Beginning- Calling together
- Intro of Narrator
- Welcome to Living Nativity
- Prayer
Scene prep going on during the above.
Beginning
- Calling together
- Intro of Narrator
- Welcome to Living Nativity
- Prayer
Scene prep going on during the above.
NARRATOR The Story Begins....
Cameo One (Mary & Angel Gabriel)
Mary and the Angel. Spotlight on them, dimming at the end.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Angel & Mary exit. Joseph in place lying on blanket on the hay.
Cameo Two (Angel appears to Joseph in a Dream)
Narrator reads: Matthew 1:18-25 "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about....
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. (Lights on.) But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Lights out.) All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Joseph & Gabriel quick exit. Replaced by Roman soldiers. Fanfare signal to turn on light, taxpayers to move toward soldiers to listen. And signal to Narrator to begin reading for Cameo # 3.
Cameo Three (Roman Proclamation about Census)
Narrator reads: Luke 2:1-3 (Decree of Census)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.
Lights out.
Singing: First Verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Main Scene (Birth Narrative to Going Down to Egypt)
Narrator reads: Luke 2:4-5 (Go to Bethlehem to be registered)
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
Begins with travellers arriving in Bethlehem and to the Inn, bedding down their animals in the Stable with the Innkeeper's cow. People milling about the city in and out of the Inn. Then ... the arrival of Joseph leading a donkey carrying the soon-to-be mother Mary. Spotlight follows them in. Joseph leads them through the crowd to the Inn. The Innkeeper comes out - indicates he has no room - but takes them to the Stable. Goes back to the Inn and sends out a serving woman.... Lights go out. Then finish singing...
Singing: Finish "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Stable darkened. Mary and Joseph in inner part of the Stable while birth is in progress. Light appears from STAR to signal birth.
Narrator reads: Luke 2:6-7 (Birth)
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Lights come up. Joseph kneels, lifts child up to God. Mary kneels at his side. Following song is played and Mary & Joseph remain kneeling. Place the babe in the crib. Angels appear on snow banks and roof singing. Joseph emerges and kneels in prayer. Taxpayers change to Angels during this song. Shepherds move to side hill with goats. Gabriel & angels behind stable ready to move in to scene as cued by narration.
Music: "Ring the Bells"
Lights come up on Shepherds as reading begins.
Narrator reads: Luke 2:8-14 (Angel appears to Shepherds)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, (Up Lights) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!" Angels, backed up by singers, sing Gloria from "Angels We Have Heard On High."
Narrator reads: Luke 2:15-20 (Shepherds decide to go find the Babe)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." (Shepherds prepare to leave to find child) So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Shepherds will arrive and kneel at the manger before the last verse. With the arrival of the shepherds, Joseph greets them at the entrance to the Stable. Then,turns inside and brings out Mary and the Child. Mary sits and Joseph places the Child in her arms. The Shepherds kneel in front of the Child.
Choir: "O Come All Ye Faithful"
Joseph takes the Child from Mary. She rises and takes her leave and returns inside. Joseph follows with the Child. Shepherds remain at Entrance while the STORY continues.
Children are invited for a closer look at the baby.
Choir: "Away In A Manger" (2 verses)
Solo: "Little Drummer Boy"
Lights at the Manger dim with the end of song.
Narrator reads: Luke 2:21- 33 (Temple reading)
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms (Joseph & Mary hold child up for this) and praised God, saying,
"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." (Put the child down again.)
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
Lights back to dim. Child back in Manger.
Narrator reads: Matthew 2:1-12 (The Three Wisemen)
(The beginning of this reading cues the Wisemen to begin "travelling" toward the Manger. The tubas, etc. are playing "We Three Kings" as they come.) In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. (A child, with help from Angel, hangs the Star)When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
Wisemen arrive and the process is repeated - only Mary and Joseph and Child remain outside until Wisemen leave then Joseph takes the Child - sings to him - then re-enters the Stable.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down (Wisemen kneel and give gifts) and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Wisemen play their music as they depart. Back at Stable lights are back to dim. Mary & Baby & Joseph all asleep.
Narrator reads: Matthew 2:13-15 (Going Down to Egypt)
Now after they had left, (Angel arrives - lights up) an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." (Lights back to dim) Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
Joseph awakes, wakes Mary. Mary gets child. Stable boy brings donkey.
Choir: "Lullay Thou Little Child"
During song, Mary & Joseph leave. Animal handler meets them at the same spot where they originally entered. Mary & Joseph go straight back to the Inn with the rest of the cast while the poem is being read.
Poem: "Jesus Poem"
With the end of poem, light switches to the Crosses. This is cue to sing. Three rounds. Begin small. Encourage audience to join in by 2nd round.
Song: "Thank You, Lord."
Thank You
Hymn: "Our Father"
Closing Prayer & Benediction
Choir: "Silent Night" as crowd disperses.