Description
This is a live nativity, (could be “Stations of Christmas” type of program). The script calls for using a narrator and songs are interspered. Very effective. Written by Lisa Strauch.
We set up a stable outside at Christmas. The Birth of Hope is a narrative and the actors do the actions. The only speaking parts we have are the narrators and the Angel Gabriel.
CAST:
Joseph
Mary
Baby Jesus
Jesus about 2 years old
Angel Gabriel
Innkeeper
4 or 5 Shepherds
King Herod
King Herod’s men (2)
Wisemen (3)
Other angels (as many as you want)
(We use real animals such as a donkey, sheep and any other animals that are available. We do this production outside and the animals make it realistic.)
Scene 1; The home to Mary.
She is sitting and the Angel Gabriel appears.
We would like to welcome you to our production of the Birth of Hope.
We want to take you back to a time long, long ago to a young woman, whose name was Mary. She was engaged to Joseph./ When one night she was visited by an angel.
“Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you.” / Mary was startled and confused. What was happening? Why was an angel visiting her? What did all this mean? / And the angel said,“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.”/Did she hear him right? Maybe he had the wrong woman, but he said my name, Mary. Was she, Mary, really going to give birth of God’s Son? How? / Mary didn’t know how this could be so she asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”/
And the Angel answered, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”/
Lights out
(Song “Oh what a precious promise” by B.J Thomas starts playing)Mary gets ready for Journey on Donkey.
(Lights come on when you hear chimes in song)
Joseph brings Donkey and Mary gets on him and they go on their journey while the song is playing.
Spot light follows Mary and Joseph
(song fades at “Mary and the child will have a home”)
Narrator reads next part.
In those Days the Roman Emperor was Caesar Augustus. He issued a decree that a census should be taken. Everyone had to go to his own hometown to register./
(Song fades back in at “night of a precious promise is unfolding”)
Lights out
Change props to stable while Mary and Joseph are on their journey.
Mary and Joseph have been walking around during the song and come back to the stable before the song ends. The Innkeeper leads them into the stable. Mary is in pain and Joseph helps her inside.
Scene 2 The StableMary and Joseph enter stable and Mary lies down on a blanket
Lights on Low
It was a long journey. They were tired and sore and looking for a room to stay in Bethlehem. They were getting anxious because a while ago Mary started having pains. They baby was coming, and soon. They have to find somewhere to stay./
When they arrived in Bethlehem people were everywhere and there was not one room left. What were they going to do? “What? You have a stable we could stay in? That would be great anything as long as it’s dry and warm, the baby is coming./
Sounds of Baby crying
Lights on
Mary and Joseph are sitting around the manger.
Jesus, God’s Son born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. A miracle had just taken place. The King of Kings, the Messiah, the Child of Hope was born./
Play song “Let my words be few” by Phillips Craig and Dean
During the song Mary and Joseph and sitting around the manger
Lights out
(Play night noises)
Small campfire burning off to the side of manger Shepherds sitting around campfire chatting and joking maybe a few sleeping.
It was a quiet peaceful evening in the hills near Bethlehem. A small group of shepherds were out keeping a careful watch over their sheep. They were sitting around a small fire telling tales and events that had happened that day./
Angel Gabriel appears and holds arms out
Extra light on Angel
