A Nativity Reading

In 1982 I directed a Christmas program at church which we called "A Christmas Collage." In was a collection of poetry, music, scripture reading, monolouges and skits we put together. There was not a lot of Christian drama pieces available at that, although we did use some poetry and adapted a dramatic reading from Marjorie Holmes novel "Two From Galilee." I also wrote and co-wrote a couple of pieces and compiled the Scripture readings.

Below is something I put together as a Choral Reading, but it can also be used as a responsive reading in a church service. I have changed it a little over the years as I have used it at various churches. Feel free to use it if you like it.

If you do it as a reading of course you can divide up the readers parts for more than two people. To adapt it as a responsive reading, the LEADER would take the parts of both readers and the CONGREGATION the part of the chorus.




THE NATIVITY
A Choral Reading from Scripture
compiled by Tammy Hensel

READER 1 (Luke 2:1-3):

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

CHORUS (Numbers 23:10a):

Who can count the dust of Jacob,
Or number the fourth part of Israel?

READER 2 (Luke 2:4):

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

CHORUS (Micah 5:2):

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.

READER 2 (Luke 2: 5):

in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

CHORUS (Isaiah 9:6):

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

READER 1(Luke 2:6 ):

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

CHORUS (Isaiah 7:14):

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

READER 1 (Luke 2:7a):

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths,

CHORUS (Colossians 1:15):

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

READER 1 (Luke 2:7b):

and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

CHORUS (Revelation 3:20):

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

READER 2 (Luke 2: 8):

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

CHORUS (Isaiah 40:11):

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

READER 1(Luke 2:9):

And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

CHORUS (Psalm 33:18):

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

READER 2(Luke 2:10-11):

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

CHORUS (Psalm 32:11):

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

READER 2 (Luke 2:12):

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

CHORUS (Philippians 2:6-7):

who,although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

READER 1(Luke 2:13-14):

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

CHORUS (John 3:16 ):

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

READER 2(Luke 2:15-16):

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

CHORUS (John 3:12):

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

READER 2(Luke 2:17):

When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

CHORUS (Philippians 2:10-11):

so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Link to recent article in The Breakthrough Intercessor

It seems I was mistaken about The Breakthrough Intercessor not being available on-line. I just found a link to a pdf version. http://www.intercessors.org/magazine/vol29.3_Fall2008.pdf
My article begins on page 24 and is entitled "Internet Intercessor." Let me know what you think.

Morning Devotional

I began my devotions earlier than usual this morning - before I even woke up! When I awoke I found there was a scripture verse and a song of assurance and praise pouring through my mind and my heart. I could not recall all of my dream, but I knew that in it I was worshiping my Lord, who gave His all for me. I am continuing my worship by asking all who read to join with me.

The verse is:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

The song is a great church hymn, "The Church's One Foundation." I think I will be singing it all day, because it is stuck in my head. I could only recall the first verse clearly, although I remembered some lines from other verses. So I looked it up on www.cyberhymnal.com Here are all the words from the Cyber Hymnal (I found that there are YouTube videos of this hymn, but I am having a problem with the speakers on my computer, so I can't listen to them to find a good one to post. I may add it in later after I get that fixed) I hope it blesses everyone who reads it.

THE CHURCH'S ONE FOUNDATION

words by Samuel J. Stone 1866 music by Samuel S. Wesley 1864

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against both foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

'Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master's hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!

Jesus The Ultimate Fall Guy

It has been several weeks since I have posted on this blog and I would like to apologize to those of you who have been kind enough to subscribe. I have been tremendously busy, as you will see over the next few months when I add to my "published works" links here. I have several items that have been accepted by webzines and a few more pending. One of them is my "Boxes, boxes, boxes . . . devotional which I had posted here, but have taken down since it will be published.
This morning I decided I really needed to return to this blog. While praying about what to post, I was reminded of a short devotional I wrote in February 2007 for my myspace ministry blog. It includes a YouTube video of the song "Above All."
I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to leave a comment if it blesses you.

Jesus – The Ultimate Fall Guy
by Tammy L. Hensel

During my private worship time this morning I was really blessed by a praise song we often sing at church "Above All" by Paul Baloche and Lenny LeBlanc. I found the words on the Internet and printed them out to use as part of my morning devotional. It is the last part of the song that really caught my attention this morning. These words "You took the fall, and thought of me above all," have circulated through my brain all day encouraging me. As I pondered these lyrics it occurred to me that Jesus really is the ultimate "fall guy."

I did a quick google search to see if I could find the origin of the term "fall guy". I came up with a variety of opinions. In fact the only thing that really was common to all the theories was that it emerged in American slang in the early part of the 20th century to refer to someone taking the blame for someone else.

And that, my friends, is just what Jesus did for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

THANK YOU LORD JESUS!

Here is a music video of the song.

CLUTTER

Here is a prosaic piece from a journal I call my "heart musings."
Clutter
By Tammy Hensel

Company is coming and I am trying to straighten up my house. There is so much clutter! How could I let all of this pile up? I am aghast at myself. Hurriedly I stuff it into drawers, closets, under the bed, and every unobtrusive nook and cranny I can find. I will just have to deal with it later, I promise myself.

As I work furiously, a question comes to me. Is this what I am doing with sin in my life? Am I stuffing it into nooks and crannies in my heart? Telling myself I can deal with it later - promising God that the time will come.

On the surface, my house looks clean and comfortable. I appear to my friends to have it all together. They say I am so spiritual. But the clutter is still there – in my house and in my heart. Eventually it will have to be dealt with or it will creep out and take over

One day soon we are planning to move out of this house. The day of reckoning with my junk is not far off. I will be forced to take the time to sort through it all and either take it with me or get rid of it.

But the day of reckoning with my sin could come any moment. Can I delay sorting through the junk in my heart any longer? I sure don't want to take it with me!
I drop down on my knees and open my heart once more to the sweet forgiveness that follows confession. What a blessed Savior indeed!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

Copyright Tammy L. Hensel November 10, 2006. All Rights Reserved.