This interactive reading was adapted from another source.

Introduce the characters and practice each part. Give instructions that they will perform their parts after their words are read in the Christmas story. Below are just suggestions, but you can simplify it by having everyone do all the parts. I made signs to prompt them.

Characters

City                

Parents/adults stand and make Bible city sounds such as yelling, donkey sounds, and trumpets.

Joseph            

Right side stand, raise their right hands, and say, “O Holy Night.”

Mary              

Left side stand, pretend to hold a baby, and say, “Ahhh.”

Child              

Front side stand, place their hands over their hearts, and say, “Love.”

Angels            

Back side stand, hold out their hands like angel wings, and say, “Peace.”

Shepherds     

Parents/adults stand and shake their staffs (use brooms, umbrellas, or yard sticks) in the air.

STORY

This is from the book of Luke, Chapter 2:

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.

So Joseph went from the city of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census.

As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was expecting a child.

SONG

O Little Town of Bethlehem/Once in a Royal David’s City

O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth.

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed

Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed

Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child

STORY

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

SONG

What Child Is This

What Child is this who laid to rest

On Mary’s lap is sleeping

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring him laud

The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh

Come peasant, king to own him

The King of kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone him

Raise, raise the song on high

The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born

The Babe, the Son of Mary

STORY

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in the city of David, a Savior who is Messiah, the Lord. This is what you’re to look for: a child wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

SONG

Hark the Herald Angels Sing/Angels We Have Heard on High

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled

Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies

With angelic hosts proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountain in reply echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

STORY

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all on earth who please him.

As the angels withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” 

SONG

Rise Up Shepherd and Follow/Go Tell It on the Mountain

There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn. Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

It will lead t the place where the Christ was born. Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

Follow, follow; rise up, shepherd, and follow.

Follow the star of Bethlehem. Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

If you take a good heed to the angel’s words, rise up, shepherd, and follow.

You’ll forget your flocks; you’ll forget your herds. Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

Follow, follow; rise up, shepherd, and follow.

Follow the star of Bethlehem. Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night

Behold throughout the heavens, there shone a holy light

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born

STORY

The shepherds left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

Seeing was believing. The shepherds told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

SONG

Peace on Earth

Go around and tell, Christ will make us well

Peace on earth, goodwill to men

With us he will dwell, quelling death and sin

Peace on earth, goodwill to men

All darkness falls, God’s light prevails, now it is well

His promise for us soon fulfilled: Emmanuel