CTA - Christian Tools of Affirmation



God’s Promise Came TrueNotes to the Preschool Service DirectorChildren ages 3 to 6 will delight in telling the Good News of Jesus’ birth through this simple, yet powerful Christmas service. As teachers and helpers speak about the true meaning of Christmas and model the joy it stirs in Christian hearts, little ones will catch the excitement and eagerly prepare for this special chance to share the story of the first Christmas.You can practice many of the components of this service with individuals or small groups of children for several weeks before your first whole-group practice takes place. Here are some ideas that may help you get ready.Adapt this service to fit your group’s size, setting, and preferences.The Bible quotations printed in this program come from the English Standard Version (ESV). You’re welcome to substitute a translation of your choice, but if you do this, you will need to change the credit line. Visit to learn more about Bible credit lines.Invite and advertise! CTA provides many free, downloadable pieces suitable for advertising. Visit and click on the “Resource & Idea Center” and then on “Seasonal” to find the downloadables for God’s Promise Came True. They include a coloring page, the full-color artwork for the theme God’s Promise Came True, a PowerPoint presentation to match God’s Promise Came True, and more!Add simple actions to songs. We have made some suggestions. You can add others or modify ours to fit your setting and traditions. Actions help children memorize words, and they will enhance the presentation of the song for the family members and others who attend.Record a CD or mp3s of the speaking parts and songs. Use it to teach the children their parts. Let them listen to it during classroom craft times and at other appropriate times. If possible, make a CD for each child to listen to at home and during car time.If some songs and carols are unfamiliar, key the titles into your Internet search engine. These are public domain and should be easy to find. Note that the new theme song CTA has commissioned just for this service is available in the Resource & Idea Center. Just follow the directions in the second bullet point above to find what you’re looking for.Send words home. Copy the song lyrics and encourage families to help small children practice their parts.Devise a signal to get everyone’s attention, and teach the children to stop, look at you, and listen when they hear the sound. For example, toot a party horn, jingle some Christmas bells, or simply count down, “Three, two, one. Shhhhhh.”Use hand motions to help children know what to do. For instance, extend your arms with palms up and raise your arms to indicate children should stand up. To indicate time to sit down, lower your arms with palms down. Invite children to illustrate the words they will say throughout the service. Plan to project their drawings on overhead screens as the story unfolds. Plan the presentation so the audience can easily see the children. Arrange for little ones to remain at the front of the church or auditorium throughout the service. Position tallest children in the back rows and smallest in front—perhaps on low risers or steps. When they are not speaking or singing, they may simply sit down in place.Invite an adult leader(s) to read the “narrator” parts. A teacher or parent might do this. Or recruit several youth from your church or school and divide the parts between them. If your group includes some children who are reading independently, consider having them read or memorize some of the speaking parts assigned to the narrator.Place a manger at center stage. Be sure to allow enough space for all the children to gather around it at the appropriate point in the program.Print a program for those who attend. CTA provides a free program cover with theme art you can download and customize. Check it out online as described in the second bullet point above. After the service, give each child a copy of the book God’s Promise Came True to read and enjoy at home (item GPT17SCTS). You may also want to have children standing at each exit, distributing invitations to your church’s Christmas services. Use the invitations with theme art CTA provides. This will create a unified look and feel to your Christmas events.Because photography can disrupt worship and because movement in the audience may distract the children, you might want to offer an alternative for parents and grandparents. Before you begin, announce that all adults will have an opportunity to take pictures of their children near the classroom Christmas tree or at the manger after the service. Then ask that they refrain from taking photos during the program itself.God’s Promise Came TrueA Christmas Service for Preschool ChildrenGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. Luke 2:14[The pastor, preschool director, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, or other designated leader welcomes everyone and offers a brief opening prayer. Then the director invites the children forward. The piano or organ plays a familiar, joyful Christmas carol as the children move. When everyone is settled, the narrator begins.]When Jesus Was Born, Mary . . .Speaker 1: When Jesus was born . . .Speaker 2: The night was dark.Speaker 3: Stars twinkled in the sky. (While Speaker 3 says this, all the children raise their hands and “twinkle” by rapidly opening and closing their fists several times.)Speaker 1: When Jesus was born . . .All children: God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (As they speak, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)Narrator 1 (reading): “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).Speaker 1: When Jesus was born . . .All children: God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (As they speak, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)Narrator 1 (reading): The angel of the Lord said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and . . . of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30–33).Speaker 1: When Jesus was born . . .All children: God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (As they speak, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)[As “Away in a Manger” begins, Mary and Joseph begin to move slowly to center stage from the back of the auditorium. They should take a circuitous route and pause from time to time so they arrive at the point indicated below.]Song: Away in a Manger (stanza 1 by the children) Away in a manger, no crib for a bedThe little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.When Jesus Was Born, Joseph . . .Speaker 5: When Jesus was born . . .Speaker 6: Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem.Narrator 1 (reading): “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. . . . And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Luke 2: 1, 3–5).[Mary and Joseph arrive at the manger. Mary inconspicuously takes Baby Jesus from hiding behind the manger. She and Joseph have their backs to the audience. They admire the baby as Mary holds him, smiling and adoring him as they gradually turn so the audience can see the baby. They should ignore the audience, focusing only on “Jesus,” placing him gently in the manger before the finger play “In Manger Lies” begins.] Speaker 5: When Jesus was born . . .Speaker 6: Mary wrapped him up tight to keep him warm.Narrator 1 (reading): “She . . . wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).Speaker 5: When Jesus was born . . .Speaker 6: Joseph stood guard. He protected Mary and the Baby Jesus. He kept them safe.Speaker 5: When Jesus was born . . .All children: God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (Again, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)In Manger Lies (a finger play by the children)1. (Point to the manger) In manger lies a baby Boy,(Spread hands wide to indicate “all people”) Born to bring all people joy! 2.(Pretend to rock baby in arms) Loving Mary, sweet and mild,(Brush right cheek with back of right fingers) Caring for her little Child.3.(Stand with feet apart and hands on hips) Father Joseph stays so near.(Hold index finger to lips as if to say, “Shhh” and shake head “no”) Baby Jesus, do not fear! [During the stanza of “Away in a Manger” shepherds enter and lie or sit where they can be seen, but at some distance from the manger. They are sleepy.]Song: Away in a Manger (stanza 2 by the children) The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.I love you, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,And stay by my cradle 'til morning is nigh.When Jesus Was Born, Angels . . .Speaker 11: When Jesus was born, the sky was dark.Speaker 12: Stars twinkled in the sky. (While Speaker 12 says this, all the children again raise their hands and “twinkle” by rapidly opening and closing their fists several times.)Speaker 12: But not for long![Angels suddenly appear to the shepherds. The shepherds are terrified.]Speaker 13: All at once . . .Speaker 11 (Hold fists up near your head, closed. Then POP open your fingers suddenly at the words “lit up.” Spread your fingers very wide and lift your arms high): The sky lit up, bright as day, as an angel announced this good news! Narrator 1 (reading): “In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8–12).Narrator 2: Suddenly the sky was FILLED with angels! The praises of heaven burst forth on earth!All children: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).All children: When Jesus was born, God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (Again, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)Narrator 2: When the sky grew dark once again, the shepherds could not stay there with their sheep! They just had to go see for themselves!Narrator 1 (reading): “They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:16–17).Narrator 2: When Jesus was born . . . Mary remembered. She thought about everything again and again, and she never forgot that night. Not ever!Narrator 1 (reading): “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).[The shepherds move to the manger to kneel there. Angels close in behind the other characters. All should be in place as the stanza from “Away in a Manger” begins.]Song: Away in a Manger (children sing stanza 3) Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stayClose by me forever and love me, I pray.Bless all the dear children in your tender care,And take us to heaven to live with you there.Because Jesus Was Born, We . . .Speaker 14: When Jesus was born . . .All children: God’s promise came true! It came true for me and for you! (Again, the children point to themselves, then to the audience.)Speaker 15: God kept his promises.Speaker 16: Each and every one!Narrator 1 (reading): “All the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus]. That is why it is through [Jesus] that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20).Narrator 2: And the Bible also tells us . . .Narrator 1 (reading): “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. . . . In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the [payment] for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:7–8, 10–11).Song: God’s Promise Came True (children)Picture a town long, long ago. Picture a Bethlehem moon.Mary and Joseph came to the inn only to hear, “There’s no room!”This was the time, this was the day, but for his arrival there was no space.So there in the place where the animals lay, Heaven entered our world.Chorus: God’s promise came true! God’s promise came true!God’s promise to love us and save us, oh, God’s promise came true!Tell all the world! Let the bells ring! Jesus has come to redeem!Let all the earth rise up in praise! Come, let us worship this King!Open our hearts to take in your grace; open our arms to feel your embrace;Open our eyes to see your face; open our lips to sing! (Chorus)Two tiny hands, wrinkled and curled, Christ Child so tender and small,These little hands are mighty to save; these hands will stretch out for all!Final chorus:God’s promise came true! God’s promise came true!God’s promise to love us and save us, oh, God’s promise came God’s promise came true!Descant for final chorus:God came through! God came through! God came to love us and save us, oh, God’s promise came God’s promise came true!All children (loudly and with a smile): Merry Christmas, everybody!Closing Song: Sing Out with Joy and Gladness (Congregation sings as children exit.)Tune: In Dulci Jubilo (“Good Christian Men, Rejoice”)Sing out with joy and gladness,Discard all fear and sadness.Children, shout! (And grown-ups, too!)Jesus Christ was born for you!Good News has from heaven come.Play the cymbals, beat the drum!God has sent his Son!God has sent his Son!He’s wrapped in swaddling clothes, With baby hands and toes!God himself in manger bedLying in a cattle shed!Those who know and trust God’s WordSee him fulfilling all they’ve heard.Jesus comes in love!Jesus comes in love!“Forgiveness!” he proclaims.How comforting his names:Christ, the Savior, Lord, and King,Sweet the new life that he brings!Glory! Praise! To God on high!Come, join the anthems of the sky!Christ was born for us!Christ was born for us!#GPT17DSPCopyright ? 2017 CTA, Inc., 1625 Larkin Williams Rd., Fenton, MO 63026, All rights reserved. Permission to adapt and make photocopies or reproduce by any other mechanical or electronic means is granted and is intended for use within a church or other Christian organization, but not for resale.Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version? (ESV?), copyright ? 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ................
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