DRAMA - CHRISTMAS PROPER II, YEAR C
Bible reference: Luke 2:1-20
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
CHARACTERS: At least 11 children, Mary, Joseph, angel, at least 2 shepherds, 3 wise men. Biblical characters are in biblical costume
PROPS: An oversize invitation in an envelope, manger (optional stable scenery).
Large presents are lined up at the front of the stage area, as follows:
1)
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Box large enough for children to walk through. An opening at the back is concealed by a screen so children can enter and walk into the box without being seen. Children burst out of the front of the box as if they have been inside
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2)
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Box containing red paper hearts on strings that can be put around the neck
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3)
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Box containing a large star like those put on top of Christmas trees
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4)
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Box containing lots of bells, to be used as musical instruments
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5)
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Box containing sheets of music
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6)
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A large birthday cake inside a box
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Children are dressed in party clothes and are wearing party hats.
There are balloons and streamers decorating the stage area.
(Three children enter and come to the front of the stage area. They are holding an oversized envelope. It contains a large invitation.)
Child 1: Look, look! We've got an invitation. It's addressed 'To Everyone'.
Child 2: (Excited) Open it! Read it! What does it say?
Child 3:
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(Opening it up) It's a party, a birthday party! Here, it says: (Hold up large invitation) 'Jesus wants to invite everyone to celebrate his birthday this Christmas'.
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Child 1: Everyone? You mean the whole world? Wow! That's a lot of people!
Child 3: Sure is. Jesus was born for us all. His birthday is for everyone to enjoy.
Child 2: Come on. Let's go. We don't want to miss out on any of the fun.
(A festive, welcoming, party song. During the introduction all children excitedly enter and move onto stage area. At the completion of the song, three children move to front of stage area)
Child 4: (Concerned) What's wrong? You don't look happy.
Child 5: (Sadly) It's just that I don't think I can come to the party.
Child 4: Why not?
Child 5:
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I don't have a gift. What can I bring? I don't have anything good enough for Jesus.
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Child 6: Yes, you do. You have lots to give.
Child 5: Like what?
Child 6:
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You can give him love, honour and praise. You can give him your whole life.
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Child 5: Don't I need that for myself?
Child 4: He's already given himself for you. Whatever you give him, he'll give
you even more.
Child 5: Wow! This is going to be some birthday party.
(A song is sung. During this song children who form the nativity scene take their places behind the large box, ready to burst out at the right time. At the end of the song, 2 children walk forward)
Child 7: (Looking at presents) Look at all these great presents!
Child 8: Can we open one? I love opening presents!
Child 7:
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(Pointing to large gift tab, saying 'For everyone') Look, they're for everyone! We're meant to open them.
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Child 8:
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(Going to largest box) Let's open this really big one. It looks interesting. (Partially open gift and both look in)
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Child 7: Oh! It's a manger scene.
Child 8: That will be to remind us of the very first Christmas Eve.
Child 7: Yes, but it's a real manger scene.
Child 8: (Talking into box) Come out, everybody.
Mary:
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(Comes out of box, cradling Baby Jesus) I'm Mary. I was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. What a wonderful night it was!
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Joseph:
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(Comes out of box carrying manger) I'm Joseph, Mary's husband. I was disappointed when there was no room for us in the inn, but we made do with a manger and a stable. (Mary and Joseph take up positions to form a manger scene, Mary places Jesus in manger)
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Angel:
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(Comes out of box) I'm the angel who told the shepherds the good news that the Saviour was born. I sang about peace on earth. (Joins manger scene)
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Shepherd 1:
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(Coming out of box with shepherd 2, and other shepherds if desired) We're shepherds. We were the very first to hear the news of the birth of the Saviour. Seeing a whole group of angels like that sure gave me a fright.
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Shepherd 2:
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I was scared too, but the angels sang so beautifully. Then we hurried to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. (Shepherds go and join manger scene)
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(A song/carol about the nativity story is sung here. At the end, the two children walk to the next gift)
Child 7: Hey, this gift looks interesting.
Child 8: I wonder what could be in here.
Child 7: (Opening gift) It's a star, a beautiful, big star.
Child 8: We've got a star like this on top of our Christmas tree.
Child 7: It reminds me of the star that led the wise men to Jesus.
Wiseman 1:
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(Wise men enter through previous manger scene box carrying gifts, surprising the children) We're wise men. We followed the star to find Jesus.
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Child 8:
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(Looking in big box) Where did you come from?
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Wiseman 2:
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Sorry we're late, but we had to travel a long, long way.
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Wiseman 3:
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We brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Wise men go to manger scene, place gifts in front of manger)
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Child 7: You know, this star reminds us that we can lead others to Jesus too.
Child 8:
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And we can shine like stars for Jesus. (Children place star above manger scene)
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(A song about stars/lights and shining for Jesus is sung. At the end of the song, 3 children approach the next gift)
Child 9: Can I open the next present? Opening presents is fun. (Begins to open gift)
Child 10: What do you think will be inside this one?
Child 9:
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(Getting out paper hearts) Hearts! Lots of paper hearts! I know what they remind us of.
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Child 11: Yes, so do I. They remind us of love.
Child 10: That's one of God's very special gifts to us.
Child 9: No one can have greater love than Jesus.
Child 11:
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He loved us so much that he gave up his life for us. That's the greatest love of all!
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(As a song about God's love is sung, the 3 children from this scene can hang the paper around the other children's necks. At the end of the song, 3 children approach next gift)
Child 1: I always like to guess what's inside my presents before I open them.
Child 2: Well, I can't tell by the shape what this one is.
Child 3: (Rattles box) Hey! Whatever it is, it makes a lot of noise.
Child 2: (Opening box) Bells! It's full of bells!
Child 3: This reminds me of the song 'Jingle Bells'. (Starts singing) 'Jingle bells,
Batman smells . . . '
Child 1:
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(Interrupting) No, we're not going to sing that one! Why do we always think about bells at Christmas time, though?
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Child 3: Because bells ring out good news.
Child 2:
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Bells make a happy cheerful sound and remind us how special the good news of Jesus' birth is at Christmas time.
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Child 1:
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We can be like bells and ring out good news. We can tell others about the Saviour.
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(A song about the good news of Jesus' birth is sung. During this song, children from the last scene ring the bells. At the end of the song, children approach the next box.)
Child 5: Hey, this is a great party. We even get to open the presents!
Child 6: Let's see what's in this one.
Child 4: (Reaching into the box) It's just some pieces of paper. No, it's a song.
Child 5: What sort of song is it? I can't read music.
Child 4: It's a happy song. It's a song of praise.
Child 6: Yes, I see. That's something else that's a great gift. We can praise God.
Child 5: You can praise God in everything you do, not just with singing.
Child 4 That's true, but singing is my favourite way of praising God.
Child 5: Let's sing this song. I like happy songs.
Child 6: Let's rejoice because it is Jesus' birthday.
(Children sing a song of praise. At the end of the song, 3 children approach the last box)
Child 9: We get to open the last present.
Child 10: Well, it's the last present for tonight.
Child 11:
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This is pretty good, getting to open all the presents when we're just the guests at the party.
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Child 10: These presents are all from Jesus, even though it's his birthday.
Child 9: That's right. He wants us to share them and use them for his glory.
Child 11: That's like all the gifts he gives us every day.
Child 1: (Looking inside gift) I think we might all get to share this gift too!
(Lifts out Birthday cake)
Child 2: Wow! Just what we needed to finish the party!
A 'Happy birthday' song is sung. At the end, the cake can be shared with the whole audience, or everyone, audience included, could have a party.
© Suzanne Schmidt 1999
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
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