Wow! Baby Jesus Is Born ... For Me!
Drama
Thespian Theology
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany -- Cycle B
Thespian Theological Thoughts
This Christmas pageant was written for our church school children a while ago. Anne, our daughter, was about six years old at the time; as I write this, Anne is the mother of our grandsons, ages seven and four. Tempus fugit when you're havin' fun, huh?
Christmas pageants are fun. I remember when #1 Son and his buddies delighted in being shepherds because they got to smear dirt on their faces; recently, #1 Son's #1 Son delightedly smeared chocolate cake on his face at his first birthday.
Down through the generations, this simple but profound story has touched hearts and minds as no other story ever has. As you read the story once again, may the baby Jesus be born in your heart once more, and there may he live and love forever.
Cast
Narrator
Sign-bearer
Mary
Angel
Joseph
Innkeeper #1
Innkeeper #2
Shepherds
Heavenly Host
Props/Costumes
Signs:
"Wow!"
"Baby Jesus"
"Is Born"
"For Me!"
"God Talks to Mary"
"Mary and Joseph Have a Baby"
"No Vacancy" (2)
"The Shepherds Get the Word"
"Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe -- Joseph, Prop"
Easel
Chairs
Doll crib
CD or tape with "Hallelujah Chorus" and "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's Messiah
(Narrator is at podium, stage left)
Narrator: This is the story of the birth of Jesus. Now, we all know that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday -- but sometimes we get so excited and distracted with all the tinsel and the presents and the parties, that we sort of forget what it's all about. And when December 25 has finally come and gone, we just say, "Whew! That's over!" And Christmas is over for another year.
But you know, that's not really right: The "Christmas season" doesn't begin the day after Halloween and end on December 25. And the spirit of Christmas is not "Gee, I wonder what Santa Claus is gonna bring me!" And it's not "How am I ever gonna get my Christmas shopping done?"
(Entire cast -- except Angel, who is backstage right, and Innkeepers, who are backstage left -- enters down center aisle, carrying four signs: "Wow!" "Baby Jesus" "Is Born" "For Me!")
Narrator: The spirit of Christmas is a joyful celebration: "Wow! Baby Jesus Is Born ... For Me!"
(Cast sits in front row)
Narrator: So today, we in the church school are going to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season by telling the story of the birth of Jesus.
(Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "God Talks to Mary"; Mary stands up and moves to center stage)
Narrator: Our story begins in a little town called Nazareth, many years ago. In this town was a girl named Mary. Now Mary was a lot like any little girl ...
... who had a little curl,
right in the middle of her forehead --
and when she was good, she was very, very good,
and when she was bad, she was horrid.
What I mean to say is that Mary wasn't really any different from the rest of us. Now Mary grew up (Joseph stands up with sign: "Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe -- Joseph, Prop") and she got engaged to marry a man named Joseph, who owned Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe in Nazareth. (Joseph hugs Mary and exits stage left) One day, before Mary and Joseph got married, out of the clear, blue sky, an angel appeared to Mary. (Angel enters stage right) Mary was kind of scared, because she hadn't ever seen a real, live angel before. (Mary cringes and kneels down) But the angel said:
Angel: Don't be afraid, Mary. God has sent me to bring you some wonderful news: You are going to have a baby! His name will be Jesus, and he will be great. He will be the Son of God, and he will be known as Immanuel, which means "God with us."
Narrator: Mary replied:
Mary: I don't understand! I'm just a little-girl-with-a-little-curl. Why would God want to do something like this to me?
Narrator: The angel answered:
Angel: Because he loves you, Mary, that's why! And because God loves all his people, he is sending his only Son to live with you, to show you the way to live, and to help you love God and each other.
Narrator: Then Mary began to understand, and she trusted God. (Mary stands up) Mary was very happy at this good news from God, and she was the first one to celebrate the coming of Jesus. (Mary exits stage left, skipping and humming "Joy To The World")
(Angel joins the Cast sitting in the front row. Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "Mary and Joseph Have a Baby")
Narrator: Time passed, and it was almost time for Mary to have her baby. Meanwhile, the Guys-in-the-Government decided (like Guys-in-the-Government often do) that they needed some more money from the people, so they laid a tax on the people.
Cast: Booooo! Hissss!
Narrator: To make it even worse, you had to go to your hometown to register and pay the tax. (Mary and Joseph enter stage left) So poor ol' Joseph had to take Mary and go to Bethlehem. It was a long, difficult journey, especially for Mary, who was going to have a baby very soon! (Mary and Joseph slowly move stage right) When they finally got to Bethlehem, every hotel in town was booked solid. After trying everything from the Ritz Carlton to Motel 6 ...
(Joseph knocks on the wall, downstage right. Innkeeper #1 enters with a sign: "No Vacancy." He then joins the Cast in the front row)
Narrator: ... they came to the last place in town. It was so run down, it wasn't even in the AAA guidebook!
(Joseph moves to center stage and knocks on altar. Innkeeper #2 enters stage left with "No Vacancy" sign)
Narrator: But even this innkeeper didn't have any room for them! Joseph begged him to let Mary have some place to rest, and finally, the innkeeper agreed to let them stay in the barn, with the animals.
(Innkeeper #2 leads Mary and Joseph to center stage; Mary and Joseph sit down; Innkeeper #2 exits stage left)
Narrator: And there, among the cows and the pigs and the goats -- Phew, that smells bad! -- in the middle of a cold night, the baby Jesus was born, in a bed of straw.
(Innkeeper #2 brings doll crib and sits it down in front of Mary and Joseph; then joins the rest of the Cast in the front row)
Narrator: It wasn't a very comfortable place, but Mary and Joseph were happy, and they celebrated the birth of this wonderful baby: Immanuel -- God with us!
(Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "The Shepherds Get the Word")
Narrator: Now, because we love the beautiful way he does it, we're gonna let our old friend George Handel tell you this part of the story.
(Play CD or tape of "Hallelujah Chorus." Shepherds, Angel, and Heavenly Host move to stage right and act out the narrative)
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night ...
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 ...
And the angel said unto them, "Fear not; for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" ...
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men."
Narrator: A Savior, to all people! Peace on earth! That was mighty good news. Well, sir, those shepherds didn't waste any time. (Shepherds move to center stage where Mary and Joseph are) They hustled off to Bethlehem, where they found baby Jesus lying in his bed of straw. And the shepherds celebrated the birth of this wonderful baby: the Son of God!
(Optional: Play CD or tape of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born," from Handel's Messiah)
Narrator: And that's the story of the birth of Jesus.
(Cast members pick up signs -- "Wow!" "Baby Jesus" "Is Born" "For Me!" and return to center stage)
Narrator: It's a very simple story, and its point is very clear and simple: God loves us so much that he sends his only Son to be with us -- Immanuel, God with us -- now that's something to celebrate!
Cast: (Together) Wow! Baby Jesus is born ... for me!
This Christmas pageant was written for our church school children a while ago. Anne, our daughter, was about six years old at the time; as I write this, Anne is the mother of our grandsons, ages seven and four. Tempus fugit when you're havin' fun, huh?
Christmas pageants are fun. I remember when #1 Son and his buddies delighted in being shepherds because they got to smear dirt on their faces; recently, #1 Son's #1 Son delightedly smeared chocolate cake on his face at his first birthday.
Down through the generations, this simple but profound story has touched hearts and minds as no other story ever has. As you read the story once again, may the baby Jesus be born in your heart once more, and there may he live and love forever.
Cast
Narrator
Sign-bearer
Mary
Angel
Joseph
Innkeeper #1
Innkeeper #2
Shepherds
Heavenly Host
Props/Costumes
Signs:
"Wow!"
"Baby Jesus"
"Is Born"
"For Me!"
"God Talks to Mary"
"Mary and Joseph Have a Baby"
"No Vacancy" (2)
"The Shepherds Get the Word"
"Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe -- Joseph, Prop"
Easel
Chairs
Doll crib
CD or tape with "Hallelujah Chorus" and "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's Messiah
(Narrator is at podium, stage left)
Narrator: This is the story of the birth of Jesus. Now, we all know that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday -- but sometimes we get so excited and distracted with all the tinsel and the presents and the parties, that we sort of forget what it's all about. And when December 25 has finally come and gone, we just say, "Whew! That's over!" And Christmas is over for another year.
But you know, that's not really right: The "Christmas season" doesn't begin the day after Halloween and end on December 25. And the spirit of Christmas is not "Gee, I wonder what Santa Claus is gonna bring me!" And it's not "How am I ever gonna get my Christmas shopping done?"
(Entire cast -- except Angel, who is backstage right, and Innkeepers, who are backstage left -- enters down center aisle, carrying four signs: "Wow!" "Baby Jesus" "Is Born" "For Me!")
Narrator: The spirit of Christmas is a joyful celebration: "Wow! Baby Jesus Is Born ... For Me!"
(Cast sits in front row)
Narrator: So today, we in the church school are going to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season by telling the story of the birth of Jesus.
(Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "God Talks to Mary"; Mary stands up and moves to center stage)
Narrator: Our story begins in a little town called Nazareth, many years ago. In this town was a girl named Mary. Now Mary was a lot like any little girl ...
... who had a little curl,
right in the middle of her forehead --
and when she was good, she was very, very good,
and when she was bad, she was horrid.
What I mean to say is that Mary wasn't really any different from the rest of us. Now Mary grew up (Joseph stands up with sign: "Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe -- Joseph, Prop") and she got engaged to marry a man named Joseph, who owned Ye Olde Carpenter Shoppe in Nazareth. (Joseph hugs Mary and exits stage left) One day, before Mary and Joseph got married, out of the clear, blue sky, an angel appeared to Mary. (Angel enters stage right) Mary was kind of scared, because she hadn't ever seen a real, live angel before. (Mary cringes and kneels down) But the angel said:
Angel: Don't be afraid, Mary. God has sent me to bring you some wonderful news: You are going to have a baby! His name will be Jesus, and he will be great. He will be the Son of God, and he will be known as Immanuel, which means "God with us."
Narrator: Mary replied:
Mary: I don't understand! I'm just a little-girl-with-a-little-curl. Why would God want to do something like this to me?
Narrator: The angel answered:
Angel: Because he loves you, Mary, that's why! And because God loves all his people, he is sending his only Son to live with you, to show you the way to live, and to help you love God and each other.
Narrator: Then Mary began to understand, and she trusted God. (Mary stands up) Mary was very happy at this good news from God, and she was the first one to celebrate the coming of Jesus. (Mary exits stage left, skipping and humming "Joy To The World")
(Angel joins the Cast sitting in the front row. Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "Mary and Joseph Have a Baby")
Narrator: Time passed, and it was almost time for Mary to have her baby. Meanwhile, the Guys-in-the-Government decided (like Guys-in-the-Government often do) that they needed some more money from the people, so they laid a tax on the people.
Cast: Booooo! Hissss!
Narrator: To make it even worse, you had to go to your hometown to register and pay the tax. (Mary and Joseph enter stage left) So poor ol' Joseph had to take Mary and go to Bethlehem. It was a long, difficult journey, especially for Mary, who was going to have a baby very soon! (Mary and Joseph slowly move stage right) When they finally got to Bethlehem, every hotel in town was booked solid. After trying everything from the Ritz Carlton to Motel 6 ...
(Joseph knocks on the wall, downstage right. Innkeeper #1 enters with a sign: "No Vacancy." He then joins the Cast in the front row)
Narrator: ... they came to the last place in town. It was so run down, it wasn't even in the AAA guidebook!
(Joseph moves to center stage and knocks on altar. Innkeeper #2 enters stage left with "No Vacancy" sign)
Narrator: But even this innkeeper didn't have any room for them! Joseph begged him to let Mary have some place to rest, and finally, the innkeeper agreed to let them stay in the barn, with the animals.
(Innkeeper #2 leads Mary and Joseph to center stage; Mary and Joseph sit down; Innkeeper #2 exits stage left)
Narrator: And there, among the cows and the pigs and the goats -- Phew, that smells bad! -- in the middle of a cold night, the baby Jesus was born, in a bed of straw.
(Innkeeper #2 brings doll crib and sits it down in front of Mary and Joseph; then joins the rest of the Cast in the front row)
Narrator: It wasn't a very comfortable place, but Mary and Joseph were happy, and they celebrated the birth of this wonderful baby: Immanuel -- God with us!
(Sign-bearer puts sign on easel: "The Shepherds Get the Word")
Narrator: Now, because we love the beautiful way he does it, we're gonna let our old friend George Handel tell you this part of the story.
(Play CD or tape of "Hallelujah Chorus." Shepherds, Angel, and Heavenly Host move to stage right and act out the narrative)
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night ...
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 ...
And the angel said unto them, "Fear not; for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" ...
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men."
Narrator: A Savior, to all people! Peace on earth! That was mighty good news. Well, sir, those shepherds didn't waste any time. (Shepherds move to center stage where Mary and Joseph are) They hustled off to Bethlehem, where they found baby Jesus lying in his bed of straw. And the shepherds celebrated the birth of this wonderful baby: the Son of God!
(Optional: Play CD or tape of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born," from Handel's Messiah)
Narrator: And that's the story of the birth of Jesus.
(Cast members pick up signs -- "Wow!" "Baby Jesus" "Is Born" "For Me!" and return to center stage)
Narrator: It's a very simple story, and its point is very clear and simple: God loves us so much that he sends his only Son to be with us -- Immanuel, God with us -- now that's something to celebrate!
Cast: (Together) Wow! Baby Jesus is born ... for me!
