Now, before you stop reading because you think this is a crazy question to ask, keep reading. I promise there is a point.
Christmas is a magical time of year. There’s something in the air… To me, it’s not the colder weather. It’s not the beautiful decorations. To me, it’s the sense of unity that fills the air. A time of year when – besides the merry chaosmas of Christmas shopping – most everyone takes one day to think of others and most importantly, open their ears and hearts to the beautiful Christmas story. This is why Christmas programs are not only necessary, but incredibly important – God uses Christmas programs to draw us to Him.
As you begin the final preparations for your Christmas concert (or program or musical), it’s very easy to stop and think, “All this work…,” which can ultimately lead you to the question, “Do we need to do a Christmas concert?” Let me remind you of the absolute answer… YES!
To those of us involved in the worship programs of our church, we love the music, the story, and the tradition of singing/playing in a Christmas program. But, to those in the audience, there is most likely someone that has never heard the story of the most important birth of all time. Or, this might be the first time they’ve been to Church. Or, it might be the first time they’ve been with family in a very long time.
You see, God, in his infinite wisdom, gave us Jesus… as a baby. A baby – sweet innocent, and approachable. And telling the story of a baby helps people open their eyes and ears to the story. So, it’s our job to tell that story to those eagerly waiting to hear it.
This Christmas, as you sing and play beloved songs about a familiar – yet, incredibly important – story, I challenge you to think of the concert as the day you’re going to be a testament of your faith in God. Pray God will use your love and talents as a vessel to reach one person. Pray for that one person. Pray their hearts will be open. Pray they will hear the words you’re singing in a way they’ve never heard them before. Because God gave us the perfect story… Jesus, as a baby, saving the world. Sing and play with everything God has given you!
We’ll be praying for you… and your Church!
Chasity Phillips is the Marketing Strategist for LifeWay Worship. She’s also a choir member at Brentwood Baptist Church AND an EVERY Sunday nursery worker. She loves being creative. Her “Happy Place”: Worship Music + Creativity (add a palm tree, and that’s how she imagines Heaven). She also loves social media… so BEWARE, you might find yourself on the pages of LifeWay Worship’s FB page or Twitter feed. Outside of LifeWay and Church, she can be found at a baseball field somewhere…watching her three baseball-loving boys (husband, Brent and two boys, Peyton & Palmer) play baseball OR cheering on her Alma Mater, The Florida State University Seminoles. Psalm 143:8
Thanks Chastity!
I don’t usually write comments but I felt I needed to encourage you.
I so agree with your writing on the importance of a Christmas musical (of some sort). I get teased by my own adult children ( so I have been doing it quite a while! ) about the “musical”. This has caused me to think about whether it is culturally relevant.
Your article hits it on the head. We don’t do it for the fame or adulation, we do it to share the great eternal message of God’s love for His children. Our hope should always be that someone will begin to see the Father anew. I needed that reminder too!
Again thanks for the thought!!