Angels We Have Heard
Drama
Six Advent Plays for Children
Object:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
-- Luke 2:13-14
Characters
Narrator
Angel One
Angel Two
Angel Three (Choir Director)
Angel Six
Angel Four
Gabriel
Angel Five
Zechariah
Angel Seven
Mary
Elizabeth (nonspeaking)
Joseph (nonspeaking)
Shepherd One
Shepherd Two
Shepherd Three
Shepherd Four
(The stage could be fronted with fluffy clouds signifying the Angels moving about heaven. All the Angels are in the Heavenly Choir. Angel Three directs the Angel Choir. They are tuning up their voices, but they don't sound very good. One Angel is strumming a harp. You may use an autoharp or a pretend harp. Mary also needs a doll to portray the baby Jesus and a manger. An altar should be set up to one side.)
Narrator: The Heavenly Hosts are preparing for the birth of the Son of God. Let us experience together their reaction as we share in the joy of this exciting event as God touched man. Come with us as we watch Gabriel, the Archangel, deliver God's message to Zechariah, a righteous priest. He tells Zechariah that even in his old age he will have a son, and he is to name him John. Then behold, as we watch, Mary, a young girl, as she is told that she will bear the Son of God.
God sends Gabriel to bring comfort and understanding to Joseph as he struggles with the laws of the Israelites and his love for Mary. Certainly we can share the Angel's happiness as they tell of the Savior's birth and sing the Gloria refrain to the Shepherds out in the fields. We will rejoice with the Angels as we share in the coming of Jesus, the Son of God.
Angel One: What's going on here?
Angel Two: The Most High just gave us a new song to learn.
(Heavenly Choir sings slowly and not very well, "Gloria," from "Angels We Have Heard On High.")
Angel One: (walks away from singing Angels with hands still over her ears) You sound worse than the harpist. (makes a face)
Angel Three: The Most High asked us to sing a new song; we are just trying to learn it.
Angel One: (facing audience, hands over ears... looking desperate) Is there no place in heaven where I can find some peace and quiet?
(Angels look around as if they hear something, stop practicing and go to edge of heaven where they look down on earth and listen. They look sad.)
Angel Three: (looking out over earth -- the audience) Listen! Hear how God's people cry out day and night.
Angel Six: It is so sad.
Angel Four: Humans are so cruel to one another.
Angel Six: (wipes a tear from eye) It just makes me want to cry.
Angel One: (crosses arms over chest and pouts) I guess it is better to be in heaven... even if it is noisy.
(Gabriel enters from stage left. He walks to edge of heaven and looks down on earth and shakes head sadly. Then he turns and speaks to Angels.)
Gabriel: The Most High is sending me down to earth.
Angel Five: What are you going to do, Gabriel?
Gabriel: I am going to deliver a very important message to that old man burning incense at the altar.
(Lights dim. Spot goes to an old man [Zechariah] walking slowly toward an altar.)
Angel Three: Oh, yes, that's Zechariah, he and his wife, Elizabeth, are good people; they have always tried to do what is right.
Angel Five: You are right... they have always obeyed God's commands.
(Gabriel steps down from heaven and goes over to Zechariah's side. Zechariah, who is lighting incense looks up and sees the Angel. Zechariah steps back, mouth and eyes wide open in surprise and fear.)
Gabriel: Don't be afraid, Zechariah.
Zechariah: Who... who are you? What are you doing in the holy of holies?
Gabriel: God has heard your prayers, Zechariah. Your wife, Elizabeth, will become pregnant and she will bear a son. You are to name him John.
Zechariah: We? We are to have a child?
Gabriel: And from his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Zechariah: A baby? (pause) A son?
Gabriel: He will go ahead of the Lord, like the prophet Elijah. He will turn your people back to the way of righteousness.
Zechariah: (unbelieving) How... how can this be?
Gabriel: He will get the Lord's people ready for him.
Zechariah: But, I am an old man. And, my wife is old, too.
Gabriel: I am Gabriel; I stand in the presence of God who sent me.
Zechariah: It cannot be.
Gabriel: You have not believed me, so, you will not be able to speak until the day my promise comes true. (turns and walks back to heaven leaving a very stunned Zechariah)
(Back in heaven, the Angels greet Gabriel.)
Angel One: Why, Gabriel? Why wouldn't Zechariah believe you?
Angel Two: Doesn't he know that God is always true?
(Gabriel walks to edge of heaven and looks down at Zechariah trying to talk to the audience by moving his hands and arms about.)
Angel Three: Look at Zechariah. He has to make signs with his hands.
Angel Four: They make it so hard on themselves when they don't believe God.
Angel Five: Poor fellow, no one understands what has happened.
(Spotlight on Zechariah as he walks slowly down the aisle. Angels go back to practicing their song. They are beginning to sound a little better. Lights go down and then up to denote time.)
Narrator: When his period of service in the temple was over, a silent Zechariah went home. Sometime later, his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant. In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph.
(Gabriel walks to the edge of heaven and starts to go down to earth.)
Angel Six: Gabriel, come over and hear us sing our new song.
Angel Seven: Yes, Gabriel, we have the new song all ready.
Gabriel: Not now my friends, I have to deliver another message.
(Angels watch as Gabriel goes to earth and walks over to a young girl sleeping on a mat.)
Instrumental
"Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming"
Gabriel: (to Mary) Peace be with you!
Mary: (startled... sits up wide-eyed... frightened) Who... who are you?
Gabriel: Don't be afraid, Mary. God has been gracious to you.
Mary: Are you an Angel?
Gabriel: I have a message for you from the Most High God. You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
Mary: (in wonderment) But, but how can this be?
Gabriel: God's power will rest on you; the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
Mary: (obediently... softly) I am the Lord's servant.
(Angel leaves. Mary pulls blanket up and looks thoughtful, but bewildered.)
Instrumental or Solo
"Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming"
(Lights dim, then go up; denoting time.)
Narrator: Soon afterward, Mary prepared herself and hurried off to the hill country, to a town in Judea to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
(Angels gather around the edge of heaven and look down on earth.)
Angel Three: Look, there goes Mary to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
Angel Two: Elizabeth can use her help, she is old, and it is hard for her now that she is carrying the baby.
(Mary greets Elizabeth and they embrace.)
Angel Four: Oh, look how happy they are to see one another!
Angel Five: Even the baby jumped for joy....
(Angels clap hands and jump for joy, too.)
Angel Six: (wipes tear from eye) It makes me want to cry.
(Lights go down and up to denote time.)
Narrator: The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she bore a son. Zechariah was again able to speak and praised God as he named his new son John. He is known to us as "John the Baptist" who announced the coming of our Lord Jesus. Mary then returned home.
Angel Five: (looking over side of heaven) Uh-oh.
(The other Angels come over to look.)
Angel Three: What is happening?
Angel Five: Mary is returning home from her visit with Elizabeth.
Angel Four: There's Joseph. He sees her. Uh-oh.
Angel Six: He doesn't look too happy.
Angel One: What will he do?
Angel Two: The Israelites have very strict laws. He could have Mary stoned.
Angel One: (frightened) Oh, no... no.
(When Joseph sees Mary, he turns his back on her and stalks off angrily, and Mary turns and leaves crying. Gabriel goes to the side of heaven to watch, then goes to the back of the stage. Angels continue to watch, looking fearful and worried. Soon Gabriel returns and goes directly to earth. There he sees Joseph sleeping fitfully on a mat.)
Gabriel: (standing near Joseph's head) Joseph, descendant of David.
(Joseph remains asleep, with his head turned toward Gabriel and the audience with eyes closed.)
Gabriel: Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for she is with child by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus, and he will save his people from their sins.
(Angel returns to heaven. Joseph smiles in his sleep. Other Angels greet Gabriel with relief. Lights go down and then up to denote time.)
Narrator: Joseph and Mary had gone to Bethlehem as they were required by the Emperor to register themselves for the taxes in the town of their ancestor. When they arrived, the town was so crowded that there was no room for them in the inn, and they had to find shelter in a cave among the animals. In time, it came to pass in the city of David, the town of Bethlehem, the Christ Child was born.
(Mary holds baby, Joseph stands by her side, Angels are excited.)
(Angel Choir sings "Silent Night.")
(Angels Two and Three go to earth to the area of the room where Shepherds are lying down with their sheep.)
Angel Two: Glory be to God!
(Shepherds wake up, look around frightened.)
Angel Three: Don't be afraid.
Shepherd One: Who are you?
Angel Two: We bring good news.
Angel Three: Which will bring great joy to all people.
Shepherd Two: What's going on?
Angel One: This very day, in David's town, your Savior is born.
Shepherd Three: Who? Where?
Angel Three: Christ the Lord, your Messiah.
Shepherd Four: How will we find him?
Angel Two: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
(The other Angels have quietly surrounded the Shepherds and begin to sing the "Gloria" from "Angels We Have Heard On High" that they have been practicing.)
Shepherd One: Let us go to Bethlehem.
Shepherd Two: And see this thing that has happened.
Shepherd Three: Which the Heavenly Hosts have told us.
(Shepherds walk to front where manger is and bow before Jesus. Angels circle behind the Nativity and sing the "Gloria" refrain.)
The End
-- Luke 2:13-14
Characters
Narrator
Angel One
Angel Two
Angel Three (Choir Director)
Angel Six
Angel Four
Gabriel
Angel Five
Zechariah
Angel Seven
Mary
Elizabeth (nonspeaking)
Joseph (nonspeaking)
Shepherd One
Shepherd Two
Shepherd Three
Shepherd Four
(The stage could be fronted with fluffy clouds signifying the Angels moving about heaven. All the Angels are in the Heavenly Choir. Angel Three directs the Angel Choir. They are tuning up their voices, but they don't sound very good. One Angel is strumming a harp. You may use an autoharp or a pretend harp. Mary also needs a doll to portray the baby Jesus and a manger. An altar should be set up to one side.)
Narrator: The Heavenly Hosts are preparing for the birth of the Son of God. Let us experience together their reaction as we share in the joy of this exciting event as God touched man. Come with us as we watch Gabriel, the Archangel, deliver God's message to Zechariah, a righteous priest. He tells Zechariah that even in his old age he will have a son, and he is to name him John. Then behold, as we watch, Mary, a young girl, as she is told that she will bear the Son of God.
God sends Gabriel to bring comfort and understanding to Joseph as he struggles with the laws of the Israelites and his love for Mary. Certainly we can share the Angel's happiness as they tell of the Savior's birth and sing the Gloria refrain to the Shepherds out in the fields. We will rejoice with the Angels as we share in the coming of Jesus, the Son of God.
Angel One: What's going on here?
Angel Two: The Most High just gave us a new song to learn.
(Heavenly Choir sings slowly and not very well, "Gloria," from "Angels We Have Heard On High.")
Angel One: (walks away from singing Angels with hands still over her ears) You sound worse than the harpist. (makes a face)
Angel Three: The Most High asked us to sing a new song; we are just trying to learn it.
Angel One: (facing audience, hands over ears... looking desperate) Is there no place in heaven where I can find some peace and quiet?
(Angels look around as if they hear something, stop practicing and go to edge of heaven where they look down on earth and listen. They look sad.)
Angel Three: (looking out over earth -- the audience) Listen! Hear how God's people cry out day and night.
Angel Six: It is so sad.
Angel Four: Humans are so cruel to one another.
Angel Six: (wipes a tear from eye) It just makes me want to cry.
Angel One: (crosses arms over chest and pouts) I guess it is better to be in heaven... even if it is noisy.
(Gabriel enters from stage left. He walks to edge of heaven and looks down on earth and shakes head sadly. Then he turns and speaks to Angels.)
Gabriel: The Most High is sending me down to earth.
Angel Five: What are you going to do, Gabriel?
Gabriel: I am going to deliver a very important message to that old man burning incense at the altar.
(Lights dim. Spot goes to an old man [Zechariah] walking slowly toward an altar.)
Angel Three: Oh, yes, that's Zechariah, he and his wife, Elizabeth, are good people; they have always tried to do what is right.
Angel Five: You are right... they have always obeyed God's commands.
(Gabriel steps down from heaven and goes over to Zechariah's side. Zechariah, who is lighting incense looks up and sees the Angel. Zechariah steps back, mouth and eyes wide open in surprise and fear.)
Gabriel: Don't be afraid, Zechariah.
Zechariah: Who... who are you? What are you doing in the holy of holies?
Gabriel: God has heard your prayers, Zechariah. Your wife, Elizabeth, will become pregnant and she will bear a son. You are to name him John.
Zechariah: We? We are to have a child?
Gabriel: And from his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Zechariah: A baby? (pause) A son?
Gabriel: He will go ahead of the Lord, like the prophet Elijah. He will turn your people back to the way of righteousness.
Zechariah: (unbelieving) How... how can this be?
Gabriel: He will get the Lord's people ready for him.
Zechariah: But, I am an old man. And, my wife is old, too.
Gabriel: I am Gabriel; I stand in the presence of God who sent me.
Zechariah: It cannot be.
Gabriel: You have not believed me, so, you will not be able to speak until the day my promise comes true. (turns and walks back to heaven leaving a very stunned Zechariah)
(Back in heaven, the Angels greet Gabriel.)
Angel One: Why, Gabriel? Why wouldn't Zechariah believe you?
Angel Two: Doesn't he know that God is always true?
(Gabriel walks to edge of heaven and looks down at Zechariah trying to talk to the audience by moving his hands and arms about.)
Angel Three: Look at Zechariah. He has to make signs with his hands.
Angel Four: They make it so hard on themselves when they don't believe God.
Angel Five: Poor fellow, no one understands what has happened.
(Spotlight on Zechariah as he walks slowly down the aisle. Angels go back to practicing their song. They are beginning to sound a little better. Lights go down and then up to denote time.)
Narrator: When his period of service in the temple was over, a silent Zechariah went home. Sometime later, his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant. In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph.
(Gabriel walks to the edge of heaven and starts to go down to earth.)
Angel Six: Gabriel, come over and hear us sing our new song.
Angel Seven: Yes, Gabriel, we have the new song all ready.
Gabriel: Not now my friends, I have to deliver another message.
(Angels watch as Gabriel goes to earth and walks over to a young girl sleeping on a mat.)
Instrumental
"Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming"
Gabriel: (to Mary) Peace be with you!
Mary: (startled... sits up wide-eyed... frightened) Who... who are you?
Gabriel: Don't be afraid, Mary. God has been gracious to you.
Mary: Are you an Angel?
Gabriel: I have a message for you from the Most High God. You will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
Mary: (in wonderment) But, but how can this be?
Gabriel: God's power will rest on you; the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
Mary: (obediently... softly) I am the Lord's servant.
(Angel leaves. Mary pulls blanket up and looks thoughtful, but bewildered.)
Instrumental or Solo
"Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming"
(Lights dim, then go up; denoting time.)
Narrator: Soon afterward, Mary prepared herself and hurried off to the hill country, to a town in Judea to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
(Angels gather around the edge of heaven and look down on earth.)
Angel Three: Look, there goes Mary to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
Angel Two: Elizabeth can use her help, she is old, and it is hard for her now that she is carrying the baby.
(Mary greets Elizabeth and they embrace.)
Angel Four: Oh, look how happy they are to see one another!
Angel Five: Even the baby jumped for joy....
(Angels clap hands and jump for joy, too.)
Angel Six: (wipes tear from eye) It makes me want to cry.
(Lights go down and up to denote time.)
Narrator: The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she bore a son. Zechariah was again able to speak and praised God as he named his new son John. He is known to us as "John the Baptist" who announced the coming of our Lord Jesus. Mary then returned home.
Angel Five: (looking over side of heaven) Uh-oh.
(The other Angels come over to look.)
Angel Three: What is happening?
Angel Five: Mary is returning home from her visit with Elizabeth.
Angel Four: There's Joseph. He sees her. Uh-oh.
Angel Six: He doesn't look too happy.
Angel One: What will he do?
Angel Two: The Israelites have very strict laws. He could have Mary stoned.
Angel One: (frightened) Oh, no... no.
(When Joseph sees Mary, he turns his back on her and stalks off angrily, and Mary turns and leaves crying. Gabriel goes to the side of heaven to watch, then goes to the back of the stage. Angels continue to watch, looking fearful and worried. Soon Gabriel returns and goes directly to earth. There he sees Joseph sleeping fitfully on a mat.)
Gabriel: (standing near Joseph's head) Joseph, descendant of David.
(Joseph remains asleep, with his head turned toward Gabriel and the audience with eyes closed.)
Gabriel: Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for she is with child by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus, and he will save his people from their sins.
(Angel returns to heaven. Joseph smiles in his sleep. Other Angels greet Gabriel with relief. Lights go down and then up to denote time.)
Narrator: Joseph and Mary had gone to Bethlehem as they were required by the Emperor to register themselves for the taxes in the town of their ancestor. When they arrived, the town was so crowded that there was no room for them in the inn, and they had to find shelter in a cave among the animals. In time, it came to pass in the city of David, the town of Bethlehem, the Christ Child was born.
(Mary holds baby, Joseph stands by her side, Angels are excited.)
(Angel Choir sings "Silent Night.")
(Angels Two and Three go to earth to the area of the room where Shepherds are lying down with their sheep.)
Angel Two: Glory be to God!
(Shepherds wake up, look around frightened.)
Angel Three: Don't be afraid.
Shepherd One: Who are you?
Angel Two: We bring good news.
Angel Three: Which will bring great joy to all people.
Shepherd Two: What's going on?
Angel One: This very day, in David's town, your Savior is born.
Shepherd Three: Who? Where?
Angel Three: Christ the Lord, your Messiah.
Shepherd Four: How will we find him?
Angel Two: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
(The other Angels have quietly surrounded the Shepherds and begin to sing the "Gloria" from "Angels We Have Heard On High" that they have been practicing.)
Shepherd One: Let us go to Bethlehem.
Shepherd Two: And see this thing that has happened.
Shepherd Three: Which the Heavenly Hosts have told us.
(Shepherds walk to front where manger is and bow before Jesus. Angels circle behind the Nativity and sing the "Gloria" refrain.)
The End
