Smithfield Monthly Meeting The Religious Society of Friends
The Christmas Story
prepared by Susan Furry
Revised 11/96
This play can be done with as few as 8 children or as many as are available (there is lot's of room for extra shepherds and angels, the 'children of many nations' and of course, 'live' animals!)
Smithfield Meeting has done this play for the last several years, with slight variations at the children's suggestion. The photos are from our 1997 performance.
NARRATOR 1: A voice cries: Prepare a road for the Holy One through the wilderness; clear a straight highway across the desert for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
NARRATOR 2: The Holy One will give you a sign: Behold, a young woman will conceive and bear a son, and she will call him Immanuel, which means "God is with us." (Isaiah 7:14)
NARRATOR 1: The spirit of the Holy One shall rest upon this child the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Most High. (Isaiah 11:2)
NARRATOR 2: The wolf shall live with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion shall eat together, and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6)
NARRATOR 1: They shall neither hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Most High, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)
ORCHESTRA*: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
(Mary enters and sits. Angel Gabriel approaches Mary.)
NARRATOR 2: God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a young woman who was engaged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. (Luke 1:26)
NARRATOR 1: The angel said to her,
Angel Gabriel : "Do not be afraid, Mary, for God has been gracious to you; you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31)
NARRATOR 2: And Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Most High, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for God has remembered me, God's humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, because of the great things the Mighty One has done for me. God's name is Holy. (Luke 1:46-49)
NARRATOR 1: God's faithful love extends from age to age to those who honor the Holy One.
NARRATOR 2: God has pulled down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the poor.
NARRATOR 1: God has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:52-53)
ORCHESTRA : Angels we have heard on high
NARRATOR 2: In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the Roman Empire. And everyone went to their home town to register. (Luke 2:1,3)
(Mary & Joseph enter slowly.)
NARRATOR 1 So Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David, to register with Mary, his promised wife, who was expecting a child.
NARRATOR 2: And while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:5-7)
(Mary & Joseph sit facing congregation.)
ORCHESTRA: Silent Night.
(Shepherds enter with Sheep, which are baa-ing)
NARRATOR 1: In the countryside closeby, there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
(Angels enter. Shepherds look up in terror. Sheep are quiet.)
Angels appear to shepherds abiding by their flocks
NARRATOR 2: Angels of God appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angels said to them:
Angel: Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ, the Lord. And this is a sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:10-12)
NARRATOR 1: praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will. (Luke 2:13-14)
(Angels stand behind manger)
NARRATOR 2: And when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another:
First Shepherd : Let's go to Bethlehem
Second Shepherd: And see this thing that has happened, which God has made known to us. (Luke 2:15)
(Shepherds and sheep approach the family & sit)
Shepherds approach the Holy Family while angels keep watch
ORCHESTRA: The First Noel
NARRATOR 1: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi came from the east to Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:1)
ORCHESTRA: We Three Kings
(Star enters during singing and stands in middle of room. Magi follow and search around the room.)
First King : Where is the baby who has been born to be the King of the Jews?
Second King : We have seen the star in the East, and have come to worship the child. (Matthew 2:2)
NARRATOR 2: And the star they had seen in the East went ahead of them, until it stopped over the place where the child was. (Matthew 2:9)
(Star** goes and stands behind family. Magi follow)
NARRATOR 1: And when they saw the star they were overjoyed.
(Matthew 2:10)
The Magi arrive having followed the Star of Bethlehem
ORCHESTRA: Joy to the World
NARRATOR 2: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. On those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)
NARRATOR 1: For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us; And the government will be on his shoulders, And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
NARRATOR 2: In the days to come, the mountain of God's temple will rise higher than all other mountains, and tower above the hills, and all nations shall come streaming to it. (Isaiah 2:2)
(Children of Many Nations*** approach the family.)
NARRATOR 1: And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of the Holy One, to the house of the God of Israel, And God will teach us holy ways, and we will walk in God's paths.
NARRATOR 2: And God shall judge between the nations, and settle disputes for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and no longer will they learn how to make war.
NARRATOR 1: Come, O house of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Most High! (Isaiah 2:3-5)
ORCHESTRA: O Come, All Ye Faithful
* the "orchestra" is the congregation. The songs here are often changed from year to year.
** the "star" is an optional role. We've had one child carry a star and raise it above the manger.
*** the "children of many nations" is an optional place to bring in extra children (such as "late" arrivals to Meeting who have not been to any rehearsals!)
The Holy Family relaxes after the holiday guests have left