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Introduction. When it comes to staging a Christmas drama remember to just tell the Biblical story. It is the same old story, and it needs to be told and retold. This is why I created this drama. It is based on the Bible (use another version of the Bible if you want), but just tell the story. I've kept this drama simple and based on singing. You should be able to organize and stage it in an afternoon. It is important to include both the elderly, adults and children. Ours is not a sentimental story for children, but a powerful story of God coming in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. The world is changed with the coming of Jesus Christ and this is why Luke includes Anna and Simeon, two elderly people who await the Messiah. With the inclusion of adults and the elderly, it communicates that our story is about all of humanity, not something that is about cute kids in a pagent. Although, cute kids are wonderful and try to include some kids as sheep and angels! Clothing: Standard dish cloths hats and bath robes will always be fine for shepherds, as will wire halos and wings for Angels. Do however over time enlist some of the older women in the congregation who can sew costumes. Ask for these in the summer, well before Christmas and add to them each year. Look at the thift stories around Halloween for animal costumes and create a collection for your congregation. Credit: Of course you can use this Christmas play (for non-commerical
purposes), without permission, but please give me credit for the
Christmas drama. ) Consider donating to this web site. There is
a link on our main page. Rolls: Choir: This can be the regular choir, everyone involved in the play, or a trio of the congregations best singers. Hymns: Some praise songs might work for the initial opening
of the worship drama, however hymns are better suited to telling
stories. I recommend a mix of old standards and a couple unknown
or relatively new hymns. This communicates that our Christmas story
is rooted in the past and alive for today. Both types of hymns add
tradition and some suprize to the drama. ================================================================== Announcements and Quiet preparation for Worship Processional and Hymn: "People Look East And Sing Today" {Found in many modern Hymnals} {Advent Words then the Lighting of the Advent Candles} Congregational Prayer: O God of Love, Emmanuel, send your light into our hearts at this time. Help us to be ready for the time of Christ's appearing. Grant that we may so live in the way of Jesus our Lord, that his love overflows out of our lives in acts of goodness, justice and peace. Make our worship of You a time in which we celebrate Your love and, through Your power, are made ready to reflect that love to the whole world - both today - and forevermore. In Christ we pray Amen. Offering is Received As Choir or Trio Sings "Of the Father's Love Begotten Choose a Couple Verses" or "Lo How a Rose Er' Blooming V 1&2)". {Both hymns have an ancient feel to them, especially the first. This helps to congregation understand the story comes from the past and is rooted in humanities need for redemption. . Both hymns have a soulful mood to them. If you choose something else that has a medeival or ancient sound to it, that would be good too. Come O Come Emmanual would work too.} Isaiah (7:14; 9:2-7) {Isaiah Enters from the back, comes up the center isle and makes a proclamation from the centre isle}
{Isaiah sits down on the right side of the Church} Congregation Sings "Hope Is A Star" {I highly recommend this hymn. It is simple, highly incarnational and easy to learn. It can be found in many Methodist, Presybterian and Anglican hymn books.} Birth of Jesus According to LukeScene #1 The Angels tell Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus Narrator: The birth of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke. {Head Angels and Gabriel enter from the right side of the church and proceed to the base of the stairs where they meet Mary who is sitting on a stool) Head Angel "...the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, " Gabriel: "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. ... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you will name him 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary: "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" Gabriel: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God." {Head Angels and Gabriel leave and sit down on the right side of the Church.} Scene #2 Mary Goes to Elizabeth's Home {Mary remains by her stool} Narrator: " In this way the words of the prophet Isaiah were fulfilled, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." Then Mary went to Elizabeth's home. {Mary Goes to the left sideof the church and meets Elizabeth who is happy to see her} Narrator: When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed," Elizabeth: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." Solo #899 Song of Mary {A hymn of this name is found in many hymnals. It should be sung in the first person. Mary Singing in front of center isle} Scene #3 Bethlehem Journey Narrator: "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the Inn." {Children, including shepherds and angels come up to the front stairs and sing} Children "Away in a Manger" {Shepherds remain by the stairs tending their sheep} Narrator: "In that region there were shepherds living in their fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. {Head Angel enters from Christmas tree side of the church} Narrator: Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. {Shepherds fall on the ground and cover their faces in fear} Narrator: But the angel of the Lord said to them, Angel: " 'Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. '" {Shepherds get up and are happy about the good news} Narrator: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, {Angel chorus enters from Christmas tree side of the Church and join the head Angel} Angel Chorus: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those he favors.' {Younger angel's say 'glory, glory, glory' loudly} {Angels side down on the Christmas tree side of the church} Congregation Sings "While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night" Shepherds: "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." {Shepherds go sit down on the left side of the church} Congregation Sings #64 O Little Town of Bethlehem Scene #3 Presentation of Jesus in the Temple {Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus enter on the piano side of the Church} Simeon enters on the Christmas tree side} Narrator: "There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law. Simeon took him up in his arms and praised God ..." {Mary gives Jesus to Simeon} Simeon: "Praise God, praise God." "Song of Simeon" {A hymn by this name is found in many hymnals. It should be in the first person. See this link for some sheet music. Simeon sings in front of center isle} {Simeon gives Mary baby Jesus} Narrator: "And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother." Simeon: "Bless you both. This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed - and a sword will pierce your own soul too." {Simeon goes and sits down on the left of the Church.} {Anna enters walking agedly from the right side of the Church and walks over to Mary and Joseph} Narrator: "There was also a prophet Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer day and night. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." {Mary gives Anna baby Jesus: The Glorias begin with Anna recieving Jesus and praise begins. This grows with the choice and then the congregation. This evokes the reality that the Gospel is moving out into the world. The closing has an intentionally missional focus leading to the call for the church to spead the Good News in action, with Go Tell it on the Mountain.} Anna: "Gloria, in excelsis Deo! from Angels We have Heard on High" (Twice) Anna and Choir: (Twice "Gloria, in excelsis Deo!") Congregation Joins Singing : "Three Times :Gloria, in excelsis Deo!" {Include in bulletin} Anna: Chistmas Prayer "Generous God, {Mary, Joseph and Anna sit down on the left of the Church} Congregational Hymn "Joy to the World" Closing Reading Luke 24:45-48
HYMN: Go Tell It on the Mountain Benediction ----------- Christmas Play, Christmas drama |