‘Tis the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus! Use this church Christmas program to create a free family production for the holidays.

With weeks of rehearsals, complex set designs, and elaborate costumes, the traditional Christmas pageant isn’t for everyone. So at this busy time of year, try doing something different to involve entire families in a one-night Christmas production—with no rehearsal necessary and an important role for every participant.

Prep for the Church Christmas Program

Nothing’s easier than an entire production done in one night, but you’ll need to prepare well to pull it off. Follow these easy steps!

First, Designate a Time for Your Event

Schedule your production at a time that’s complementary to younger children’s schedules, such as Saturday morning or early evening.

Then, Recruit Christmas Program Staff

• First, recruit four actors who can play the lead roles: Mary, Joseph, an Angel, and a Shepherd. Gather simple costumes for these actors.
• Next, recruit room helpers. You’ll need helpers in each room, so plan according to the number of people you’re expecting. These helpers will assist families in creating ornaments and will help teach songs to families.
• Also recruit volunteers to be guides who will to take families to rooms.
• You may also need musicians, tech support, and snack-reception helpers—depending on the size of your event.

Next, Choose Rooms for the Event

You’ll need three separate rooms for three separate stations. Each room will need a space with tables for ornament making. The three rooms will be titled the following:

• “It’s a Boy”
• “A Heavenly Announcement”
• “Follow That Star”

Read through each room description below to determine how to set up all three stations and what supplies need to go in each.

Finally, Create a Registration Process

For planning purposes, ask families to register for your one-night production so you can have enough supplies and food on hand.

Christmas Program General Schedule

Part 1: Welcome!

As families arrive, have greeters give each family a sticker for the room they’ll go to such as…

• stars for the “It’s a Boy!” room
• angels for the “A Heavenly Announcement” room
• sheep for the “Follow That Star” room

Distribute one-third of the families to each room.

Part 2: Station Rotation

Families will only go to one room where they will hear one account of the Christmas story—either from Mary and Joseph, the Angel, or the Shepherd. (See room descriptions below.)

In each room, families will make an ornament about their Christmas account. Then they’ll watch a skit about their Christmas account and learn motions to perform during the skit. Finally, families will learn a song that they can help lead.

Once families arrive in their designated rooms, give them approximately 30 minutes to make ornaments, learn the skit motions, and learn the song.

Part 3: Group Gathering

When families finish their station stations, have them all gather in your sanctuary or a large meeting area. Actors and families from the different rooms will take turns coming up onstage to help share their account of the Christmas story.

Actors from the different rooms (Mary and Joseph, the Angel, and the Shepherd) will do their short skit while families stand on the sides leading the skit motions they learned. Then, families from each room will lead the whole group in singing their room’s song. The order of the songs and skits should be as follows:

1. “Silent Night” from the “It’s a Boy!” room—led by Mary, Joseph, and families who were in that room
2. “Angels We Have Heard on High” from the “A Heavenly Announcement” room—led by the Angel and families who were in that room
3. “Joy to the World” from the “Follow that Star” room—led by the Shepherd and families who were in that room

After singing “Joy to the World,” remind families of your church’s Christmas Eve services and invite everyone to stay for a reception honoring Jesus’ birthday.

Part 4: Reception After the Show

At the reception, you can serve a birthday cake for Jesus, have families each bring a plate of cookies, or stage a cookie swap. Relax and enjoy the success of a great Christmas program where everyone played a part and learned about the real Christmas Star-Jesus.  Recruit a photographer to take pictures of each participating family and use the photos as a follow-up tool. After your event, email or post the photos on your church website for families to have a keepsake from the evening.

Room #1: It’s a Boy!

After a long journey to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph experienced indescribable joy as they held the newborn Jesus in their arms. Families in this room will create a nativity ornament, practice “Silent Night,” and prepare their part of the story about the special night Jesus was born.

Make an Ornament: The Nativity Scene

What You’ll Need:

• yellow paint
• paintbrushes
• scissors
• glitter
• potpourri
• glue
• a downloadable nativity scene copied onto card stock
• cinnamon sticks (5 per person)
• ribbon (6 inches per person)
• small wooden or cardboard stars (1 per person)

What You’ll Do:

Paint a small wooden star with yellow paint and sprinkle glitter over the wet paint. Glue five cinnamon sticks into the shape of a house. As the glue and paint dry, cut out the nativity scene and glue it to the dried cinnamon-stick stable.

Glue potpourri onto the sides of the stable for a rustic look-and nice smell. Then glue the star to the top of the stable. Insert a 6-inch piece of ribbon through the top of the stable. Tie the ribbon in a knot for hanging the nativity ornament.

Practice a Song and Skit: “Silent Night”

Mary and Joseph can practice this interactive story with families. During the whole group gathering, encourage families to join Mary and Joseph on stage to help lead the audience in the actions in parentheses.

Joseph: Mary and I made a long journey to Bethlehem to be counted for the census (count on their fingers).

Mary: I was so tired and anxious to arrive in Bethlehem (women/girls say, “Are we there yet?”).

Joseph: I knew Mary was tired and the time was nearing for baby Jesus to be born. I needed to find a place for us to stay, so I knocked on the door of a hotel (men/boys motion a knocking gesture). I asked the innkeeper, “Do you have any room?” But the man shook his head (shake their heads, no). So I went to another hotel and knocked (all the men/boys knock). I asked again if we could stay the night and again the answer was (everyone says, “No”).

Mary: I told Joseph I’d be happy just to have a place to lie down. One of the innkeepers was kind enough to offer us some room in his stable. So there among the cows (everyone “moos”), sheep (everyone “baas”), and donkeys (everyone “whinnies”), baby Jesus was born (everyone says, “ahhhh”).

Joseph: Mary wrapped Jesus in warm clothes and laid him in a manger (all women/girls pantomime wrapping a baby and laying him down). Later that night we had visitors arrive to see the most special baby in the world (everyone says, “ahhhh”).

Mary: Joseph and I knew God had given us a special gift that night, and we made a promise to be the best parents to baby Jesus (everyone rocks a baby to sleep).

Joseph: Let’s sing “Silent Night” to remember the special night Jesus was born.

(Everyone sings “Silent Night.”)

Room #2: A Heavenly Announcement

A band of angels joined together to make one of the most important announcements ever proclaimed-the Savior of the world was born! Families in this room will make angel ornaments, practice “Angels We Have Heard On High,” and prepare their part of the story about the good news the angels delivered on that glorious night.

Make an Ornament: Chenille Angels

What You’ll Need:

• ¼ length of 1 gold metallic chenille wire
• ½ length of 1 white chenille wire
• 2 bumps from 1 chenille craft bump stem (any color)
• 1 large craft bead

What You’ll Do:

Fold the gold and white chenille wires in half, then interlock the two. Push the white chenille wire through the bead until the interlocked area is hidden. Push the ends of the white chenille wire back into the bead to form wings. Form a halo with the gold chenille wire. Fold the bump stem in half and push the folded end into the bottom of the bead. Form the angel’s body by folding the ends of the bump stem together.

Practice a Song and Skit: “Angels We Have Heard on High”

The Angel can practice this interactive story with families. During the whole group gathering, encourage families to join the angel on stage to help lead the audience in the announcement the angels made the night Jesus was born—by doing the actions in parentheses. 

Angel: My friends and I had been waiting patiently for the cue to give the big announcement, you know, the one that would change the world forever (tap their feet)! I’ll never forget when I heard that trumpet sound (imitate trumpet playing) to signal us it was time to begin.

Angel: We filled the sky. (Show their best angel pose.) We filled the sky with a bright light and startled the shepherds who were sleeping down below.

Angel: I was privileged to be the angel who announced the good news. It went something like this: “Good news I bring to you (families say “good news”), news that will fill you with joy (families say “joy”). In Bethlehem town, in a dark cattle shed (families say “Bethlehem), is born a brand-new baby boy (pretend to hold a baby). This child is the Christ, the Savior of all (families say “Christ, the Savior of all”). He’ll be in a warm bed, wrapped in soft clothes, this baby so small, with straw to pillow his head (pretend to sleep soundly).”

Angel: Then the entire sky filled with angels (make star bursts with fingers) singing God’s glory and praise. Let’s sing “Angels We Have Heard On High” to remember the wonderful news the angels announced that first Christmas.

(Everyone sings “Angels We Have Heard On High.”)

Room #3: Follow That Star

What a surprise the shepherds had the night Jesus was born! In this room, families make a star ornament, practice “Joy to the World,” and hear about the event that woke the shepherds and spurred a journey to follow a star to the birthplace of the newborn king.

Make an Ornament: Shiny Christmas Stars

What You’ll Need:

• cardboard
• pens
• scissors
• yellow felt
• glitter glue
• candy canes

What You’ll Do:

Trace the star pattern onto cardboard. For a star pattern, click here.

Trace the cardboard patterns onto yellow felt and cut out the stars. Fold the long piece along the dotted lines, and cut along the dotted lines. Weave the shorter piece through the slits in the long piece. Use glitter glue to decorate your star. Then lay your star flat to dry. Once your star is dry, stick a candy cane through its back.

Practice a Song and Skit: “Joy to the World”

The Shepherd can practice this interactive story with families. During the whole group gathering, encourage families to join the Shepherd on stage to help lead the audience by doing the actions in parentheses. 

Shepherd: Wow! Did I have an unbelievable night! Can I tell you about it? My line of work isn’t that eventful. I keep an eye (hold hand to eyes as though looking in the distance) on our family’s sheep herd morning, noon, and night. Last night was pretty low-key, so I decided to grab a little shut-eye (demonstrate closing your eyes, laying your head on your hands).

Shepherd: Suddenly, the brightest light I’ve ever seen woke me from my slumber (make a “surprise” facial expression). Yep, that’s exactly how I felt. My shepherd friends all awoke and together we watched this magnificent band of heavenly angels singing (look up) as they delivered the amazing news that a baby, the Savior of the world, had been born. The angels told us he was wrapped in cloth and sleeping in a manger. Then “POOF!” (show a starburst motion with their hands), the angels were gone.

Shepherd: Well, we knew we needed to see this baby, so the other shepherds and I followed a bright star to Bethlehem (pump arms as though you’re running). And, sure enough, there in a manger bed lay Jesus, sweet and mild (say “ahhh”). My friends and I fell down and worshipped the newborn king (bow and fold hands). What a night! I’m so excited I was one of the first people to see baby Jesus. His birth changed the world forever. What a joy-filled night! Let’s sing “Joy to the World” in celebration of God’s gift to the world-Jesus.

(Everyone sings “Joy to the World.”)

Sue Lennartson served as a small groups pastor and is an author, speaker, and vocalist.

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