Do Not Be Afraid

Reader's Theater

Prelude: Miriam Hector
Welcome
* Song “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
"Do Not Be Afraid"
BY LEE FENNEMA

Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds—all were living ordinary lives that were upended when God sent his messengers to them. Our Advent service focuses on “what each character’s particular fears might have been as they were told that they had been chosen for a greater purpose” (“Be Not Afraid,” RW 133, p. 30).

Challenge to listeners:
How will you respond when God has a message for you?

Zechariah’s life
An angel appears!
* Song “On Christmas Night”
The message
Song “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Mary’s life
Song “Told of God’s Favor”
Mary’s changed life—
Song “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
Do not be afraid
Song “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
Joseph’s life
Joseph’s changed life
Song “What Child Is This”
Do not be afraid
Song “There’s a Song in the Air”
Shepherds’ lives
Song “The First Noel”
Light the Christ Candle
Song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
Shepherds’ changed lives
Song “Away in a Manger”
Spreading the news
Song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Do not be afraid
Song “Joy to the World”
Our lives
Our changed lives
Song “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Accepting God’s message
Song “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
Do not be afraid
* Song “Silent Night”
Prayer
Leave in Silence

Thank you to
Readers: Lynda Bulthuis, Gayle Walhof,
Mike Van Otterloo, Steve Ver Mulm

Musicians: Miriam Hector
Angeli Shieh