Destination: Bethlehem: Dramas, Pageants, and Worship Services for Advent/Christmas

This anthology provides you with a great selection of dramatic material for memorable Advent and Christmas worship. With a variety of approaches, there's ample material to choose from to fit your needs, whatever your congregation's size or worship style.

Five Advent Candle Dramas (Anne W. Anderson) explores the traditional meanings of the Advent wreath candles in brief 3-5 minute sketches that incorporate the lighting of each week's candle. The Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace are couched in contemporary dramatic settings yet connected to the powerful reality of Christ's coming. Each scene includes concise instructions for costumes, props, and settings. The Savior Of The World (Nelson Chamberlain) is a five-scene play that tells the traditional Christmas story -- with a touch of humor and a few unexpected twists. With roles for children from preschool age through sixth grade, this fun, easy-to-produce program is perfect for that special day when the church is full and you want to highlight the young people in your congregation. Time Travelers' Tale Of The Carols (Linda Buff & Sharon Cathcart) is an entertaining and educational presentation that combines the story of Jesus' birth with the stories of several beloved Christmas carols. Through the imaginative device of a time machine, audiences will hear from some of the musicians and writers who created these familiar classics. Sets and costumes are minimal, and this simple play can be produced by churches of any size -- while there are parts for many children, the script can be easily adapted for any age or number of participants. Performance time is approximately 35-40 minutes. Here We Come To Bethlehem (Pamela Honan Peterson) is a Christmas pageant and congregational worship service that lets audiences eavesdrop on the thoughts, stories, and questions of ancient travelers as they make their way to Bethlehem. There are roles for 18 performers ranging from age three through high school, but with this flexible program it's easy to involve as many children, youth, and adults as desired. Performance time is approximately 20-25 minutes.
Choices skillfully interweaves dramatic readings and mimed characterizations with familiar carols and scripture texts to create a moving experience for the entire congregation. Perfect for either a children's program or Christmas Eve worship, this service combines contemporary drama with the charm and inspiration of a traditional Christmas pageant. It's a flexible piece that can be presented by any size group of young people, and costumes and settings may be simple or elaborate. Performance time is approximately 45-50 minutes.