Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/514932
& ? & ? # # # # 102 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ n n J œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ Sing no el, no œ œ œ œ œ œ J œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ > œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ n > œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ > œ œ œ œ œ . . > œ œ > w w w el! w w œ œ œ > œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ > œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ > œ œ œ . . > œ œ > > œ œ œ ˘ Œ > œ œ œ œ fl Œ - - 16 65/2069&70L-16 Optional Introduction: The book of Luke begins the story of Jesus' life by telling the story of John the Baptist, who would be the one to prepare the way for Jesus and His ministry. John's birth was foretold by an angel to John's father, Zechariah. Hear now from Zechariah as he reflects on his encounter with the angel who would tell him he was going to have a son, even though Zechariah and his wife were very old and had never been able to have children. Monologue: Zechariah I remember everything about that day. I had been serving as a priest before God, and I was chosen to burn incense in the temple. I knew I would be chosen, even before it happened. I had felt the fear…the hope, rising unnamed in my chest all morning. I can smell the incense even now, remembering. I can hear the prayers of the worshipers outside like it was yesterday. Then, a light; a man…but, not a man. I have never been more terrified in my life. The angel knew my name. He knew my Elizabeth's name. He told me of our future son. As the angel spoke, I looked down at my hands, now old and wrinkled. I remembered my wife's tears on my fingertips the last time I had wiped them from her face, praying, as I had prayed so many times, that God would give us a child…begging Him! I remembered, as the angel spoke his promises, all the years of her heartbreak, my failure, God's silence. The angel said not only would we have a son, but that our son would be great. That he would lead our people back to God. That he would prepare the path for the One we had waited for. It was too much for my heart to bear, to remember how much waiting there had been; how much disappointment. "How can I be sure of this?" I asked the angel, full of doubt and full of fear. Those were the last words I (music begins) said until I held him in my arms; my son, my John. John lived his whole life in the same manner that he came into mine. He made a path in the wilderness. He made way for the Promised One. In the temple that day, God found me in the wilderness of my doubt, my broken heart, my weary hope, and He made a path. The glory of the Lord was revealed in my darkness. The heart of God was displayed. The promise of God made true.