THE CHRISTMAS ALPHABET
By Preoteasa Anita Lazar

CHARACTERS:
· Alphabet Letters (one child per letter if possible)
· Chorus or Reader
· Choir (optional)

PROPS:
· Each child carries a star with his/her alphabet letter on it. On the reverse side is the letters spelling out CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM! (also 26, characters)
 
· The children need candles to hold. (Penlight flashlights covered with tissue paper work well.)

PROCEDURE:
1. Have children lined up in alphabetical order.
2. They enter singing the following lyrics to the familiar "A,B,C,D..." song:
3. "A,B,C,D,E,F,G........ Z. Listen, now, and you will hear of Christmas joy and Christmas cheer!"
4. One by one the children step up to the microphone, holding their star and speak their parts. When finished, each steps back. OR each child lifts his star above his head as an older child reads the corresponding line into the microphone.

READINGS:
A. In Greek, my name is ALPHA - the first letter of the alphabet. My name is 'A', and I stand for ANGELS - the ANNOUNCERS of Christ's birth.
 
B. 'B' is my name. I stand for BETHLEHEM, the town where Christ was BORN!
 
C. I am 'C', as in CAROLS and CANDLES, and - of course -the CHRISTMAS CAVE that sheltered the Baby JESUS!
 
D. DAVID is my word because 'D' is my name! DAVID was the greatest king of Israel. Even more important, he was the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of JESUS!
 
E. My name is 'E'. The angel announced that Mary's Baby would be called EMMANUEL, which means 'God is with us!'
 
F. 'F' is for FULFILL- that's me! Jesus was born in a cave in Bethlehem in order to FULFILL the promises of God!
 
G. 'G' is my name, can you remember? The angels sang, 'GLORY to GOD in the highest!' The Wise Men brought GIFTS of GOLD. And the Angel GABRIEL announced to Mary that she would be the Savior's Mother!
 
H. 'H' stands for HEROD, that wicked old king who tried to kill Jesus - a terrible thing!
I. I am 'I'! I stand for ISAIAH, the prophet of old whose preaching the birth of the Savior foretold!
 
J. My name is 'J', and I stand for 3: JOSEPH - the Guardian; JOHN - the Baptist; and JESUS, you see??!!
 
K. I am 'K', and I stand for the KINGS who brought precious gifts to the newborn Baby!
 
L. My letter is 'L'. I stand for the LORD Jesus - the LAMB of God, the LIGHT of the world!
 
M. MANGER, MYRRH, MARY, and MAGI - these are the 'M' words we think of at Christmas. And I am 'M'!
 
N. 'N' is for NAZARETH, Mary's hometown, The place where the Angel Gabriel came down. To tell Mary that she had been chosen to be, The Mother of Christ, Who would set the world free!
 
O. My name is 'O'. I represent ORIENT - a name of praise for Jesus, Who is the Dayspring, the Dawn, Who brings Light to the world!
 
P. PROPHETS and PROPHECIES begin with 'P' - that's me! The PROPHETS were sent to PREPARE the world for Christ, Who was the fulfillment of their PROPHECIES!
 
Q. 'Q' is for QUEST, the search by all men, For the King of the World, born in Bethlehem!
 
R. REJOICE! REJOICE! my letter rings clear! Good tidings on earth for all men to hear!
 
S. I am 'S'. I stand for the STAR that shone in the SKY; I stand for the SHEPHERDS so SOLEMN and SHY; I stand for the SAVIOR God sent from on high!
 
T. 'T' is my name. I bring you good TIDINGS of great joy! I represent the THEOTOKOS - Mary, the Birthgiver of God!
 
U. My word is the smallest, yet it takes in the whole world! My letter is 'U', and I stand for all of US!
 
V. 'V' is for the VIRGIN Mary, who gave birth to the Son of God. I am 'V'. Through her I bring VICTORY over sin!
 
W. We WORSHIP God and WITNESS to the WORLD. 'W' reminds us of all these things!
 
X. I am a special 'X'! In Greek, my name is 'Chi'. Together with the Greek 'R' (called 'Rho'), we form a symbol for Christ, called the CHI-RHO. This is me!
 
Y. I am important! Without my 'Y-word', Christmas might not be! I'm here to remind you that Mary said YES to God, agreeing to be the Mother of His Son. Let's all say YES to God, too!
 
Z. I'm last on our list, my letter is 'Z', To remind you of ZACHARIAH, you see? He's Elizabeth's husband, a prophet and priest. At the end of our program for Christ's Birthday Feast!

· Lights dim, then go out.
· The children are given the 'flashlight candles'. When each has his/hers, they are to be turned on.
· The Choir softly hums 'Silent Night' in the background.

READER (or CHORUS): 'And it came to pass...... Luke 2:1-20. (Optional additional reading: Matthew 2:1-15.)

· While the Scripture is being read, older students or adults help the students reverse the Alphabet Stars, spelling out CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
· All lights are turned up.
· All sing the Troparion: