Angel Choir sings a song right before the kids enter. The kids enter oldest to youngest. The preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade go up front and get ready to sing.
Welcome to our "Christmas Through the Century" Program. We have an evening of memories planned for you. We hope that you enjoy our history lesson.
Pre-school, Kindergartners and 1st Grade sing "Away in the Manager" and "Glory to God in the Highest" 
Pre-school and Kindergarten go to parents. 1st Grade go downstairs until nativity scene. 
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
1900 - 1909
Child
The U.S. population was 76,300,000. Currently New York City has approximately this same amount of people.
The Bureau of Public Health determined that the average life expectancy in America was 49.
The following were presidents during this decade: William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.
Radio was born - in the form of wireless telegraphy - when the morse code letter for "S" was transmitted from Wales to Newfoundland. 
Child
The era of aviation arrived when Orville Wright successfully piloted the first heavier-than-air craft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. 
Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company. 
The Ford Model T was introduced. 
The "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was published.
Family Memory:
Child
Throughout the years people did different activities for their entertainment. Many times there was no need for toys — just an imagination. One memory was of watching the clouds go by and using their imagination to make them into different scenes. Riding horses, trapping and playing baseball, along with sledding, skating, hunting, fishing or other activities that we do now. 
Announce the song — Hark the Herald Angels Sing — first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1910 - 1919
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: William Taft , Woodrow Wilson 
42 of the 48 states ratified the 16th Amendment, and Americans began paying income tax. 
The Boy and Girl Scouts Organization of America was founded.
The human voice, instead of morse code, was transmitted between Arlington, Virginia and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, in the first international "radiotelephone" communication. 
Child
South Carolina raised the minimum age for coal mine workers from 12 to 14. 
The World War ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. 
After a 5-month conference, the World Peace Treaty was signed. 
Congress overrode President Wilson's veto and passed the National Prohibition Act.
Family Memory:
Child
The favorite traditions seem to be the same from family to family. People get together with their love ones and eat, sing songs, go to church, and decorate their Christmas Trees. Some differences are that in the past people made their decorations and used real candles on the trees. The candles were only lit on Christmas Eve and I am sure were watched very carefully.
Announce the song — It Came Upon A Midnight Clear— first two versus. The whole congregation sings. 
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1920 - 1929
Child
The average life expectancy for an American was 54 years.
The following were presidents during this decade: Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover. 
Due to cost-saving assembly-line production, the price of a basic Model T Ford dropped to $290. Ford produced its 10-millionth automobile. 
People in New York City panicked on January 24th when the city was totally darkened by a full solar eclipse. 
Child
The Mt. Rushmore Monument was dedicated. 
Aviator Charles "Lucky Lindy" Lindbergh became the first pilot to fly solo non-stop from New York to Paris. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane.
"Black Tuesday" - October 29th - saw 16 million shares traded at losses. By December 1st, the New York Stock Exchange value had dropped by over 26 billion dollars and the Great Depression had begun. 
27-year-old Walt Disney introduced his first animated cartoon, Plane Crazy. Its lead character, Mickey Mouse, would also appear in the first animated cartoon to use sound, Steamboat Willie. 
Family Memory:
Child
Each family had different ways of getting to their Christmas program. Some had to walk, others went in the family car. One person remembered taking the sleigh to church and putting hot clothes irons by their feet to keep warm. In some areas when people went by car they stopped along the way and picked up their neighbors to get them to church. 
Announce the song — God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen — first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1930 - 1939
Child
The following were the presidents during this decade: Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt
The Veterans Administration was created. 
The Star-Spangled Banner was chosen over America The Beautiful as the U.S. national anthem. 
The prohibition of alcohol was repealed. 
Facing the worst depression in U.S. history, Franklin Roosevelt declared in his inaugural address that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." 
Child
Less than two years after the end of Prohibition, the first chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous was organized in New York City. 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. 
The Golden Gate Bridge was completed. 
Thomas Jefferson's portrait was placed on the U.S. 5¢ coin. 
A federal minimum wage of 25¢ per hour was established. 
Family Memory:
ç
Some of the traditional foods that we have during the holidays are: lefse, sandbuckles, fruitcake, cookies, candies, suet pudding, Swedish meatballs, lutefisk, and someone has to have a good old fruitcake.
Announce the song — Oh Little Town of Bethlehem— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1940 - 1949
Child
The average life expectancy of an American was 64 years. 
The following were presidents during this decade: Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman
Walt Disney released Pinocchio, which included the hit When You Wish Upon A Star. 
The Japanese attacked the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7th. The next day, President Roosevelt announced a declaration of war against Japan. Japanese allies Italy & Germany declared war on the U.S 
Because copper was needed for the war effort, U.S. pennies produced this year were made from steel & zinc. 
Child
Wage earners began having a 20 per-cent flat income tax deducted from their wages on July 1st. 
The Normandy Invasion took place on D Day, June 6th. 
The federal minimum wage was raised to 40¢ per hour. 
The first digital computer was introduced at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering in Philadelphia. The ENIAC was 30 by 60 feet and weighed 60,000 pounds. 
Family History:
Child
Each year we have symbols that represent Christmas, some of those symbols have more meaning that we know: 
Candy Cane - When you flip the candy cane upside down it becomes a "J" that stands for Jesus. If you keep it upright, it is a shepherd’s staff. The red strips are for the blood that Jesus shed for us. When we give our lives to Jesus his blood washes away our sins and makes us "white" and pure as snow.
Wreath — The Christmas wreath is another symbol that we see. The circular shape is without a beginning or an end - which shows us that Jesus’ love is unending. The evergreen shows that there is life even in the cold of winter — that Christ’s gift of life is, now and forever. There are five candles, three are usually pink, one is purple, and one is white. A candle is lit the first week of Advent and then another each week until December 25th. The last candle, the white one, is lit on Christmas Eve.
Announce the song — O Holy Night— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1950 - 1959
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower 
As the year began, 70% of America's 2,905,000 armed forces were fighting in the Korean War. 
Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on television. 
In 1953 the Korean War ended when an armistice was signed.
Scrabble became America's favorite board game. 
Child
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against racial segregation in schools. 
The major labor advocates, the AFL and the CIO, merged. 
America watched nervously as Fidel Castro led an uprising against the government of Cuba's Fulgencio Batista. 
U.S. first class postage was increased to 4¢. 
Family Memory: 
Child
Another family memory that was shared is going out and picking the Christmas Tree from the woods on their land. This was a family event that the whole family participated in.
Announce the song — Angels We Have Heard On High— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1960 - 1969
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard M. Nixon 
President Kennedy established the Peace Corps. 
John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. 
A quarter-million people joined the civil rights March On Washington, at which Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his legendary "I Have A Dream" speech. 
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Child
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 
President Johnson authorized the first bombing raids in the Viet Nam War, and began increasing troop levels dramatically. 
Super Bowl I was covered by both NBC and CBS. Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
The first world-wide live TV broadcast, using communications satellites, was carried by America's National Educational Television, the forerunner of PBS. The Beatles closed the broadcast by premiering their new single, All You Need Is Love.
The world's largest TV audience to date watched astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the moon. 
Family Memory: 
Child
In the past the Christmas program wasn’t for the church only, it was a program at the school with the whole community gathering. In many cases the Christmas party was the only time that everyone got together during the winter to celebrate.
Announce the song The First Noel— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1970 - 1979 
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Jr.
Cigarette ads were banned from TV and radio. 
The Apollo 13 crew returned to Earth following a harrowing mission in which they repaired their ship with duct tape following an oxygen tank explosion. 
The voting age was lowered to 18.
Child
The U.S., North Viet Nam, South Viet Nam and the Viet Cong signed a peace agreement in Paris. 
America's bicentennial year included hundreds of thousands of special events and celebrations. 
The Senate voted to turn the Panama Canal over to Panama on December 31st, 1999.
The average life span of an American increased to 67. 
Family Memory:
Child
One thing to note is that even if we are from different backgrounds or religions, the Christmas season seems to be celebrated by families in different ways, but with the same traditions. Families gather to celebrate life and the love for each other.
Announce the song — We Three Kings of Orient Are— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1980 - 1989
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush
Mt. St. Helens in southwest Washington erupted. 
The federal minimum wage was raised to $3.35 per hour. 
Columbia, the nation's first space shuttle, was launched April 12th. 
Child
The first successful artificial heart transplant took place at the University Of Utah Medical Center. 
As a crew member of the space shuttle Challenger, Sally Ride became America's first woman in space. 
Reduced safety standards in an attempt to speed up the launch date resulted in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger shortly after takeoff. 
The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty took place on Independence Day. 
Family Memory:
Child
The Nativity scene has always been the center point of Christmas programs. Some of the memories that were shared included having live animals, adults were included, and many times the Nativity Scene was located outside.
Announce the song — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel— first two versus. The whole congregation sings.
Dim lights — bright flashlights move throughout the Altar. Spotlight focuses on readers.
 
1990 - 1999
Child
The following were presidents during this decade: George Bush, Bill Clinton
Operation Desert Shield consisted of 527,000 American military personnel sent to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf after Iraq invaded Kuwait. 
The Postal Service raised the first class stamp from 25¢ to 29¢. 
The life expectancy is approximately 82 years.
Child
The Census Bureau announced that the U.S. population had reached 252,000,000. 
Home computers and the Internet became the hottest new technologies embraced by consumers. 
Breathtaking photos of forming galaxies were relayed to Earth by the Hubble telescope. 
The Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots 35 to 10 at Super Bowl, XXI.
At age 77, former astronaut John Glenn returned to space aboard the shuttle Discovery. 
Several surveys named Barbie as the most popular toy of the 1900s.
Closing:
Child
We have covered the last 100 years in a short amount of time. Many things have happened that have made our lives what they are today and we can only dream about what our lives will be in the future. As our last family memory we would like to share the memory that has spanned the time. This memory has been the same since the beginning, an event that we can all depend on from year to year. Here is our family’s choice of favorite song and favorite story. Lane reading the Christmas Story while the first graders walk in and form the Nativity Scene. When Nativity Scene is complete, flute will start with some 6th, 7th, and 8th graders lighting and passing out candles. When all candles are lit and lights are low have all start singing Silent Night.
Thank you for attending our history lesson, we hope that we made this evening a memory for you. You are invited to join us for a Christmas social in the dining area. The students have brought in their favorite Christmas treats to share. Thank you. 
The kids sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as they leave".