SCENE ONE
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary (Luke 1: 26 – 38)
SCENE TWO
Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy (Matt. 1: 19-25)
SCENE
THREE
The Journey to Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-5
SCENE
FOUR
Shepherds & Angels. Luke 2:8-14.
SCENE
FIVE
The
shepherds and The Shepherd. Luke 2:15-20.
Props:
Manger
Carpenter
Shop
Shepherd
Campfire
SCENE ONE
Christ’s
Birth Announced to Mary (Luke 1: 26 – 38)
Narrator:
“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and He shall be called Immanuel.
Immanuel…God, with us” (Isaiah 7:14)
Mary filling manger with hay to feed animals…(Away in a Manger,
playing softly)
Angel appears:
“Rejoice, the Lord is with
you; blessed are you among women!”
Mary, backs up, afraid.
Angel: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God. Behold, you will conceive and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name
Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the
Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David…and of His kingdom there
will be no end.”
Mary: Me? Of all people? Why me? It’s not possible, I haven’t
even…
Angel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of
the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be
born will be called the Son of God. Now, indeed, Elizabeth your relative has
also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her
who was called barren. For with God nothing will
be impossible. Mary, He knew you, before He chose you. And He never makes a mistake."
Mary stares at the angel, and then into heaven for several
seconds, so long in fact that the angel looks up, too. Finally, Mary rests her
hand on her stomach and smiles and nods.
Mary: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to
me according to your word.”
Angel disappears
Away in a manger,
plays softly, Mary, smiling, imagines hay from manger is Baby…song fades,
lights fade, Mary kneels beside manger to pray.
SCENE
TWO
Joseph
learns of Mary’s pregnancy (Matt. 1: 19-25)
Mary is walking slowly, from
off stage, toward Joseph who is working in his shop. Mary’s pregnancy is
starting to show (3 months pregnant).
Narrator: Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, but, before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Ghost.
Joseph sees Mary,
drops what he’s doing and rushes to her. They embrace…but then, Joseph pulls
away and looks at her stomach.
Narrator: Joseph, being a just man, and not
willing to make her a public disgrace, was minded to break off the engagement
privately.
Joseph looks Mary in the
eyes, shakes his head and steps back.
Mary looks at Joseph and then down and holds her belly. When she looks back up at Joseph, she reaches for
him, but he steps back a few steps, slowly, shaking his head, and turns away.
Stage right and left split into two scenes.
Joseph on left, in his shop, pacing, angry,
until he finally sinks down into a tearful sleep.
Mary stage right, paces
slowly, praying, until she kneels (beside manager) in tearful prayer.
Stage goes dark, briefly;
then, an angel appears next to Joseph.
Angel:
“Joseph, son of David, do not
be afraid to take to you, Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Angel disappears
Joseph scratches his head, nods his head, smiles, gets up and
walks to Mary, who is still praying.
He takes her by the hand. She stands, apprehensive
at first, unsure of why he’s come...
He smiles, she smiles…they embrace.
Lights go down.
SCENE
THREE
The
Journey to Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-5
Narrator:
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. So, all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city. Joseph went from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was great with child.”
O’ Little Town of Bethlehem softly
plays
Mary and Joseph walk slowly toward Bethlehem from the back of the audience.
Innkeeper Voices:
(Remember, it’s
likely, folks thought Mary’s pregnancy scandalous, not miraculous).
Intermittently, as they walk, loud, gruff, voices, over song, say “No room in
the Inn, go away” … “No room for the likes of you, no way” (she’s the pregnant girl who says she never
cheated. He’s the dumb one who believes her).
Joseph
& Mary reach the front of the Church.
Music stops.
Joseph:
I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should’ve known. Should’ve
prepared; could’ve made plans. You deserve so much better. Why would God ever
choose to use a wretch like me?
Mary:
"Joseph, He knew you, before He chose you. And He never makes a
mistake." She gently touches Joseph’s face.
Joseph looks
down, shakes his head at first, then, slowly nods, looks at Mary, smiles.
They
take another step or two…
Last Innkeeper: Front and center, just before Joseph and Mary reach the stage, an Innkeeper stands up from the front
row, tells them, sarcastically, “I
suppose, you can stay out back, in the stable—with the…animals.”
Joseph is angered and steps up to the Innkeeper and draws back a strong carpenter’s arm, to teach this Innkeeper some manners.
Mary, places a hand on Joseph’s arm.
Joseph, slowly turns, looks at Mary.
Mary smiles at Joseph and whispers, “He never makes a mistake.” Then, she looks at Innkeeper, smiles and nods and says, “Thank you sir.” She looks
toward the manger, “It’s perfect.”
Away
in a Manger plays softly…
Mary
& Joseph walk, hand in hand, onto the stage. Mary starts filling the
manger, just like she did in the first scene.
Lights
go down. (Joseph & Mary exit stage)
Narrator: And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room
for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7).
SCENE
FOUR
Shepherds
& Angels.
Luke
2:8-20.
Shepherds around
campfire.
Narrator: 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Angel appears before the shepherds
Narrator: 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Shepherds are scared, tremble.
Narrator: 10 And the angel
said unto them,
Angel:
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord.
12 And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Multitude of angels come out.
Narrator:
13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying,
All angels speak together:
14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Narrator:
15 And
it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this
thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’
Shepherds
scatter to back of Church.
SCENE
FIVE
The
shepherds and The Shepherd
Luke
2:8-20.
Stage set as
manger scene.
Joseph and Mary
by manger, admiring Jesus.
Shepherds are
outside, inch closer.
Mary smiles at
them. Joseph nods at them. Shepherds enter, slowly, humbly, and bow before the
Babe… all but one, lone shepherd. He kneels outside, head bowed.
Joseph to lone shepherd, "Friend, it’s okay, you can come in."
Lone Shepherd: Oh no, not me. If you knew half the things I’ve done, you wouldn’t
say that. Those angels must’ve made a mistake, comin’ to the likes of us.
Joseph: Gently picks up Baby Jesus, takes a few steps toward the lone
shepherd. Smiles. “He knew you, before
He chose you. And He never makes a mistake.”
The lone shepherd
comes in, bows before Jesus.
Mary stands
beside Joseph.
The other
shepherds gather round and bow before the Babe.
The Innkeeper
enters in and bows before the King
The angels appear
and bow before the Lord
Joseph and Mary
kneel and extend the Babe to the audience.
They all
say: “He knew you, before He chose you. And He never makes a mistake.”
Prayer.
Narrator:
“The
people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)
Song: Joy to the world.
Yet, the angel told Mary, “He knew you, before He
chose you, and He never makes a mistake.”
Mary told Joseph.
Joseph told the lone shepherd.
Now, you and I are hearing it, too.
From the foundation of the world, He knew you. Before
the beginning, He chose you to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
Now, at this very moment, He’s asking, “I chose you;
will you choose Me?”
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus,
We choose You. Please forgive us for rejecting
You so many times. We surrender and submit, our life to You, forever. We invite
You, to be our Lord and Savior. Help us to honor You, to do our best, and to walk
in Your joy, all the days of our lives.
We love You, forever and ever, amen.
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