A NATIVITY PLAY (WITH A TWIST) FROM TEARFUND

Transcription

1 FIRST CHRISTMAS CHURCH RESOURCE PAGE 1 OF 12 A NATIVITY PLAY (WITH A TWIST) FROM TEARFUND Performance time: 10 minutes; 15 minutes with all songs This is a new take on the Nativity story for children aged four and over but it is suitable for an all-age service. There are two variations, the first where the children learn and speak lines (or read them out), the second where the narrator describes the action for the children to follow: Dialogue version For this you will need at least two cast members (young people or adults) who can perform the bulk of the lines. There are also parts with lines for older children, and a few parts that require no dialogue suitable for young children. Narrated version For this you only need one confident performer (a young person or adult), who narrates the play (lines learnt or read). The rest of the cast can include anyone age four and over as they only have to follow simple stage directions, but rehearsal is advised. SETS, COSTUMES, PROPS Set While you can have a set or a painted backdrop, this is not necessary for telling the story. Your church will probably already look festive, with lights and decorations. The action requires the lead characters (ANGEL and CHRIS) to move to different locations. If you have room, you may want to set up three areas for them to visit. Otherwise ANGEL and CHRIS can appear to move from place to place but actually return to the same place with minimal set and character changes. Costume You will need some costumes to show who the characters are, and it s part of the fun for the children to dress up. While it is possible to hire or buy costumes (one option for the Nativity clothes is Fairtrade cotton costumes from it is also enjoyable to make simple costumes. You can get the children to join in with that a few Sundays before. The costumes don t need to be elaborate; many can be easily fashioned from white sheets and old clothes.

2 CAST CHECK LIST PAGE 2 OF 12 CHARACTER DESCRIPTION MALE OR FEMALE? SPEAKING PART? COSTUMES AND PROPS CHRIS Someone confused about Christmas YES (not in narrated version) Festive clothing and notepad ANGEL An angel of the Lord on a special mission YES (both versions) Angel costume UMA A struggling young mother from Nepal Female YES (dialogue version only) Nepali costume, pillow and blanket PUSPA Uma s daughter, also from Nepal Female YES (dialogue version only) Nepal costume CAROL SINGERS x 3+ A group of carol singers from the church Warm coats and battery lanterns PASTOR Lead carol singer and church pastor Male As carol singers MARY Mother of Jesus Female Usual Nativity costume and baby Jesus JOSEPH Mary s husband Male Usual Nativity costume OXEN, SHEEP, DONKEY AND GOATS Assorted stable animals optional Appropriate animal costumes SHEPHERDS Shepherds setting off to find a baby Male Usual Nativity costumes PIG x 2 Two pigs from Uma s village in Nepal Pig costumes SELLER A market seller from Nepal Nepali costume and money bag NEIGHBOUR Another villager in Nepal, one of Uma s neighbours Nepali costume

3 PAGE 3 OF 12 FIRST CHRISTMAS DIALOGUE VERSION SCENE: Chris (can be male or female) enters the stage. Chris is dressed in festive attire, a big jumper and woolly hat and scarf. Chris looks pleased and addresses the audience. (HAPPY) It s Christmas Eve and I ve finished! Everything s ready for the big day. To be absolutely sure, I ll just check my list. (PULLS OUT A PAPER AND EXAMINES) All I have left to do is (READS WITH RISING PANIC) choose presents, buy presents, wrap presents choose food, buy food, cook food... choose Aunty Marjory, buy Aunty Marjory, cook Aunty Marjory (SLUMPS DOWN ON THE FLOOR) Oh, I give up! What s the point? Christmas is just a big pain. We all try to have fun. But millions of people across the world are sad, poor or alone. Peace on earth? Good will to everyone? It s not true. It s just a story. (PUTS HEAD IN HANDS, GIVES UP) ANGEL APPEARS IN A FLASH! Fear not! (CHRIS LOOKS UP AND SCREAMS) I said fear not! Oh. Okay. (SMILES) I am an angel of the Lord. I heard your cries and I want to show you the true meaning of Christmas... That was quick! Isn t this a bit of a minor job for an angel? You know what it s like things always get quiet around the office at Christmas. Come with me, and I ll show you how Christmas is still transforming lives ANGEL TAKES CHRIS S HAND AND THEY FLY TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL AND CHRIS ARRIVE IN UMA S HOUSE, NEPAL. UMA IS IN BED, SHAKING WITH A FEVER. PUSPA IS MOPPING UMA S BROW WITH A CLOTH, LOOKING WORRIED. Here we are half way across the world in Nepal. We ve gone back two years, but it s still Christmas! Who are these people? This is Uma and her daughter Puspa and this is their first Christmas. They are a very poor family, and Uma has fallen ill. They look so sad. I was right, Christmas doesn t change anything! Just watch. And listen.

4 PAGE 4 OF 12 Listen for what? Listen for the carol singers! PUSPA CONTINUES TO NURSE UMA. PUSPA: Wake up, Mummy. Please wake up. (PUSPA STARTS TO CRY) CAROL SINGERS CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE (SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS SILENT NIGHT ), GETTING LOUDER AS THEY COME CLOSER. PUSPA STOPS CRYING AND LISTENS. PUSPA: Listen, Mummy! Carol singers. Maybe they can help! Should I ask them to come in? UMA: (WEARY) Yes, but I m so ill. I don t think it will help. PUSPA LEAVES TO FETCH THE CAROL SINGERS. What s the good of that? What can they do? Carol singers sing songs that tell of the birth of Jesus. He came to bring light to the whole world, to heal people and proclaim good news. PUSPA RETURNS WITH THE CAROL SINGERS. ONE OF THE SINGERS, PASTOR, KNEELS DOWN AND BEGINS TO PRAY. THE CAROL SINGERS STILL SING THEIR CAROL, KNEELING WITH PASTOR, SURROUNDING UMA. PASTOR GETS UP AND EXITS WITH ALL THE CAROL SINGERS. UMA IS STILL IN BED, PUSPA BY HER SIDE. But nothing has changed! There s no good news for Uma and Puspa! Keep watching

5 PAGE 5 OF 12 PUSPA WATCHES AS UMA STIRS. UMA THROWS OFF HER BLANKET, GETS UP AND EMBRACES PUSPA. THEY ARE BOTH HAPPY. UMA: I feel well! PUSPA: Mummy, I m so happy! UMA & PUSPA: Thank you, Jesus! PUSPA AND UMA HUG AGAIN. She s well again, and all they did was pray! How did that happen? To explain that, we will have to go much further back than two years. I ll show you what happened more than 2,000 years ago. Come with me and we ll see the very first Christmas... ANGEL TAKES CHRIS S HAND AND THEY FLY TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL AND CHRIS ARRIVE IN A STABLE IN BETHLEHEM THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS SCENE. (MARY AND JOSEPH CAN BE SURROUNDED BY ANIMALS SUCH AS OXEN, SHEEP, DONKEY AND GOATS.) MARY AND JOSEPH ARE HUDDLED TOGETHER HOLDING THE BABY JESUS. THEY PLACE HIM IN A SIMPLE MANGER FULL OF STRAW, AND LOOK DOWN AT THEIR PRECIOUS GIFT. IT S COLD, SO THEY CUDDLE EACH OTHER. THEY SMILE. Who are they? That s Mary and Joseph. They ve been on a long and tiring journey. But when they arrived here in Bethlehem they couldn t find anywhere for Mary to have her baby. A kindly inn keeper gave them all he had to offer a stable. I don t know why they look so happy. Look at this barn! It s filthy. No place for a baby! Just watch. And listen.

6 PAGE 6 OF 12 Listen for what? You should know by now! Oh, yes! CHRIS & Listen for the carol singers! SINGERS CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE, GETTING LOUDER. MARY AND JOSEPH LOOK OFF STAGE TO SEE WHO IS COMING. A GROUP OF SHEPHERDS ARRIVE ON STAGE, SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS JOY TO THE WORLD. THE SHEPHERDS GATHER AROUND THE MANGER AND KNEEL AS THE CAROL SINGERS DID BEFORE. Why have they all come to see a baby? These shepherds were told by a group of angels to seek out the baby. But he s not just another child he s the Son of God. Jesus came to earth to bring us all good news from the richest to the poorest. So that miracle we saw in Nepal was thanks to Jesus? Yes, he answers our prayers. But nothing s really changed for Uma and Puspa. Uma may be well but they are still poor even at Christmas. But miracles come in all shapes and sizes. And prayer can change lives in many ways. Let s nip back to Nepal and see what Christmas is like for Uma and Puspa today! ANGEL TAKES CHRIS S HAND AND THEY FLY TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL AND CHRIS ARRIVE BACK IN UMA S HOUSE, NEPAL. UMA AND PUSPA ARE TENDING TO A PIG. THEY LOOK HAPPY. So things have changed. Now they ve got a pig to look after. That s hardly a miracle! Not in the same way, but it s miraculous for them! Jesus provided this animal for them to look after so they can earn money for food.

7 PAGE 7 OF 12 How can a baby provide a pig!? He lived more than 2,000 years ago! Jesus came to earth, God made flesh, to show us how to live. He grew up, walked alongside us and showed us a better way. Jesus encourages us to love our neighbours particularly poor people. Those carol singers you saw earlier were from the church. Jesus works through churches across the world, who reach out to and love their neighbours, by praying for them and providing for their needs. The church gave Uma and Puspa the pig! And one pig can provide for all their needs? It s more than just a pig. Just watch (UMA AND PUSPA FOLLOW THE ANGEL S NARRATION) Once the pig is fully grown they take it to market to sell. (MARKET SELLER ENTERS) So they sell the pig... (UMA SHAKES SELLER S HAND AND HANDS OVER THE PIG) And in return they get enough money to buy food for six months. (SELLER GIVES UMA A BAG OF MONEY) And they have enough money left over to buy two more little piglets. (TWO MORE SMALLER PIGS APPEAR ON STAGE AND STAND WITH UMA) So now they have two pigs! Not for long. Just watch... (UMA TAKES ONE PIG AND GIVES IT TO A NEIGHBOUR, WHO THANKS UMA AND TAKES THE PIG AWAY OFF STAGE) Uma has learnt from Jesus too thanks to the church and she wants to bless her neighbour with a pig! Now they both have pigs! And when they sell those pigs there can be more and more and more! Pigs for everyone! So now you ve seen how one special baby can change the world! Yes. Christmas is amazing! (PAUSE) So, are we heading home now? I ve still got to wrap presents, buy food and cook Aunty Marjory. What are we waiting for...? Just watch. And listen. Oh, yes, I know this now... CHRIS & Listen for the carol singers!

8 PAGE 8 OF 12 THE SAME CAROL SINGERS AS BEFORE CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE (SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS AWAY IN A MANGER ), GETTING LOUDER AS THEY COME CLOSER. UMA, PUSPA, ALL THE PIGS, SELLER AND NEIGHBOUR JOIN IN. (IN BETWEEN VERSES OF THE CAROL) It s Christmas here and everyone has come together for a big celebration. More than 900 people come to Uma s church at Christmas, and the church cooks a huge meal for everyone to enjoy! Yes. I can see that Christmas is a wonderful thing and it can last all year round. But I m still a little sad. How can you be sad? Well, they are all enjoying Christmas, but I don t think I ve ever really experienced Christmas before. I wish I could join them. Hmm. This angelic vision is supposed to be for observation only. (CHRIS LOOKS SAD) But I suppose as it s Christmas we could break the rules and join in. Just promise not to cook Aunty Marjory. Instead you could cook Aunty Marjory a delicious Christmas meal and share the love of Jesus with her. Come on, let s join in! This can be your first Christmas! Merry Christmas, angel! Merry Christmas, Uma and Puspa! Merry Christmas Aunty Marjory! God bless us, every one! ALL THE CAST JOIN IN THE FINAL CAROL SOMETHING LIKE O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL INCLUDING MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE CAST OF THE STABLE SCENE. END.

9 PAGE 9 OF 12 FIRST CHRISTMAS NARRATED VERSION SCENE: Angel (can be male or female) enters the stage, dressed in white looking angelic. Hello boys and girls! A very merry Christmas to all of you! Perhaps I should introduce myself Now you know how some people say, I m no angel. Well, I d like to say the opposite. You see, I am an angel! That s not a boast, it s a fact. And I ll tell you another fact: it s very nearly Christmas! And I m sure you re all set and ready for the big day. (LISTENS) No! I bet some of you still need to choose presents, buy presents, wrap presents choose food, buy food, cook food choose Aunty Marjory, buy Aunty Marjory, cook Aunty Marjory? (PAUSE) Is that right? Yes, Christmas is a busy, bustling time for everyone! I ve had choir practice every day for the last 52 weeks! But I ve heard that some people still have doubts about Christmas. You see, some of you see all the millions of people across the world who are sad, poor or alone at Christmas. Peace on earth? Good will to everyone? It s not true. It s just a story, you say. And you might have a point. I mean, if Christmas doesn t make any difference, why make such a fuss about it? But fear not! I m here to take you on a journey to see beyond the bustle and the tinsel ANGEL FLIES TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL ARRIVES IN UMA S HOUSE, NEPAL. UMA IS IN BED, SHAKING WITH A FEVER. PUSPA IS MOPPING UMA S BROW WITH A CLOTH, LOOKING WORRIED. Here we are half way across the world in Nepal. We ve gone back two years, but it s still Christmas! You re probably wondering who these people are. Well, this is Uma and her daughter Puspa and this is their first Christmas. They are a very poor family, and Uma has fallen ill. And you re right they do look very sad. But before you start thinking that Christmas can t change anything Just watch. And listen... Listen for the carol singers! PUSPA CONTINUES TO NURSE UMA TRYING TO WAKE HER UP. Poor Puspa just can t wake her mummy up she s so ill. But keep listening CAROL SINGERS CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE (SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS SILENT NIGHT ), GETTING LOUDER AS THEY COME CLOSER. PUSPA STOPS CRYING AND LISTENS. Puspa can hear the carol singers too. She knows that the singers are from the local church. And she s heard that they can heal people. (PUSPA DOES AS ANGEL DESCRIBES) So, she asks her mummy if she can call the carol singers in. Uma agrees but she s feeling so ill, and wonders what they can do to help.

10 PAGE 10 OF 12 PUSPA LEAVES TO FETCH THE CAROL SINGERS. Now I expect some of you are wondering what good carol singers can do. They re not even always in tune! But, you see, carol singers sing songs that tell of the birth of Jesus. He came to bring light to the whole world, to heal people and proclaim good news. PUSPA RETURNS WITH THE CAROL SINGERS. ONE OF THE SINGERS, PASTOR, KNEELS DOWN AND BEGINS TO PRAY. THE CAROL SINGERS STILL SING THEIR CAROL, KNEELING WITH PASTOR, SURROUNDING UMA. PASTOR GETS UP AND EXITS WITH ALL THE CAROL SINGERS. UMA IS STILL IN BED, PUSPA BY HER SIDE. PUSPA WATCHES AS UMA STIRS. UMA THROWS OFF HER BLANKET, GETS UP AND EMBRACES PUSPA. THEY ARE BOTH HAPPY. It s a miracle! Uma is well again and Puspa is happy that her mum is healed! PUSPA AND UMA HUG AGAIN. But I can see that some of you are not convinced. And you might be asking some questions. How is it that when the carol singers prayed, Uma was healed? And that s a very good question! To find an answer, we will have to go much further back than two years. I ll show you what happened more than 2,000 years ago. Come with me and we ll see the very first Christmas... ANGEL FLIES TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL ARRIVES IN A STABLE IN BETHLEHEM THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS SCENE. (MARY AND JOSEPH CAN BE SURROUNDED BY ANIMALS SUCH AS OXEN, SHEEP, DONKEY AND GOATS.) MARY AND JOSEPH ARE HUDDLED TOGETHER HOLDING THE BABY JESUS. THEY PLACE HIM IN A SIMPLE MANGER FULL OF STRAW, AND LOOK DOWN AT THEIR PRECIOUS GIFT. IT S COLD, SO THEY CUDDLE EACH OTHER. THEY SMILE. This is Mary and Joseph. They ve been on a long and tiring journey. But when they arrived here in Bethlehem they couldn t find anywhere for Mary to have her baby. A kindly inn keeper gave them all he had to offer a stable. And while it was very kind of him, it s still a dirty place. Certainly no place for a baby. But, as you can see, Mary and Joseph are happy. And if you want to know why Just watch. And listen. And you know what to listen for now Listen for the carol singers!

11 PAGE 11 OF 12 SINGERS CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE, GETTING LOUDER. MARY AND JOSEPH LOOK OFF STAGE TO SEE WHO IS COMING. A GROUP OF SHEPHERDS ARRIVE ON STAGE SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS JOY TO THE WORLD. THE SHEPHERDS GATHER AROUND THE MANGER AND KNEEL AS THE CAROL SINGERS DID BEFORE. You may be wondering who these people are and why they ve come. Well, they re shepherds and they were told by a group of angels to seek out the baby. But he s not just another child he s the Son of God. Jesus came to earth to bring us all good news from the richest to the poorest. And the miracle we saw in Nepal was thanks to Jesus he answers our prayers. But I can see that some of you are still not convinced. You re wondering if anything has really changed for Uma and Puspa. Yes, Uma is well again, but they are still poor Christmas doesn t make any difference! Well, if you think that, I ll have to help you understand the bigger picture You see, miracles come in all shapes and sizes. And prayer can change lives in many ways. Let s nip back to Nepal and see what Christmas is like for Uma and Puspa today! ANGEL FLIES TO THE NEXT SCENE. ANGEL ARRIVES BACK IN UMA S HOUSE, NEPAL. UMA AND PUSPA ARE TENDING TO A PIG, THEY LOOK HAPPY. As you can see, things have changed. Now they ve got a pig to look after. And while it s not the same as being healed, this is still a miraculous pig! Jesus provided this animal for them to look after and earn money for food. Now, I know what you are thinking: How can a baby provide a pig!? Especially a baby born more than 2,000 years ago! The answer is that Jesus came to earth, God made flesh, to show us how to live. He grew up, walked alongside us and showed us a better way. Jesus encourages us to love our neighbours particularly poor people. Those carol singers you saw earlier were from the church. Jesus works through churches across the world, who reach out to and love their neighbours, by praying for them and providing for their needs. The church gave Uma and Puspa the pig! And if you can t see how a pig can provide all their needs, just watch (UMA AND PUSPA FOLLOW THE ANGEL S NARRATION) Once the pig is fully grown they take it to market to sell. (MARKET SELLER ENTERS) So they sell the pig... (UMA SHAKES SELLER S HAND AND HANDS OVER THE PIG) And in return they get enough money to buy food for six months. (SELLER GIVES UMA A BAG OF MONEY) And they have enough money left over to buy two more little piglets. (TWO MORE SMALLER PIGS APPEAR ON STAGE AND STAND WITH UMA) Now they have two pigs! But not for long. Just watch... (UMA TAKES ONE PIG AND GIVES IT TO A NEIGHBOUR, WHO THANKS UMA AND TAKES THE PIG AWAY OFF STAGE)

12 PAGE 12 OF 12 Uma has learnt from Jesus too thanks to the church and she wants to bless her neighbour with a pig! Now they both have pigs! And when they sell those pigs there can be more and more and more! Pigs for everyone! So now you ve seen how one special baby can change the world! Yes. Christmas is amazing! (PAUSE) But we d better head home now. I m sure you ve all got to get back to wrap presents, buy food and cook Aunty Marjory... But before we go. For the last time Just watch. And listen. Yes, listen for the carol singers! THE SAME CAROL SINGERS AS BEFORE CAN BE HEARD FROM OFF STAGE (SINGING A CAROL SUCH AS AWAY IN A MANGER ), GETTING LOUDER AS THEY COME CLOSER. UMA, PUSPA, ALL THE PIGS, SELLER AND NEIGHBOUR JOIN IN. (IN BETWEEN VERSES OF THE CAROL) It s Christmas here too and everyone has come together for a big celebration. More than 900 people come to Uma s church at Christmas and the church cooks a huge meal for everyone to enjoy! (TO THE AUDIENCE) Well, it s time we were off, or do you want to stick around for one more carol? (AUDIENCE SAYS YES ) I m not sure I should be doing this. The angelic vision is supposed to be for observation only. (PAUSE) But I suppose as it s Christmas we could break the rules and join in. Just promise not to cook Aunty Marjory. Instead, you could cook your aunty a delicious Christmas meal and share the love of Jesus with her. Come on, let s join in like it s our first Christmas! Merry Christmas, everyone! Merry Christmas, Uma and Puspa! Merry Christmas, Aunty Marjory! God bless us, every one! ALL THE CAST JOIN IN THE FINAL CAROL SOMETHING LIKE O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL INCLUDING MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE CAST OF THE STABLE SCENE. END.