Jesus, the Gift of Christmas

A Worship Musical &
Service Resource

for Advent & Christmas

by Ken Bible

*Indicates songs with familiar tunes
Click on the

throughout the script to listen to the song

About This Musical
IT'S FREE!
This musical is provided without charge for use by your congregation. For additional information, please read May I Copy These Hymns?
HOW TO PRESENT THIS MUSICAL
Jesus, the Gift of Christmas may be presented in several ways: As a complete musical. As a resource for each of the Sundays of Advent and Christmas. The sections titled "Hope", "Peace", "Joy", and "Love" may be used successively on the four Sundays of Advent. Use it for both. Use selected songs on each of the Sundays of Advent and Christmas, then present the entire work as your Christmas concert or service. The lighting of the Advent candles is optional.
SONGS
Most of the songs in this musical have a familiar tune with new words. Thus they are easy for your congregation to sing without rehearsal. For those tunes that are less familiar to your congregation, have the accompanist play through the music once before you sing. Another option is to have a soloist or choir sing a verse before asking the congregation to join.
RECORDINGS
A demonstration recording is available for each of the songs in this musical. To hear them, just left-lick on the to the right of each song title. You may download the recordings FREE by right-clicking on the . These recordings may be copied and shared with anyone, as long as you don't sell them. Use them to help your musicians prepare for the musical. For details, click here. Sorry, accompaniment trax are not available.
READINGS
These readings may be presented by your pastor or by a reader…or use a different reader for each reading. All the readings are optional. Each reading is marked with optional beginning points, to serve your needs whether you're using Jesus, the Gift of Christmas as a complete musical or as an Advent resource. Feel free to adapt the readings to your own situation or to omit them entirely.

I. Opening

SONG: Prepare Us

SONG: Jesus, the Gift of Christmas

II. Hope

SONG: Peace, Peace, Peace (v.2 only)

Optional

Lighting the Candle of Hope

First Sunday of Advent

Pastor or Reader:
1Today we begin our celebration of Advent.
On these four Sundays leading up to Christmas,
we will rejoice in the great gift that is ours in Jesus Christ.

To help us celebrate,
we will be lighting the candles of the Advent wreath.
The candles signify that Jesus is the Light of the World.
The evergreens remind us that He is life and brings life to us.
All these are arranged in a circle because life in Christ has no end.

Each Sunday we will light an additional candle.
Then on Christmas Eve, we will light all the candles,
including the center one, the Christ candle.
As we do, we will rejoice that Christ has come to us.
He is Immanuel…God with us.

On this first Sunday of Advent,
2we light the candle of hope.
3Hope is our assurance that God will finish all He has started.
Hope is our confidence that He will do all He has promised.

Jesus Christ is our hope, our confidence, and our assurance,
today and forever!
All the promises of God are fulfilled in Him.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

1If you are presenting this work on the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

2If you are presenting this work as a musical and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

3If you are not lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

SONG: We Lift the Light of Hope (v.1 only)
with Hear the Prophets Talking
[Alternate hymn for “Hear the Prophets Talking”: The Promise]

SONG: We Have a Hope

III. Peace

SONG: Peace, Peace, Peace (v.1 only)

Optional

Lighting the Candle of Peace

Second Sunday of Advent

Pastor or Reader:

1On this second Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
2we light the candle of peace.

3Jesus Christ is our peace.
He is the Prince of Peace,
and the fruit of His presence is peace.

Christ comes to bring justice, wholeness, and harmony
to every relationship throughout all creation.
He wants to continually grant us peace in every situation.

Jesus Christ,
guide each of us,
guide all of us
into Your peace.

1If you are presenting this work on the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

2If you are presenting this work as a musical and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

3If you are not lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

SONG: We Lift the Light of Hope (v.2 only)
with Sweet Peace

IV. Joy

SONG: Peace, Peace, Peace (v.4 only)

Optional

Lighting the Candle of Joy

Third Sunday of Advent

Pastor or Reader:
1On this third Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
2we light the candle of joy.

3When Christ comes into our lives,
He brings the fullness of joy.
He anoints our hearts with the oil of gladness.

When Jesus was born,
the angels said that His coming was
good news of great joy for all people.

Because Christ has come to us,
we can live every day in the joy of the Lord.
Praise to His name!

1If you are presenting this work on the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

2If you are presenting this work as a musical and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

3If you are not lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

SONG: We Lift the Light of Hope (v.3 only)
with Come Rejoicing!

SONG: God Is with Us! Alleluia!

V. Love

SONG: Peace, Peace, Peace (v.3 only)

Optional

Lighting the Candle of Love

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Pastor or Reader:
1On this fourth Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
2we light the candle of love.

3How great is the love the Father has lavished on us! (1 John 3:1)

This is how God showed His love:
He sent His one and only Son into the world
that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

1If you are presenting this work on the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

2If you are presenting this work as a musical and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

3If you are not lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

SONG: We Lift the Light of Hope (v.4 only)
with Love Has Come!

SONG: Jesus Loves Me (Christmas)
Children, possibly with congregation

VI. Christmas

SONG: We Lift the Light of Hope (v.5 only)

Optional

Lighting the Christ Candle

Christmas Eve or Christmas Service

Pastor or Reader:
1As we celebrate the birth of Jesus
and rejoice in His coming to us,
2we light the Christ candle.

3Jesus Christ is our hope.
He is our peace.

Jesus Christ is our joy.
He is love‒
pure, holy, undying love.

Whoever believes in Him will never perish
but have eternal life.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

1If you are presenting this work on the various Sundays of Advent and Christmas and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

2If you are presenting this work as a musical and are lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

3If you are not lighting the Advent candles, begin the reading here.

SONG: Now Unto Us a Child Is Born

SONG: You Came to Us

SONG: Here We Come Rejoicing

Jesus, the Gift of Christmas

About This Musical