December 24, 2023 10 AM
And a Child Shall Lead Them
A Christmas pageant by, for, and with children. All ages welcome for the pageant, candle lighting, and Christmas wishes to guide us through this day. Santa will be joining us! No-rehearsal roles available that day, perfect for visiting families – come 15 minutes early!
Join the conversation on Beacon’s Slack channel #sundaychat.
Order of Service
Prelude: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Kids Chorus, Elise Hinrichs, Rosena Hill Jackson and Misa Iwama, Director of Music Ministry
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King"
12 Days of Christmas, Jamaine Cripe, Lifespan Ministry Team
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree…
Three French hens
Four calling birds
Five golden rings
Six geese a laying
Seven swans a swimming
Eight maids a milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers drumming
Welcome, Jamaine Cripe, Lifespan Ministry Team
Dona Nobis Pacem (traditional)
Chalice Lighting and Yule Log Lighting, Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner and Dr. Tuli Patel, Lead Ministry Team
Carol: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, to all good will, from heaven the news we bring.”
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
But with the woes of war and strife the world has suffered long;
beneath the angelic strain have rolled two thousand years of wrong;
and we who fight the wars hear not the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise of battle strife, and hear the angels sing.
Part 1: The Road to Bethlehem, Dr. Tuli Patel, Lead Ministry Team, Jamaine Cripe, Lifespan Ministry Team, John Cinotti & Jack Piccarello
Carol: Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Part 2: The Angels Appear, Narration, Jamaine Cripe Angels: Lila Rowan and Lucy Davies
Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo. Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Part 3: The Shepherds Arrive, Narrator, Jamaine Cripe, Shepherd's Speech, Kirk Alderman, Amelia Schell, Adebella & Graziella Jackson
Carol: The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Part 4: The Wise People’s Journey, Narrator, Jamaine Cripe, Wise People, Sami Kuriyan, Jonah Cymbala and Elias Alderman
Carol: We Three Kings
We three kings of royalty are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O Star of wonder, star of light, star, with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us through this perfect night.
Offering, Rev. Robin
Offering: There are three ways to give to Beacon’s mission of radical inclusion, feeding the human spirit and healing the world.
Online giving through Vanco: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZAE0/home.
Text a dollar amount to 877-512-2021. First-Timers: you’ll need your credit card and to follow the prompts. There is a 3% processing fee; add a little extra to cover!
Make a check payable to Beacon. Mail to 4 Waldron Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901.
Offertory: This Little Light of Mine (traditional)
Candle Lighting, Dr. Tuli & Jamaine
Carol: Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia!”
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
child of God, love's pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Christmas Wish, Robin & Tuli
Carol: Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Word is come:
let earth with praises ring.
Let every heart prepare a room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! Now gladness reigns:
let hearts their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Benediction, Rev. Robin & Dr. Tuli
Postlude
Additional Beacon Staff & Volunteers who made this service possible:
Music: Misa Iwama, Director of Music Ministries
Narrators: Tuli Patel, Jamaine Cripe, John Cinotti, and Jack Picariello
Mary: Kate Schell
Baby Jesus: Charlotte DiGiacomo-Singh
Joseph: Chris & Danny DiGiacomo-Singh
Angels: Lila Rowan & Lucy Davies
Shepherds & Animals: Kirk Alderman, Amelia Schell, Adabella & Graziella Jackson, Ross Picariello, and Arthur Rowan
Wise people: Sammy Kuriyan, Elias Alderman & Jonah Cymbala
Leading song verses: Rosena Hill Jackson and Elise Hinrichs
Kids’ Chorus: Ella & Kirk Alderman, Julia Cinotti, Lucy Davies, Lila Rowan, and Adabella & Graziella Jackson
Stage Crew: Elise Hinrichs, Essa McGowan and Hannah Schell
Livestream Tech: Will Cisco
Audio Tech: Henry McCann
Welcome Team: Michael and Stephanie Szarek; Mia Morse and Marty Rothfelder
Liturgist: Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner
Online Chat Host: Pablo Vazquez
Special thanks to Dick Muldoon!