Special Projects

Thanks to Maui - who created the entire script and even wrote two songs in this play! Praise!

Jesus, Our Saviour, is Born in Bethlehem
(Christmas play for children)

Scene 1. Mother and child

((Background music: Silent Night {instrumental}))
[The mother is arranging the small nativity; the child enters]

((Music fades))

Child: What are you doing, Mommy?
Mother: I’m decorating our nativity scene.
Child: Who is that baby and why are they in a stable? Don’t they have a place to stay?
Mother: Well, my child, this baby represents Jesus, our Saviour, who was born in a stable. Let me tell you his story.

In a town called Nazareth, there lived a fine young lady named Mary. One night, as she was deeply in prayer, she suddenly felt a gentle breeze crossed her face. She opened her eyes and saw a bright light.

[Mother and child exit; Mary enters]

Scene 2. Mary and Angel Gabriel

((Sound effect of a gentle breeze))

[Mary in deep prayer; Song 1 starts to play; Angel Gabriel walks slowly towards Mary]
Song 1: The Angel Gabriel
The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!

“For know a blessèd mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!
((music slowly fades))

Narrator: Mary was so afraid to see the Angel and she was confused about the message he brought. Yet, Mary said ‘Yes’ to God.

Song 2. Mary’s Song

Is this true.
Is this true.
That a simple woman like me.
Be the mother of our Saviour.

Let it be.
Let it be.
For God is always faithful.
And may His will be done to me.
[Mary and Angel exit; Joseph enters]

Scene 3. Joseph

Narrator: Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph. When Mary told Joseph that she was with a child through the Holy Spirit, he, being an upright man decided to leave her secretly in order to spare Mary disgrace. But an angel appeared to him in a dream.

[While narrator is speaking, Joseph is asleep but makes certain movement like having a dream. He wakes up when the last sentence of the narration is said]

Song 3. Joseph’s Song

In my dream,
An angel appeared and said to me:
Joseph, Joseph
Do not be afraid.
Joseph, Joseph
Take Mary as your wife.
She will conceive by the Holy Spirit
Give birth to the Son of God
His name will be Jesus
Jesus the Saviour of Mankind
Jesus the Saviour of Mankind.
Joseph!

[Joseph exits]

Scene 4. Joseph, Mary, donkey and the three innkeepers

((Background music: instrumental of Song 4 while narrator is speaking))

Narrator: At this time, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be made and everyone should register in his hometown. Joseph, together with Mary, set out to his town called Bethlehem. Now it happened, that while they were there, the time for Mary came to give birth.

[Joseph, Mary, and the donkey start their journey towards Bethlehem acting accordingly to the lyrics of Song 4]

Song 4. Do you have a room? (© Shawna Belt Edwards 2004)

They journeyed far, a weary pair;
They sought for shelter from the cold night air.
Some place where she could lay her head,
Where she could give her Babe a quiet bed.

Was there no room? No corner there?

In all the town a spot someone could spare?
Was there no soul come to their aid?
A stable bare was where the family stayed.

Do you have room for the Savior? And do you seek Him anew?
Have you a place for the One who lived and died for you?
Are you as humble as a shepherd boy, or as wise as men of old?
Would you have come that night? Would you have sought the light?

Do you have room?

[At the end of the song, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus will be at the nativity scene]

Scene 5. Three Shepherds and Hosts of Angels

Narrator: In the country side close by, there were shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the watches of the night. Suddenly an angel appeared telling them to be not afraid for they bring news of great joy: “ the Saviour has been born to you”! And with a great throng of the hosts of heaven, they praise:

Song 4. Angels we have heard on high

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

[While singing the last verse, angels and shepherds make their way towards the nativity scene]

Scene 6. Three Wise Men

Narrator: After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, three wise men were summoned by Herod to find him. They set out following a start that had led them to the manger.

Song 6. We Three Kings of Orient Are

We three kings of orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light. (Repeat)

[Interpretative dance of the three wise men; part of the dance will have to show each wise man presenting a gift to Jesus]

[[All characters are now in the Nativity Scene]]

Scene 7. The Nativity Scene

Narrator: Everyone who has seen the Saviour of Mankind is astonished and filled with joy. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Song 7. What Child is this

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain: 

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Refrain: 

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

[Interpretative dance for the two verses and first refrain; on the last refrain, Joseph carries the baby Jesus in the center of the stage and raise him up]

[[SILENCE]]

((Music starts to play Song 8; All characters sing and dance))

Song 8. Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

[All characters return to the nativity scene; Mother and child from Scene 1 enter]

Scene 8. Mother and Child

Child: So, that’s why we celebrate Christmas! Because Jesus, our Saviour, is born!
Mother: Yes, my child, Christmas is about Jesus. It is truly time of joy for it reminds us that, always, God is with us!

**********************END***************************

[All characters go on center stage and invite everyone to sing ‘Come all Ye Faithful’]

Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. (Refrain)