Friday 21 November 2014

Frozen Nativity

Opening prayer: (lighting of advent wreath) Loving God, at times of darkness, come and give us light. When our hearts are cold, come and bring us warmth. As we come together once again to share our story, may we hear it once again with joy and hope.


Song: Do you wanna build a snowman (film clip)

Narrator: So Elsa's heart was cold. She wouldn't come out and play. Until one day Anna and Elsa received a letter from their friends, the wise men from the East. They have seen a new star, which means a new king is born. They have invited Anna, Elsa, Sphen and Cristoph to join them... To follow the star and find the baby.

Anna: You can't stay in your room all day. You have to come and visit the new baby king.
Elsa: OK. If you insist. Just don't expect me to be nice!
Anna:  Look at this letter (reading the letter) "Just so we don't bring the same, we are bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh."
Elsa: What ridiculous presents for a baby. And they're supposed to be wise men.  I'm sure we can do better than that.
Anna: A nice warm blanket, a packet of baby porridge and a rattle and a teddy. Four lovely presents for a special baby.
Elsa: Let's tell Sphen and Christoph, we'll get the presents and set off.

Song: Little Reindeer, little reindeer, on the snowy road. (Words as below, tune Little donkey)

Narrator: So they set off, following the star. They had gone just a little way when they came across a  little angel, looking sad. The angel told her story. A little while ago her friend, the angel Gabriel had appeared to a young woman called Mary to tell her that she was to have a special baby called Jesus. (Act our with children) Now the other angels had to gone to make music for the baby but she couldn't go because her musical instrument was broken.

Anna: If you need to make music, perhaps this will do. (Holding out the baby's rattle) We still have three lovely presents for the baby,

Narrator: The angel skipped away happily shaking the rattle.

Song: Hark the herald angels sing. 202

Narrator: As they travelled Elsa started thinking about how happy the little angel would be now she could play for the baby. It was the first time for ages that she had thought about anyone apart from herself. Her heart felt a little bit warmer.

Their journey took them over some hills. By the side of the road was a little shepherd boy, shivering with the cold.

Christoph: Look at that poor boy. Do we have anything that would keep him warm?

Elsa: Only the blanket that we brought for baby Jesus.

Anna: This poor boy needs it more. Here, little boy, have this blanket it would keep you warm.

Narrator: The shepherd boy then told his story. He had been watching sheep on the hills. Suddenly a bright light appeared and angels filled the sky. They told the shepherds that a special baby had been born who would bring peace to the world. He would be found in a stable in Bethlehem. The boy, now feeling warmer wrapped in the blanket, ran off to find his friends. He was so happy!

Song: Happy (despicable me 2) film clip

Narrator: Now Elsa's heart felt warmer. She thought about the angel and the little shepherd boy. As they arrived in the town, they met a girl. She was looking very worried. She told them that she worked at an inn in Bethlehem. There were loads of people there. They had all been on a long journey, and were tired and hungry. But there wasn't enough food to give everyone breakfast.
Elsa, Anna and Christoph: The Baby porridge!

Anna: I'm sure baby Jesus will be happy with just a teddy.

Narrator: So they gave the porridge to the girl. She told her story. Yesterday her inn was full. A man and a woman came to the door. The woman was having a baby. They had nowhere to stay, so she cleaned up the stable and let them stay there.

Elsa: That must be the stable where baby Jesus is born. Can you show us where it is?

See him lying on a bed of straw 216

Narrator: They were almost at the stable, when they came across a boy crying. He explained that he was a long way from home. He was a page boy to the three wise men. But he was lonely and missing his mum, especially at night time.

Elsa: what about the teddy? That might help?

Anna: We can't give him the teddy. It's the only thing left for baby Jesus.

Elsa: Before we set off on this journey, my heart felt cold. I didn't  care about anyone except myself. Every time we helped somebody my heart felt a bit warmer. I know that if this special baby has come into the world to bring peace, he would want us to help this boy too.

Elsa gives the teddy to the boy.

Elsa: There you are, don't be upset. Cuddle this teddy. You'll be home with your mum soon.


children are arranged in a nativity tableau

Song: Away in a manger 191

Anna, Elsa and Christoph:
Although we have no gifts to bring
To give to the new baby king,
We gave away the things we had,
To help those who were poor and sad,
Jesus said that when we do,
We are giving to him too.

Song: In the bleak mid-winter (Children return to their seats and the offering is taken.) the last verse can also be used as the offering prayer.
.

Elsa: you know, we do have a gift. Ever since we were little I've been able to make it snow. I've been frightened of this gift, and it hurt you. That's why I didn't like to come out of my room. We all have gifts, and we can use them for good. Perhaps baby Jesus would like a little snow. Not enough to be too cold, but perhaps just enough for a snowman.

Children invited to decorate the church with snowflakes made earlier.

Song: Let it go from Frozen. (Film clip)

Closing prayer.

Living Christ,
Be our light and our joy this Christmas,
Kindle the fire of your love within us,
Thaw our frostiness,
Send us out like sparks,
To bring the warmth of joy and hope,
To all who we meet.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.... Amen




Little reindeer, little reindeer
On the snowy road
Got to keep on plodding onwards
With your precious load.

Been a long time, little reindeer
Through the winter’s night
Don’t give up now, little reindeer,
Bethlehem’s in sight.

Chorus
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem.


Do not falter, little reindeer
There’s a star ahead
It will guide you, little don
To a cattle shed.

Chorus
Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Little reindeer, little reindeer
On the snowy road
Got to keep on plodding onwards
With your precious load.















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