Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/1248537
FO WO Journey to Bethlehem may be presented in its entirety as a 20-minute Christmas prog m, or as 5 indi,id l suites throughout the season. It is ideal r inco oration into worship, as a special program of lessons d carols, or r concerts in churches or Christian schools. Intended r per rmance by unison (opt. 2-pa ) choi of all ages, it may be per rmed by a single choir or by different groups of singers representing va ous classes or age groups. Page 2 provides an instructive and inspiring "roadmap r our journey." It may be reprinted r use as a program guide or r incorporation into the per rmances as additional narrative, spoken at the beginning of each suite. Reproducible Singers' Pages appear on pages 30-40 and may serve to encourage audience or congregational participation. An optional lly-orchestrated accompaniment/per rmance compact disc (CD) recording is available separately. The composers highly recommend inco orating traditional customs into per rmances of Journey to Bethlehem: the hanging of the greens, the lighting of Advent or Christmas candles and a Christmas tree, the displaying of a manger scene and the gathering of gi s r charitable distribution. Although costuming and staging are not required, they may easily be added. Anna Laura Page is Handbell Editor r Al ed Publishing Co., Inc., and a widely celebrated composer, children's choir conductor and handbell clinician. Jean Anne Shafferman is Director of Church Choral Publications r Al ed Publishing Co., Inc., and has presented choral clinics throughout the United States and Canada. Both are graduates of the University of Kentucky. Journey to Bethlehem was recorded in Manha an Beach, Cali ia, Alan Billingsley, Inst mental Arranger, Conductor and Producer. NARRATOR: SPEAKER#l: SPEAKER#2: SPEAKER#3: SPEAKER#4: NARRATOR: ALL: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I. HANGING THE GREENS NARRATION #1 Leaves of green, evergreen, always seem to say Christ will come, God's e Son, bo on Christmas day. The Child so ir, without a care, crowned in radiant glo , The Promise of Ete al Li in ancient prophet's sto , One day will wear a crown of tho s and die r our salvation, Then live again and rule with God in triumph o'er all nations. So, join us as we hang these greens. They always seem to say: Christ will come, God's true Son, bo on Christmas day. For Preview Only