"Is There Room?"

My last activity to ever be planned as ward activities chair was "Is There Room?"  The inspiration for this came 7 weeks earlier after about a month of debating what kind of Christmas party we should do: 1. a traditional Christmas dinner with musical performances or 2.  something non-traditonal and very memorable like create Bethlehem and have the Nativity unfold before us.

We baked 100 mini loaves of bread to pass out with the flyers to encouraging each family to come.

I was so thankful the inspiration came (because when it's from God, it's always better than just an Amber idea) to do a musical theatre production of the Nativity and involve as many members as possible.  I knew it was to only focus on Christ and was to be filled with powerful music that would inspire our hearts to be more center around our Saviour.

Since the only musical talent I knew was the ward pianist/organist, I knew I needed to seek out the talent.  I prayed the Lord would guide me to whom should be apart of this production and wow it was exciting to see how He placed people in my path (some very randomly...though I know it was not just coincidence).  It was amazing!  I'd ask for a youth quartet and I happened to be getting the mail when a mother was picking up her 14 year old in my neighborhood (there are no Mormons in my neighborhood)....they ended up coming in my house, listening to my ideas on the song, creating a youth group, and the mother headed the rehearsals up for it.  I'd ask for some musicians and I got a guitarist for "Tennessee Christmas", drummer and flutist for "Little Drummer Boy", and oboeist for "We Three Kings."  I asked our ward clerk if we had spotlights and he ended up creating a whole stage, lit with lights, and bringing in an amazing sound system...he had it all wired to a sound and lighting board.  I'd ask for backdrops to be made and the stake already had some, so we only had to make a few.  Not to mention the ideas that just kept coming like making banners that would light up during the program that were the themes of the night like "Wisemen Still Seek Him" or "To Comfort All the World."  For costumes, one of my activity committee members had boxes and another made 75 cutely crafted ornaments for every family to take home with one of the themes written on them.  And I need to mention we even had a BYU Vocal Performance Major sing "O Holy Night" that mesmerized everyone with her talent.  We ended up having 49 members involved in someway in this production.

It was just thrilling to see the hand of Lord guide this whole thing.  And even though our husband and wife duo that was leading our sound and lighting couldn't come because she had to have emergency surgery that day, it all worked out beautifully and I didn't even freak out...I just felt a peace about this whole thing the entire time I was working and preparing for it.  I knew that what would take place this night would be special because the Lord was leading it.

The musical nativity truly was a joy and I will miss having this calling.  The church has made a worldwide decision to no longer have Activity Chairs and Committees, the auxiliaries will be in charge of planning and implement the ward events from now on.

Here's the program:

Clarksville 2nd Ward Christmas Program

“Is There Room?”

By: Amber McArthur

Tennessee Christmas

[Dad on guitar, family gathered around singing along]

Child 1- “I just love Christmas!!!”

Child 2- “Me too!”

Father- “Ok kids, time to read about the birth of our Savior.”

Mom- “And who wants to help me decorate our tree with lessons from the Nativity.”

Children- “ooooo, me, me!”

Father- “Let’s begin with those prophets from the Old Testament who prophesied of Christ’s Birth.”

Isaiah- "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.For unto us a child is born, unto us a son given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace!" (Isaiah 9:6)

Father- “Now let’s read from the Book of Mormon.”

Alma- “And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem...she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.” (Alma 7:10)

Dad-  Many years past and we come to Samuel, the Lamenite, prophesying of Christ’s birth.  It reads,

Samuel the Lamenite-  “Behold, I give unto you a sign, for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.  And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it were day.  Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there shall be no night. . .  and it shall be the night before he is born.  and behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.”

Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus

[a’capela, dialogue like, quartet of youth]

Child 1- “So some people believe a Saviour would come and some didn’t.

Mom- “Yes, some people’s hearts where hard and didn’t have room in their hearts for the Spirit to testify that what the prophets were speaking was truth.”  

Dad- “When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was having a baby, the scriptures say, “ 

Angel Gabriel- “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

Mary- “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 

Angel Gabriel- “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:30-31,34-35)

Mom- “Though Mary was fearful at first, her heart sought to do Lord’s will.  She was humble and willing to do whatever the Lord asked of her.”

Dad- “During these Holidays, it’s easy to get consumed in what the world is doing around us.  But if we allow room in our hearts to harken unto the Lord’s will, our faith will increase like the Lamenites who believe Christ’s birth would happen and there will be room in our hearts to the Lord’s will, just like Mary.”

Is There Room? 

[female solo to accompany track]

Mom- “Time to put our first ornament on the tree.”

Child 1- “I’ll do it!” (she puts “Is There Room” on the tree.) 

[banner saying “Is There Room” is lite]

Dad-  “Let’s turn to the New Testament to read about the Savior’s birth.”

 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

O Little Town of Bethlehem (first verse)

[everyone dressed in Bethlehem clothing stands, everyone sings]

Dad- And so it was, that, while [Mary and Joseph] were [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)

[Star above stable is lite.]

Child 2- Puts “Let Him In” on tree.

[banner saying “Let Him In” is lite]

Let Him In

[Innkeeper (male solo) sings to music track or piano]

Dad- And, there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 

Angel- 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; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  

Dad- And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Angel- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

Angels We Have Heard on High

[Angel Gabriel sings first verse, then 2nd with alto (another Angel), Choir (more angels) sings chorus, then all the Angels in the room (everyone with white shirts) stand to sing 3rd verse and chorus.  Angel Gabriel does descant during this final chorus.]

Dad- And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, 

Shepherd- Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

Dad- And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

Little Drummer Boy

[Snare drums begins, flute does melody, everyone hums with melody.]

Dad- “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.” 

Mom- I can only imagine Mary holding her sweet baby as most mothers do their newborn baby, offering comfort.  This time, I picture Mary and Joseph being comforted as their Lord was with them.  Not only would Christ bring comfort to those who witnessed him then, but he came to bring comfort to all the world. (Mom hands child 1 the ornament to put on tree.)

Child 1- puts “To Comfort all the World” on tree. 

[banner saying “To Comfort all the World” is lite]

Mary’s Lullaby 

[Mary snuggles her baby while Joseph comforts Mary.]

Dad- Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, '

Wiseman- Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him'.

Dad- and lo, the star.went before them,  till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into  the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him. (Matthew 2:1, 2, 9, 10, 11) 

We Three Kings of Orient Are

[Oboe player plays first verse only, then the 3 wisemen sing]

Mom- “We should be wise as these wisemen were and focus our lives on finding Christ daily.”

Child 2-  “I know which one to put on.  This one, Wise Men Still Seek Him.”

[banner saying “Wise Men Still Seek Him” is lite]

The Nativity Song

[Primary children]

Dad- Back on the American Continent we read, 

Nephite- “And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day.” 

[Everyone on American Continent celebrates!]

Dad- they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born.... And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.  And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word. (3 Nephi 1:19-21) 

Mom- I can just imagine the joy that filled their hearts when the sign came.  God cares about each of his children around the whole world and sent a sign for them to know their Savior came.  Christ’s gospel is currently being spread throughout the entire world because God wants everyone to feel His love and the peace His teachings bring to our lives.

Child 1- Hang up Joy to the WHOLE World

[banner saying “Joy to the WHOLE World” is lite] 

Joy to the World

[Choir number]

[Only those in the Nativity (shepherds, wisemen, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and Angel) stay on stage. ]

Dad- “So in closing I ask ‘Is there Room?’  Is there room in your hearts?  As we enjoy all this Christmas Season has to bring, I pray we will always keep room in our hearts for our Savior, the peace, comfort, and joy He brings to our life.  What a holy night it was when the prophesied Savior came to save us all!

Child 2- Hang up Oh Holy Night.

[banner saying “Oh Holy Night” is lite]

O’Holy Night

[Solo with lights on vocalist and the Nativity]

Silent Night

[Everyone in room sings.]