DRAMA—CHRISTMAS PROPER I, YEAR B
Bible reference: Luke 2:1-20
HEAVENLY REVELRY
CHARACTERS: This play was written to include a cast of 2 adults, 5 teenagers and numerous children, giving everyone a speaking part. It can be adapted for less children by combining speaking parts. Everyone is dressed in white gowns tied at the waist with tinsel. The play has a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
PROPS: Telescope, abacus, calculator, trumpets and harps etc, party hats, balloons and streamers. The stage is decorated with clouds attached to screens so that some angels can be hidden behind these until it is their time to appear.
CAROL: ‘Hark! the herald angels sing’ or other appropriate carol.
READING: Luke 2:1-7
SCENE ONE:
(Two adult angels walk in. One is carrying a telescope and looking through it. They are pointing as if discussing something in the sky. They come to the centre of the stage and begin speaking)
ANGEL 1 Are you sure the star will get there on time?
ANGEL 2
|
Yes, I’m sure. I’ve worked out the calculations over and over. Here, let me check it once again. (Brings out an abacus and starts using it)
|
ANGEL 1
|
Are you still using that old thing? Why don’t you use a calculator?
|
ANGEL 2
|
Don’t be silly. Calculators aren’t invented yet.
|
ANGEL 1
|
Oh yeah. They only get invented in the 20th century, don’t they?
|
ANGEL 2
|
Another 2000 years yet.
|
ANGEL 1
|
Mmm. It’s just that it is Christmas Eve, the night God is preparing for the rescue of all those people even to the 20th century and beyond. So it would probably be fair to use a calculator.
|
ANGEL 2
|
Oh yeah. If you look at it that way. (Puts down abacus, gets calculator out of pocket, pushes some buttons). Yep. All set. That star will be directly over Bethlehem at 0100 hours, heaven time, that is.
|
ANGEL 1
|
Are you positively sure?
|
ANGEL 2
|
You know I am. Ever since that terrible day that Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God...
|
ANGEL 1
|
...that terrible day!
|
ANGEL 2
|
...and God promised to send his Son to rescue them from the terrible things they had done...
|
ANGEL 1
|
...they condemned themselves to death.
|
ANGEL 2
|
...God has been preparing for this very night, and he’s had me organise the star-show.
|
ANGEL 1
|
You’ve always been good with lights.
|
ANGEL 2
|
Yes, well, thank you, I am. That comet has been travelling towards earth for many a light-year and the wise men have been watching it for some time now.
|
(Music begins playing, lights flashing, a drum roll)
ANGEL 1:
|
Wait on...something is about to happen...(Three junior angels enter)
|
JR ANGEL 1:
|
(Running in, out of breath) It’s happening! Jesus is being born!
|
JR ANGEL 2:
|
(Also running in, out of breath) He’s here! God’s Son in human flesh!
|
JN ANGEL 3
|
He’s born, tonight! Now! He’s born!
|
ANGEL 2
|
Great news! The world is saved! What great love the Father has!
|
EVERYONE:
|
Let’s celebrate! Let’s praise him! Praise God!
|
(All children come bursting into church, dressed as angels. They run up the aisle and both sides. All join in singing a song of praise and celebration)
SCENE TWO
(The smallest angels gather together around Angel 1 and 2. They are wearing L-plates)
SM ANGEL 1:
|
Why are we celebrating?
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Because it’s a very special night. We’ve been waiting for this night for a long time and we’ll remember this night forever. Jesus was born tonight.
|
SM ANGEL 2: But Jesus has always been here.
ANGEL 2:
|
Yes, but tonight he became a little baby on earth, so that he can live there with humankind.
|
SM ANGEL 3:
|
Wow! But why didn’t he stay here with us?
|
SM ANGEL 4:
|
Yes. It’s nice here in heaven, but people on earth fight a lot and do bad things.
|
SM ANGEL 5:
|
Yeah, they’re naughty!
|
SM ANGEL 6:
|
Why would he want to go there and live with those people?
|
(Point out to congregation and all small angels walk to front of stage and peer out)
SM ANGEL 7:
|
They won’t be nice to him!
|
SM ANGEL 8:
|
They might hurt him!
|
SM ANGEL 9:
|
They might even kill him!
|
(Everyone looks shocked. Shake heads and say No!)
ANGEL 1:
|
Jesus is the only one who can save them. It’s the only way.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
It’s God’s special plan so that everyone can be saved and one day come to heaven and live here with us all!
|
ANGEL 1:
|
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Aren’t we lucky to have a Father who loves the world so much!
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Come on, everybody, let’s sing and tell the world about it.
|
(Angels sing celebration/Glory to God song. Leave in a conga line down the aisle. As music fades a group of angels enters from carrying trumpets, harps etc)
READING: Luke 2: 8-14
SCENE THREE
JR ANGEL 1:
|
Wow! That was fun, wasn’t it?
|
JR ANGEL 2:
|
I’m glad I was one of the angels chosen to tell the shepherds the good news.
|
JR ANGEL 3:
|
Weren’t they surprised? They were even afraid to look at us.
|
JR ANGEL 4:
|
(With a scroll) But I told them, (Clears throat) Don’t be afraid. I have glad news of great joy. Today in Bethlehem a baby is born. He is the Saviour of the world, the one promised from long ago.
|
JR ANGEL 5:
|
You did really well.
|
JR ANGEL 6:
|
They seemed to understand then, didn’t they? But they were still pretty surprised that God had chosen them to receive the news from us. They think they’re just poor shepherds, not important enough for such great news.
|
JR ANGEL 7:
|
Yes, they don’t understand that God knows everyone is important. God sent his Son into the world for all people, from kings to shepherds.
|
JR ANGEL 8:
|
I really liked the part where we all joined in singing.
|
JR ANGEL 9:
|
Yes. We sang, Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, goodwill to those he is pleased with.
|
JR ANGEL 10:
|
It was nice to see them hurry off to find Jesus so that they could worship him. They’re going to have a lot to tell all their friends and families about. Let’s keep on celebrating. (Exit)
|
(The carol ‘Angels we have heard on high’ or another appropriate carol is sung.)
(Group of angels enter wearing party hats, carrying balloons and streamers. They enter from up the aisle.)
JR ANGEL 3:
|
Whew! What a party it’s been tonight, this first Christmas Eve.
|
JR ANGEL 4:
|
I feel like I need to rest from all this celebrating. (Sits down on front of stage to rest)
|
JR ANGEL 5:
|
(Joining Angel 4 on front of stage) I think you can sometimes praise God in a quiet way too. Sometimes I just want to do something really beautiful for Jesus. I really want to show him how glad I am that he loves the world so much.
|
JR ANGEL 6:
|
If I was a human, I’d do that by showing love and kindness to other people.
|
JR ANGEL 7:
|
And I’d do it by telling others about him, so that everyone could join in the fun and joyfulness of a night like tonight.
|
JR ANGEL 8:
|
And I’d show Jesus’ love inside of me by living a life serving him.
|
JR ANGEL 9:
|
And loving him.
|
JR ANGEL 10:
|
And praising him.
|
(Music begins to play as Angel 10 speaks. Angels sing quieter, more reflective song of praise. At end of song they each disappear behind a cloud)
READING: Luke 2:15-20
SCENE FIVE:
(The two adult angels from Scene One walk out from behind a cloud. Angel 2 is
engaged in reading a large history book)
ANGEL 1:
|
What are you doing now?
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Just looking at the future.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
You don’t need to look into that 20th century book. I can tell you what is going to happen. Why, God has become a human tonight. Now everything will be alright. Everyone will come to love Jesus and there will be peace on earth, goodwill to each other...
|
ANGEL 1:
|
...and everyone will love each other...
|
ANGEL 2:
|
I’m afraid not. Things pretty well go from bad to worse from here on in.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Yep! Many people don’t listen to Jesus. A friend betrays him and then Jesus is crucified.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
That’s unbelievable.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
But Jesus will rise again in three days.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Well, after that, do they come to love God more, after such an incredible event?
|
ANGEL 2:
|
(Flicking ahead) Well, I’m just reading...(Turning pages as he/she says each word) wars, the greedy rich, millions starving, families broken apart, violence, (Stops reading and looks up) all-round unhappiness, from what I can see.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Yes, they are only human, aren’t they? But they won’t forget Christmas, will they? There will always be some faithful ones?
|
ANGEL 2:
|
Here, take a look into the future. Here’s a group of people from the 20th century, 1999 (Or current year) to be exact. And it’s Christmas Eve. Let’s listen to their conversation...
|
(Music effect to suggest looking into the future. Angels freeze A group of teenagers enter and assemble in front of stage)
TEEN 1:
|
Coming over to my house after tea?
|
TEEN 2:
|
Sure. I’ll bring some drinks. And I’ve got a couple of new CDs for you to listen to.
|
TEEN 3:
|
I’m coming too, if Mum’ll let me. She’ll probably say I can’t because it’s Christmas Eve. What about you, ___, you coming?
|
TEEN 4:
|
Well, we go to church on Christmas Eve, so I can’t make it.
|
TEEN 5:
|
That really stinks. Who wants to be sitting around in an old church on Christmas Eve?
|
TEEN 3:
|
Yeah, it should be party time! I’m going to tell my mum I’m not going. What about you?
|
TEEN 4:
|
No. I want to go to church. It wouldn’t feel right not to go to church on Christmas Eve.
|
TEEN 1:
|
Wow, you’ve really been brainwashed, haven’t you?
|
TEEN 4:
|
No, I don’t think so. I agree with you that Christmas is a time for partying, but for the right reason. It’s the birthday of Jesus, the day God became a little baby. That’s pretty mind-blowing I reckon, that God would go to all that trouble for us when he could have just clicked his fingers and wiped us off the planet and started again. Yep, Christmas is a time for celebrating, that’s for sure, for celebrating God’s love for us. I wouldn’t miss tonight’s service for anything.
|
TEEN 3:
|
Well, I don’t believe in all that stuff. See ya later. Let’s go. (Teen 1, 3 and 5 exit)
|
TEEN 2:
|
You know, maybe there is something in all this religious stuff you’re always going on about. I can see it means a lot to you. Do you think I could come along with you tonight? I haven’t been to a Christmas Eve service since I was a little kid.
|
TEEN 4:
|
Sure. It’d be great for you to come. We’ll pick you up at a quarter past seven.
|
TEEN 2:
|
Thanks! See ya later.
|
TEEN 4:
|
See ya. (Teen 2 and 4 walk off)
|
(Music sound effects. Angels unfreeze)
ANGEL 1:
|
Wow, that was great. There are still faithful people 2000 years later.
|
ANGEL 2:
|
That is so good. It really makes God happy. And hey, I think there might be a new person added to the kingdom after tonight.
|
ANGEL 1:
|
Yes! More cause for celebrating and praising God.
|
ANGEL 2
|
We do a lot of celebrating and praising God, don’t we?
|
ANGEL 1
|
Of course we do. We’re angels! That’s our job! Let’s sing some more!
|
(All angels enter, lead the audience in singing ‘Joy to the world’. Optional: as carol ends angels throw balloons and streamers on everyone)
© Suzanne Schmidt 1998
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performances only.
|