which are reviewed in this issue - as author Paul Maier says, "Children's Christmas books are often long on fancy, but short on fact . . . these pages will seek to return the Christmas focus to where it belongs."

FAVORITE FEATURES: 

• clearly and accurately tells the real story of Christmas
• beautiful, colorful illustrations - excellent!
• lots of real facts - interesting

uses:  home;  church;  school;  Christmas program
 

Mary's Treasure Box  Author - Carolyn Walz Kramlich Illustrator - Walter Porter Publisher - Tommy Nelson Ages 4 - 7

    This is yet another wonderful book to re-tell the christmas story in a creative way.  Many of us as moms save things from our children's lives - special memories and momentos.  Would Mary have been any different?  In this book we get to take a peek into Mary's treasure box of special memories that tell about Jesus!

FAVORITE FEATURES:

• children will be able to relate to sharing memories with their own grandma
• re-tells story of Jesus' birth and death and resurrection
• builds excitement and curiosity over what will the next item be and what does it mean
• teaches humility, kindness, joy, purity, prayer, worship, devotion and hope for eternal life
• ties Jesus' birth with the reason He came
• beautiful, colorful illustrations
• story would adapt well for a Christmas program

uses:  home;  church;  school;  Christmas program

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