CHRISTMAS PLAY

NB: All hymns are from The Australian Hymn Book.
Players: Angel, Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper, Street extras

Angel comes from the Organ area to Joseph who is seated on a chair in front of the sanctuary entrance

Narrator
Matt 1: 18-25
This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learnt that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good Man and didn't want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding. While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said

Angel : Joseph! the baby that Mary will have, is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from the wrong things in their life."

Narrator
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel" --which means, "God with us."

HYMN 240: O little town of Bethlehem.

Players: Mary, Joseph, Inn keeper, donkey on wheels.

Scene happens in the sanctuary - Joseph seated and Mary standing.

Narrator
Joseph the carpenter was looking very worried. Of course, his wife noticed it at once.
Mary said to Joseph

Mary "Whatever's the matter, Joseph? You look so unhappy."

Narrator
Joseph almost managed to smile at her and then said.

Joseph "Yes, it's true I am worried. Today I heard that the Roman governor has decided to count everybody who lives in this country. And he ordered us all to go back to our home towns for the counting."

Narrator
Now it was Mary's turn to look worried and she said to Joseph

Mary "To Bethlehem! But that's a very long way for us to go. The baby might arrive any time now."

Narrator And so Joseph replied

Joseph "That's why I'm not very happy, but I'm afraid we have to go at once."

Narrator
Next morning, Mary and Joseph set out on the long journey southward from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Joseph walked beside the donkey which carried Mary. They rested often and at last came to Bethlehem.

(Joseph and Mary plus donkey move to the chapel area)

HYMN 224: Joy to the World.

(Street extras- In sanctuary - selling their wares, making goods, chatting with one another, or looking into the shops and then walking by)

As Mary, Joseph with donkey, return to the sanctuary the street scene comes alive.

Narrator
It was almost night when they arrived. Joseph looked for a place to stay, knocked on the door of an inn, and called to the innkeeper,

Joseph "We are travellers here! Can we stay the night?"

Narrator Inkeeper comes out and shakes his head

Inkeeper "No room! There's just no room left. Look somewhere else."

Narrator Joseph spoke again.

Joseph "We must find somewhere to stay. My wife is soon to have a baby."

Narrator The innkeeper looked a bit startled at that and replies

Inkeeper "Very well, You can use the stable if you like. There is plenty of straw there, but it is a bit smelly."

Narrator
A stable! That wasn't much of a place, but it was better than nothing and so Joseph thanked the innkeeper.
That same night, Jesus was born. Mary took her new-born baby and wrapped him in a big cloth. Because she had no cot she put him down to sleep in the animal feed box, the manger.

HYMN 242
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

(During the singing of the hymn the street sellers move into the chapel)

Players: Main angel and various others. Shepherds position themselves at the entrance to the sanctuary. As the Narrator starts talking the angel moves towards the shepherds from the chapel.

Narrator
Luke 2: 8-16
There were shepherds living out in the paddocks nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them,

Angel "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born for you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Narrator
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

(Additional angels appear from the chapel area)

"Angel Praise God in heaven. Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.

HYMN - 223 (While Shepherds watch their flocks)
(The angels returns to the chapel during this hymn)

Narrator
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

Shepherds "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

Narrator
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Hymn 236 Silent night, holy night:

Narrator
Matthew 2: 1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." They then made their way to the stable and there gave Jesus their gifts of gold, incense and myr.

HYMN 221: The first nowell
During this hymn all the cast come together outside the stable to worship Jesus.