Updated May, 2025
The following service from First Presbyterian Church, Slidell, Louisiana, was planned cooperatively with a conscious effort to include the congregation. The whole congregation was involved with singing and some Scripture reading. In addition, the church choir sang, six narrators took part in various readings (including those marked unison), and the children created covers for the service booklets (which included the words to all the music and readings).
Churches interested in using this service should feel free to make it their own by choosing their own choral anthems and congregational songs as well as by using additional worship elements appropriate to their congregation and to the service itself (confession/assurance, offering, sermon, pastoral prayer, and so on). Each section of the service offers multiple options for a musical response; choose one for each section.
—JB
Prelude
Call to Worship: Psalm 96
Unison: vv. 1-6
Female voices: vv. 7-9
Male voices: vv. 10-13
Unison: repeat v. 1
Sung Response
“Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”Weissel
“Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise” Public Domain
The Coming King
Narrator 1: Micah 5:2-5a
Unison: John 1:1-5
Sung Response
“Christmas Hymn” (Word Music)
“O Word of God Incarnate”How
“Savior of the Nations, Come” Luther
“Meekness and Majesty/This Is Your God”Kendrick
The Promise
Narrator 2: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Narrator 4: Luke 1:39-42a
Narrator 5: Luke 1:42b-45
Sung Response
“Mary, Did You Know?” (Word Music)
The Magnificat
Unison: Isaiah 12:2
Narrator 3: Isaiah 12:3-4a
Unison: Isaiah 12: 4b-6
Narrator 4: Luke 1:46-55
Sung Response
“Song of Mary”Winter
“Surely It Is God Who Saves Me”
“Magnify the Lord”Polman
“Song of Mary/My Soul Proclaims with Wonder”Daw, Jr.
The One Who Prepared the Way
Narrator 1: Malachi 3:1-4
Narrator 3: Luke 1: 68-79
Narrator 2: John 1:6
Sung Response
“Prepare the Way” Public Domain
“Song of Zechariah”Polman
“Song of Zechariah/Blessed Be the God of Israel”Daw, Jr.
“Prepare the Way of the Lord”Taize
The Nativity
Congregation Side 1: Isaiah 9:2
Congregation Side 2: Isaiah 9:3
Congregation Side 1: Isaiah 9:4
Congregation Side 2: Isaiah 9:5
Narrator 6: Isaiah 9:6 (through the word called)
Narrator 1: Wonderful Counselor,
Narrator 4: Mighty God,
Narrator 3: Everlasting Father,
Narrator 5: Prince of Peace
Narrator 2: Isaiah 9:7 (through more)
Unison: The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Narrator 6: Luke 2:1-7
Sung Response
“Once in Royal David’s City”Alexander
“The People Who in Darkness Walked”Morison
The Shepherds and Angels
Narrator 4: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Narrator 3: Zephaniah 3:18b-20
Narrator 5: Luke 2:8-10a
Narrator 1: Luke 2:10b-12
All Narrators: Luke 2:13
Unison: Luke 2:14
Sung Response
“Welcome, Jesus, Our Redeemer” Sterling
“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”Tate
“While by the Sheep”Baker
“Hitsuji Wa/Sheep Fast Asleep” Miwa
The Glory of the Lord
Narrator 2: Hebrews 1:1-4
Narrator 5:Luke 2:15a
Narrator 3: Luke 2:15b
Narrator 5: Luke 2:16-20
Sung Response
“Song of the Angels” Alexander
“God Who Spoke in the Beginning” Kaan
The Gift of Salvation
Unison: Titus 3:4-7
Sung Response
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”Wesley
The Benediction: Psalm 98
Unison: vv.1-3
Female voices: vv. 4-6
Male voices: vv. 7-9
Unison: repeat v. 1a
Sung Response
“Joy to the World!” Watts
“Sing a New Song to the Lord”Dudley-Smith
Postlude