# Three Shopping Days Till Christmas

## Summary

Finding the true meaning of Christmas among the intense commercialism of the season is explored in this play, which includes extracts from two other scripts, making a full-length production. The two scripts are: 'Christmas carols vs scripture' by Bob Snooks ©1999 Bob Snook. http://www.fea.net, bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net and 'Away with the Manger' (by John Fewing), which can be found elsewhere at the Dramatix site.

## Prologue

(Spotlight up on THE REPORTER, sitting at desk. S/he reads aloud while typing on his/her laptop)

REPORTER: December 20th, 5pm. The CHRISTMAS CRUNCH is on! As the big day draws nearer, Singaporeans all over the country are resorting to crazy last-minute antics to celebrate this season of food and gifts and general excess!! Shopping centers nation-wide are overflowing with crowds and carollers and Christmas trees. Santa Clauses are being mauled by over-anxious children, screaming "DROP THAT POKEMON SUPER-SEGA NINTENDO GAME SET!!!!!". (pause) Hmm. (continuing) This reporter has set out on a mission to document the season as celebrated in Singapore ... undercover, of course, s/he investigates our shopping mall-mentality pervading this time of year that we call - Christmas.

## Scene 1

(Curtains open to reveal a chaotic mall scene, with the choir in the midst of singing something painfully trite - Rudolf, Jingle Bells, etc. While singing, people walk across the stage - some mime opening doors walking into stops. Two men on a ladder are fixing a hideous plastic Christmas tree, and leave sometime during the scene. Santa walks through the scene as well.)

(the song ends)

CONDUCTOR: (turns around to bow in front of a non-existent audience) Thank you, thank you .... Alright choir, that's enough for now. 10 minute break! And when I say 10 minutes, I mean 10!

(The choir disperses.)

CAROLLER 1: Hai ... it's Christmas again.

CAROLLER 2: Yeah, it's so boring. We're singing the same old thing. You doing anything special this Christmas?

CAROLLER 3: Dunno? What about you?

CAROLLER 1: I think the usual. Eat a lot, watch TV. Receive a few presents here and there. Basically eat lor. (pats his belly) Nothing much.

CAROLLER 2: Yeah the same. (puts up hands in the same usual manner)

CAROLLER 3: ( nods in agreement) Yeah. Last Christmas, I ate a whole log cake, and pudding. Oohh...the turkey. Thinking about it makes my head swim. I could be a Santa Claus soon.

CAROLLER 2: Maybe you should! It must be better than singing these ridiculous songs over and over again ... and just look at our audience. Oops. Here comes the conductor.

Enter CONDUCTOR.

CONDUCTOR: (claps hands) Come on, come on, break is over. Hurry up lah! (they assemble half-heartedly) Now, remember, we're bringing joy to the lives of these everyday people - I want to see you sing with joy!

Choir sings Deck the Hall. Lights dim upstage as they end the second song.

## Scene 2

(Adapted from 'Christmas carols vs scripture' by Bob Snooks©1999 Bob Snook.)

(JAMES and JANEL, a couple, step out from the choir and begin shopping for Christmas presents. When they walk through the imaginary door to the shop, a door chime/bell rings. Action around the mall continues upstage. SHOPKEEPER sits stage right, reading a magazine. Music plays in the background.)

Enter JAMES.

JAMES -- (loudly) Hey, I need to look up some stuff ....

JANEL -- (embarrassed) Shshshshsh. I'm not deaf, you know. You're going to have to keep your voice down.

JAMES - Sorry, sorry ... but singing all these carols this month, I feel that I should look up some of the words we use so often.

JANEL - Can't this wait until we get home?

JAMES - But I want to know now!

JANEL - Ok, fine. Let's see if they have a dictionary or something in here. (To SHOPKEEPER) Excuse me ... miss? ... I was wondering if you knew where I could get a dictionary around here?

SHOPKEEPER - (rudely) Hah?

JANEL - A dic-tion-ar-ee. Dictionary. Do you have one?

SHOPKEEPER - Don have.

JANEL - Do you know where I could get one?

SHOPKEEPER - Don have.

JANEL - No, I'm asking you what other shops may have it.

SHOPKEEPER - Don have. Everything don have. Sole out. (seeing Janel's stunned face) Alamak ... (walks to books, picks up the Bible, and shoves it towards Janel) nah. You wan book right?

JANEL - Well! .... (about to retort, angrily)

JAMES - (holding her back) Shh, shh, shh ... It's okay, leave her alone. Maybe we can find something in here. See, look, they have references in the back, a (scrutinizing) concordance. Here. (hands it to Janel) I want to look up 'Christmas'. C... H... R... I... S....

JANEL -- ...I think I know how to spell Christmas. But I can save us a lot of time. I happen to know that Christmas is not in the Bible.

JAMES -- It isn't? But I thought...

JANEL -- Well, the story of Christmas is in the Bible, the birth of Jesus. But the word CHRISTMAS is not. (hands back the Bible)

JAMES -- Well, it wasn't really Christmas I wanted to look up. It was stuff about Christmas. (passes the Bible back to JANEL)

JANEL -- What stuff did you want to look up, James?

JAMES -- NOEL.

JANEL -- NOEL?

JAMES -- Yeah, you know. (sings) "The first Noel, the angels did say... "

JANEL - I'm familiar with the song! (checking concordance) Hey, but the word NOEL is not in the Bible either.

JAMES -- It isn't? How could that be?

JANEL - I dunno, I thought ... Oh yeah! The New Testament is written in, uh (checking) Greek, but the word NOEL is French.

JAMES -- Well, okay, but look up Silent night for me. You know, like (sings the line) "Silent Night, Holy Night."

JANEL - Yeah! Yeah! (Nodding) Everybody know that.... But once again, James, I can save you a lot of time. Silent night is not in the Bible.

JAMES - Are you sure? Aren't there other Bibles you can check?

JANEL - No, James, even the King James Version wouldn't have 'silent night'. As a matter of fact, there's a lot of evidence that the night was not silent at all.

JAMES -- It wasn't?

JANEL -- No. According to the Bible, there was a loud chorus of angels singing praises to the new born king.

JAMES -- Well, I'll be. So, it was the angels who sang (sings) FA LA (cringes, sings the line quieter) FA LA LA LA LA LA LA.

JANEL - Perhaps in Hebrew it sounded better.

JAMES -- Oh. So, there's no FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA in the Bible?

JANEL -- No, I'm sorry. (shakes head and pause) Anything else?

JAMES: (Looking puzzled) Pa rum pum pum pum. (no singing, just the words)

JANEL - James?

JAMES -- (sings quietly the line) Pa rum pum pum pum ... you know, the little drummer boy!

JANEL -- (turns pages) No. I'm sorry, but there is no entry in the concordance for either drum or drummer boy.

JAMES -- I think you are badly mistaken. I happen to know that the ox and lamb kept time.

JANEL -- Yes, well,...

JAMES -- I suppose you're going to try to tell me that nobody in the stable where Jesus was born had green sleeves. What, no mistletoe, no fig trees?

JANEL - Well ... (shaking her head)

JAMES -- ...No chestnuts roasting on an open fire? No Jack Frost nipping at your nose?

JANEL -- Well, no.

JAMES -- Boy! Do you need a new Bible! And the next thing she'll be telling me is that there is no Santa Claus.

JANEL - Listen, James, are you quite done now? I'm exhausted! Everyone knows the story of Christmas, and it's just the same story this year as every year. Now - let's finish getting the presents first. C'mon ...

JANEL takes JAMES' hand to lead him out of the 'store'. During their conversation, the choir and people involved in the mall scene have been slowly exiting the stage and making the transition to a Jerusalem setting. Instead of shoppers - shepherds. Potted plants take the place of the Christmas tree. Lights fade up on upstage scene.

JANEL - I think we should get your mother a nice dress. She's been hinting ...

JAMES - Uhh, Janel ...?

JANEL - It's beautiful and ... what, James?

JAMES - What happened? Where are we?

JANEL - (shocked) What happened to the choir .. th- .. whe-?!?!?!

The Shepherds see them, and wave congenially.

(Blackout.)

### Scene 3

(Spotlight on Soloist.)

Soloist: "O Holy Night"

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining! It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appears and the soul felt His worth!
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices! And yonder breaks a new a glorious morn!

(Lights slowly fade up on ANGELS. They sing backup for soloist.)

Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born.
O Holy Night! O night, O night divine!

(End of solo: lights up on scene as before. ANGELS remain lit, but dimly. JAMES and JANEL are now attired as shepherds, and their conversation ensues over the other shepherds humming chatter..)

JANEL - (waving to Shepherds) James, where are we? What on earth did you do?!

JAMES - Me? ME? It's always me! Why- (JANEL sees JAMES in shepherd costume, and bursts out laughing) What? What?

JANEL - (laughing) Look at you, James! Right down to the sandals! Hooo! I gettit, I gettit ... (calms down) So ... who are these people? (to a shepherd) How much did he pay you? Hoooo!

JAMES - Uh, Janel ... (indicates her new attire)

Flash of light. Lights brighten on ANGELS. The Shepherds cower in fear.

ANGELS: Angels We Have Heard on High (Verse 2)

ANGEL 1: (speaking over the song) Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Angels: O Come All Ye faithful

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him! Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him!
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

(Lights dim on ANGELS.)

SHEPHERD 1: The Christ child - our saviour - is born! Let us now go even unto Bethlehem ...

SHEPHERD 2: He has come! God is with us ...

SHEPHERD 3: My friends, unto us a child is born, unto all of us a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder, and His name shall be called wonderful ...

SHEPHERD 2: Counsellor!

SHEPHERD 3: Yes, as Isaiah has written us - the promise of this new covenant with the mighty God.

SHEPHERD 1: He is the Everlasting Father in human form ... God and man ...

SHEPHERD 3: He is our Prince of Peace, to calm all our hearts!

(The band begins to play Celebrate His Birth medley, softly.)

JANEL: Do you hear that, James? That song!

JAMES: What?

JANEL: The angels are singing! They're still here! They ...

Shepherd 2: (leading JANEL) Come! Let us go to Bethlehem! (exeunt Shepherds, JAMES, and JANEL)

(Lights up on all Angels as they advance forward, singing.)

Angels: I wonder what the shepherds heard, I wonder what the song was like.
O what a night, O what a night!
I wonder what the angels sang, to celebrate the Child of Light.
O what a night, O what a night!

Angels: Glory to God in the highest, Peace on the earth. Goodwill to men.
Give Him glory, lift Him higher,
Celebrate His birth, God has come to man.

Angel: (Shepherds, JAMES and JANEL run across the stage on their journey)

I wonder if they ran to see The One who was the King of kings.
O what a night, O what a night!
I wonder if they bowed to praise And lifted up their hearts to sing.
O what a night, O what a night!

Angels: Glory to God in the highest, Peace on the earth. Goodwill to men.
Give Him glory, lift Him higher,
Celebrate His birth, God has come to man.
Gloria! God has come to man.

(Music continues in the background.)

ANGEL 2: What a night indeed! Can you feel it? A KING is born! But hey - where's the snow?! Where's the mistletoe? Well, Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25th - not in the month of December even! You see, Caesar Augustus called for all to be taxed, and everyone had to go back to their home town to register. But Caesar wouldn't call it at winter time - that would have been too dangerous a season for everyone to make their journey. He called it in Autumn. Mary and Joseph, soon expecting their child, had to go back to Bethlehem to register as a part of the line of David. Now all this was done that the prophecy of God might be fulfilled - that accounts for all the anticipation of Jesus' birth.

So it was on that warm Autumn evening that Mary and Joseph were turned away from every inn they approached - a woman was in labour for the first time, and no one would help her, or house her even. (a scream of pain is heard in the background) But God saw them through, and the kindness of one innkeeper allowed them his barn for a hospital, the hay for a mattress, her midwives - the horses and goats of the stable where Jesus Christ was humbly born.

## Scene 4

(The ground is covered sparsely with blood, and both parents are sweaty with the heat, and exertion. They are lit by one lone candle and dim spot. Lights up on JOSEPH placing the new-born baby into MARY's arms.)

MARY: He's beautiful! What shall we name him?

JOSEPH: Jesus, meaning 'Saviour'... For this is what the angel said to me, that he shall save his people from their sins.

MARY: Jesus ... Jesus! Oh Joseph ... I know it's been a struggle, but look how our Lord has blessed us! Jesus ... (she cries silently)

JOSEPH: Mary, Mary ... we know that God has plans for this child, but we are still his parents. I am ... I ... I will be his father in as whatever way as I am able.

MARY: And I, his mother. I love you, Joseph.

JOSEPH: I love you, and together we will love this child. Rest now.

DUET: To the tune of "What Child is this" (arr. Hui Yun)

JOSEPH: What Child is this, who Mary lays so lowly in a manger?
There He lies the pure and innocent, Still to the world a stranger.
Such a babe in such a place, Can He be the Saviour?
Where, God, do we go from here, can we find Your favour?

MARY: Jesus, Jesus, my precious Jesus, Son of God yet of humble birth.
Can I claim you as my own child, and as deliverer of the earth?
Thou long expected Freedom; From our fears and sins release!
Your light shineth in the darkness, but will your own receive?

SHEPHERD 3: (rushing in) Is this Christ, our Lord?

JOSEPH: He is Jesus, our son.

SHEPHERD 2: May we worship and adore Him?

SHEPHERDS: (continuing song)

Angels sang about his birth; Wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven's star shone brightly forth, Glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, Heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, Hail to our glorious King!

## Scene 5

(This scene is adapted from "Away with the Manger" by John Fewing. All rights reserved.)

(Scene - as before. Enter the Reporter as if opening a door.)

REPORTER: (to PHOTOGRAPHER) I told you, get in closer to the shot, how else will the story be hot? (to everyone else) Good evening. (pause) (To PHOTOGRAPHER) Please tell me that we didn't just walk into 1st century Jerusalem.

(PHOTOGRAPHER nods)

REPORTER: So behind my back, Jesus has hit the sack?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Yup. We're not in Scotts anymore.

REPORTER: What a story!!!!! (going into action) Hi, we're from your local newspaper... (nudging PHOTOGRAPHER)

Photographer: (still shocked) "The Daily Singapore".

Reporter: (As if quoting publicity blurb) The people's parchment...

Photographer: ... with all of the news ...

Reporter: ... for all of the people. We heard about the kid, and we'd like to make it our front page story.

Photographer: With shots of the baby.

Reporter: Might make the stop-press. We could give it a spin ...

Photographer: (musing) ... "Late, late arrival at the Inn ..."

Reporter: ... A heading ...

Photographer: ... A picture, with your permission...

Reporter: "Mother and Baby in Stable Condition".

Photographer: So let's keep it simple - just the kid in the shot.

Reporter: "The Babe in the Manger" - they'll love it... a lot.

Photographer: (He has moved to the manger, to prepare for the picture being taken) Who's a coochy coochy coo?

Reporter: (To Mary) Can you get it to smile?

Photographer: Maybe... (hesitates over Mary's name) ...

Reporter: (filling in) ... Mary,

Photographer: ...the mother, could sit with the child (looking through camera).

Reporter: (trying to help Photographer) Look loving ...

Photographer: ... Look homely ... Look down a bit (focuses camera).

Reporter: (Helpfully) To the right. (To Photographer) Is that any better?

Photographer: (Grudgingly) Yeah, except for the light.

Reporter: (Noticing Joseph) What about you? (Joseph mildly surprised, but as compliant as Mary).

Photographer: Who?

Reporter: Joseph, the Dad.

Photographer: Ah....Stand there, behind ... (forgetting Mary's name again)

Reporter: ... Mary.

Photographer: Look down at the lad. Now put your arm gently around your wife's shoulder.

Reporter: Silent, but strong; That's nice. That's nice. I like it. that's how you'll come over. (Noticing shepherds behind Joseph) I like the shepherds at the back.

Photographer: (Looking up, suddenly inspired) Hey! We must have them!

Reporter: But they are dressed in drips and drabs.

Photographer: So!? Makes it authentic. We'll make it a feature.

Reporter: Couldn't we make them dress up?

Photographer: (Disbelieving) You mean, just for one shot?

Reporter: I'd feel a lot happier if I help arrange them a bit better.

Photographer: (Conceding) Okay then, I don't see why not.

(Moves towards back, towards Shepherds. Shepherds looks confused and refuses to let the reporter touch them, slapping his hands everytime he tries to adjust their clothes. Reporter puts on air like he thinks they are dirty).

Photographer: Looks better all the time. A touch of local colour.

Reporter: (To shepherds) Hey! What about you guys? Where are your sheeps?

Photographer: Yeah Bring the sheep, too. Though it will look a bit like a zoo.

Reporter: No Sheep? Well..we will have to improvise (goes to the audience) Ma'm would you mind acting like a sheep for us? Sir? Go Baaa! Baaa! Yes...that's right...Baaa! Baaa! (get a few)

Photographer: (Directing sheep into camera shot) Crouch on the floor here.

Reporter: Hmm...what about an Ox? Sir? Just go Moo....Mooo!! (get a few)

Photographer: Mind the sheep......(Resenting the interruption) Just stay kneeling right there.

Reporter: Hmm...Oh we can't forget the two of you. (to James and Janel)

(Things now begin to get a little out of hand, as more and more people come on stage to be included in the shot. The pace gradually quickens.)

Photographer: That's everybody in.

Reporter: (To people on stage, With abandon) Squeeze in at the side!

Photographer (a bit more cautious) Thank you for leaving the camels outside.

Enter Angels.

Photographer: Hey Reporter! Look! What is it? ghosts?

Reporter: No! they're angels, silly, heavenly hosts

Photographer: (To angels) Excuse me ... er ... Sir, could you just stay there, pretend to hover? A little to the right, if it's not too much bother.

Reporter: 'Course, we gotta have carol singers, singing carols, lamps a-glowing. (Enter carol singers) Dressed up all warm, for the snow that is falling. (Singers each throw a handful of "snow"- optional)

Photographer: And what about Santa, his gifts in a sack. Where's Santa?

Carol Singers, Photographer, Reporter: (loudly) WHERE'S SANTA?!?

Mary, Joseph, Shepherds: (puzzled) Who is Santa?

(Enter Santa through the 'door'.)

Santa: Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

JANEL: This isn't how it's supposed to go, James ...!

Reporter: And then, there's the Christmas tree, the gifts and the toys. (Carollers brings on tree, Santa gives the child gifts to put by it)

Photographer: Dolls for the girls ...

Reporter: ... and guns for the boys.

Photographer: ....Walkman for the teens ... (enter teen with Walkman).

Reporter: ... palm pilots for their brothers. (Enter late teen with a palm pilot)

Photographer: And what about the food, supplied by the mothers. (Enter harassed woman with plates of food.)

(Mary and Joseph are overpowered by this turn of events, as are the Wise men and shepherds. The children and carol singers are keen to have their picture taken, Santa is ho-hoing. In the general confusion, Mary and Joseph are almost obscured.)

Photographer: Look, I know I'm a nuisance, but it's masking the ox. Could somebody shift out that dirty old box?

Reporter: Yeah, in the middle of the scene it's a bit of a danger.

Photographer: A nuisance ...Not even aesthetic, doesn't even look matching or nice.

Reporter: ... A hazard.

Both: AWAY WITH THE MANGER!

(Santa quickly moves manger to one side, and takes central position himself, holding arms outstretched so Mary and Joseph are obscured.)

Photographer: (Looking through viewfinder) Good.

Reporter: (To the crowd) Relax for a second.

Photographer: Be there in a while. Now ... closer together, and all at once ...

Both: SMILE!

(The camera flashes. There is no movement or noise. There is a pause, then the baby cries. All heads turn to look at the cradle.)

(Blackout. The bell rings.)

Voice-over: Good evening shoppers! Only 3 more shopping days left until Christmas, and in the spirit of this season, we will be staying open until midnight tonight and tomorrow night for your Christmas shopping pleasure! Just for you, from the friendly management of Scotts Shopping Centre. Please be informed that all Ladies winter stockings are at 60% off, men's ties: 40%, Bata shoelaces : 70%, and all purchases over $1000 (in a single receipt) will qualify you for our special lucky draw! Win a luxurious holiday to Bintan! (interruption) uh, esscue me, got a baby on level tree, can his madder prease come correct heem? Thank you for your attention, shoppers - and have a happy holiday!

## Scene 6

(Lights up on the scene as before, but all have changed clothes to be back in 1999. Everyone frozen except for JANEL and JAMES. JAMES rushes to the pram to check for the baby. Everyone breaks tableaux.)

MARY: Oh there he is, thank you looking out for our baby!

JOSEPH: I only left him for a moment ... It's so easy to lose track of everything important in this Christmas rush.

JAMES: You're telling me.

MARY: Well, thank you so much. Have a merry, merry Christmas.

JOSEPH: And a prosperous new year! (Exeunt MARY and JOSEPH)

(Santa ho-ho-hos in the background, shoppers continue walking back and forth, aimlessly. ANGELS dressed in white, however, are now a part of the busy scene, spreading peace and goodwill. The SHOPKEEPER approaches JAMES and JANEL.)

SHOPKEEPER: Are there any other things you'd like to look up about Christmas?

JAMES: Weren't you the person who ...

JANEL: You?! What would you know about Christmas?

SHOPKEEPER: I know that Christmas is nothing without Christ. It would just be 'mas'. And that Christ came down to earth for a very special reason. You.

JAMES: (JANEL tries to interrupt, but JAMES cuts her off) But ... why? For me?! Look at what we've made it Christmas - Santa, mistletoe, chesnuts - we've done away with Jesus!

SHOPKEEPER: Imagine: (the scene is subtly acted out upstage by some shoppers) Suppose a woman has ten precious silver coins, and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the grounds and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin!". In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

JANEL: Angels ... angels! Have you read the papers recently? Where is GOD in all of this?

SHOPKEEPER: Right here (pats heart) ... and right here. (all ANGELS on stage now, they faintly sing "So give Him glory/Lift Him higher/Celebrate His birth/God has come to man!")

JANEL: That song again!

The SHOPKEEPER leads JAMES and JANEL around the stage, listening in to the ANGEL's conversation. Other ANGELs are interacting within the mall scene - vending things, talking to people, etc.

Group 1

ANGEL 1: Yeah, so there was this man who had two sons, and he divided his wealth between them. But soon, his younger son took his half, and took off for a distant country and there wasted all his money in alcohol, drugs, prostitutes ....

ANGEL 3: ... general wild living. But after he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he was broke. So he went and hired himself out, but got even less to eat than the pigs he was feeding!

ANGEL 1: No one gave him anything ...

ANGEL 3: ... and he came to his senses soon alright, and said,

ANGEL1: "How many of my father's hired men have food, and here I am starving to death! I'll go home, and say to my father: Dad, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." So ...

ANGEL 3: ...so he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off ... his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him "I am no longer worthy to be called your son!"

ANGEL 1: But the father said to everyone "Quick! ... Let's have a feast and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate! Meanwhile the older brother became angry and refused to come in. So his father went out and said "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (continues mouthing, silently)

(JAMES, JANEL, and SHOPKEEPER walk back to center.)

JANEL: So ... is that what God has done for us?

SHOPKEEPER: More so! God loves us so much, so much so that He gave His one and only faithful son, the one who remained loyal, to go meet his brothers and sisters and having done so, to die a horrible death for our sins! That is the meaning of the name of Jesus Christ today - LOVE, forgiveness, being saved. God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it, and we are set free by Jesus! That's why we have the story of Christmas - He was born sinless, and lived sinless, because He was God and He was human also. None of us human beings are sinless as much as we try. Yet Christ was ... and that's what we celebrate Christmas for - God's love!

ANGEL Solo: And even though He came to earth

So long ago and far away,
We celebrate the miracle Of ...

All: ...who He is today!

Chorus: Gloria! God has come to man, Celebrate His birth.
God has come to man.
Glory to God in the highest, Peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Glory to God in the highest, Let His praises be heard again.
Glory to God in the highest, Peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Glory to God in the highest, Let His praises be heard again.

(Repeat chorus.)

Medley of praise songs:

Can't Stop Talking - The Love of God Can Do - So you would come

Can't Stop Talking

Chorus: Can't stop talking 'bout everything He's done, It's the best thing happened since the world begun.
It didn't come cheap but I got it for free - It's the hope of glory Christ in me! (x 2)

Verse: He helped me to see when my spirit was blind, It's amazing if you look just what you'll find.

Ev'ry step I took - He took two! If He did it for me, He will do it for you! (x 2)

Bridge: Leader: Do you know him?

All: Yes I do!

Leader: Do you know what I say is true? Do you know Him?

All: Yes I do!!

If He did it for me He will do it for you! (x 3)

Chorus x 1 ... Hope of Glory - Christ in me!

The Love of God Can Do

Instrumental

So You Would Come

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