Nativity Play by Elaine Wilson (Ann Arbor Meeting, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting)

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1 Nativity Play by Elaine Wilson (Ann Arbor Meeting, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting) Characters: Mary mother of Jesus Joseph Husband of Mary Prefect of Gallilee Donkey rental Agent (new role) Innkeeper Cow Chicken Donkey Goat Dove Several Sheep Shepherd #1 Shepherd #2 Angel Angel Chorus King Herod Chief Priest Priest #2 Herod s personal advisor Bob (could he have a nametag?) Magi: Balthazar, (Persian?) Melchior (Arabian?) Gaspar or Casper (India?) Props: Star (on a stick or on a string hanging from ceiling?) Bench Box with straw to be manger Gifts for magi Shepherd s staffs Basket of provisions for Joseph and Mary Placards with scene descriptions? Throne for Herod Prefect: local official for the Roman Empire Galilee: The part of Palestine in the north Judea: The part of Palestine that Jesus was born in Census: Counting all the people and noting down where they lived and what their occupations are WHOLE MEETING SINGS SILENT NIGHT as play gets set up.

2 Scene I Place: Nazareth Time: December Prefect, Mary, Joseph, donkey Agent, donkey Prefect of Galilee: Hear Ye, Hear Ye! I hearby announce the beginning of the Census. The Emperor Caesar Augustus has decreed that all people living in the empire must be counted and their occupation written down. You must all go to the town of your fathers to register there. Joseph: Oh my goodness, this means a trip to Bethlehem, because I am descended from David, and that is where his house was. This is a terrible time of year to travel, because it is so cold out. And I have these orders for benches and tables to fill. A carpenter really can t take a week off at this time of year. I ll have to find someone to mind the workshop. Mary: Well, it is the law, even if it is awfully inconvenient. Joseph: I have an idea. (to the Prefect) Do all people have to go? Can I register for my wife in her absence? Prefect: Absolutely not! Every person must register themselves. No one is exempt. The very idea! Hummph! Don t try to get away with not going now. Joseph: I m very worried about this. You are so close to having the baby. I wish I could leave you behind with your mother or your cousin Elizabeth. We mustn t let anything endanger you or the baby s health. Mary: But the prefect said everyone must go, and I am your wife so I think I must go. I am not afraid of travelling. I am strong and I can walk. Joseph: It is 60 miles. That will take 3 days of walking. Maybe we should get a donkey for you to ride. Going all the way to Judea is really a lot for a woman who is expecting. Mary:. A donkey would be expensive but really nice. I do get so tired out these days. I ll make some sandwiches to take along. It s a good thing I baked bread yesterday. Joseph: I ll just go pay a quick visit to that new donkey rental place over on the east side of the village. (Joseph walks over to stall advertising donkey rental)

3 Joseph: I m in need of a strong donkey for a couple of weeks to carry my wife to Bethlehem for the census. What have you got available? Donkey Agent: So glad to do business with you. I am running a special on the super- deluxe luxury donkey with a thoroughbred pedigree, top- grain embossed saddle and fine wool saddle blanket, silver bridle and a full warranty. Only 100 shekels a day. Joseph: I can t afford that Donkey Agent: Well how about our standard mid- size donkey, pleasant tempered, doesn t bite, with a good serviceable saddle and iron bridle. A bargain at 50 shekels a day. Joseph: Oh dear, I haven t even got 50 shekels a day. What could you rent me for say 50 shekels for the two weeks? Donkey Agent: 50 shekels for two weeks! Highway robbery! But I don t like to turn away a customer I do have this rather old donkey who has seen a lot of service. Pretty trusty but not very fast. Missing some teeth I only have a blanket no saddle, and I can t guarantee she won t bite or spit, or sit down now and then unexpectedly no guarantee or warranty. I could let you have her for 60 shekels for the trip to Bethlehem and back. Joseph: Done! I ll take her! (The donkey agent leads donkey out and hands reins to Joseph, who walks off with her.) Whole Meeting Sings: O Little Town of Bethlehem Scene II Place: Bethlehem outside an Inn Time: Three days later Mary, Joseph, Inkeeper, animals Joseph: Thank goodness we have finally arrived in Bethlehem. Here is a place we can stay. Mary: And just in time. I m exhausted and I didn t want to tell you before but I ve been in pain for the last couple of hours. I don t know what is going on! Maybe the baby is coming, but I ve never had a baby before. I m so tired Joseph: Why don t you sit on this bench by the door. I ll go in and see about some supper and a room.

4 Innkeeper: Hello, what can I do for you? I haven t much to offer. Joseph: We have been on the road for three days from Nazareth in Galilee. My wife is very tired, and she is about to deliver a baby. We would really like a room and some supper. Innkeeper: You and about a hundred other people! You wouldn t believe the numbers of people. We are all full up. Don t you know about the census? There isn t any room here or at any other inn. I m totally out of food too, although I have a little soup left. Joseph: We don t mind just sleeping in the main room by the fire, if you ll just let us lay on the floor. We can wrap our cloaks around us! Innkeeper: I already have 10 people doing just that. No, I m afraid there is no vacancy! Joseph: I can t believe it! What terrible luck! Mary: Joseph! I need to find a place to lie down! I am sure the baby is coming! Joseph: Oh no! We have to find somewhere and there is no place at this inn. I see a cave back in that hill with a door, lets go see what it is. Mary: Anywhere out of this cold where I can lie down They walk to the cave, which has a door fitted into it. Joseph: Lets knock on this door. (knocks) Hmm, no one answers, but I hear some noises. (They go in) Cow: Mooo, Mooo Chicken: buucckkk buuuckkk buuuckkk buuuccckkk Mary : It s dark, but warm. Can I lie down somewhere? Joseph: Well its warm, but that s because there are animals in here. It must be a stable. I hear cows and donkeys. Donkey: Hee Haw Hee Haw Cow: Moooo Mooo Goat: Maaa, Maaaa Chicken: buucckkk buuuckkk buuuckkk buuuccckkk

5 Dove: cooo, coooo, coooo Joseph: I m afraid they are scolding me for not providing a better place for you to have a baby. Mary: Well they aren t saying there is no vacancy. I ll lie down here. She lies down in some straw All the animals sing: Jesus our brother strong and good All Animals: (rest of Meeting could join in too.) Jesus our brother strong and good Was humbly born in a stable rude And the Friendly Beasts aroung him stood Jesus our brother strong and good. Donkey: I, said the donkey shaggy and brown I carried his mother up hill and down I carried him safely to Bethlehem town, I, said the donkey shaggy and brown. Cow: I, said the cow all white and red I gave him my manger for his bed, I gave him my hay to pillow his head, I, said the cow, all white and red. Goat: I. said the goat with curly horn, I gave him my wool for his blanket warm, I gave him my coat on Christmas morn, I, said the goat with curly horn. Dove:

6 I, said the dove, from rafters high I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I, I, said the dove, from rafters high. All: (rest of Meeting could join in too.) So every beast by some good spell, In the stable dark was glad to tell, Of the gift he gave Emmanuel, Of the gift he gave Emmanuel. Scene III Place: Hills above Bethlehem Time: Midnight Sheep, shepherd #1, Shepherd #2, Mary and Joseph and Jesus. Sheep: (shivering) Baaa Baaa Brrrr Brrrr Shepherd #1: Geez its freezing up here. Shepherd #2: My fingers are about ready to fall off. I wish my cloak weren t so thin. Sheep: Baaa Baaa Shepherd #1: I wish these sheep would just take care of themselves. I d rather be down in town in that stable with a roof over my head. Shepherd #2: Better yet, what about the inn with a good glass of beer? Sheep: (nodding in agreement) Yaaaa Yaaaa! Shepherd#1: I can t afford a beer, I ll just take a fire in the fireplace or even a roof. (prodding Shepherd #2) Oh my God, what s that over by the tree? Shepherd #2: It s a man shining. Sheperd #1: Since when does a man have wings? Sheep: (afraid too) Waaa Waaa Shepherd #2: Well that s freaky, now he s moving towards us!

7 Shepherd #1: (gripping the other s arm) I don t know about you, but now I m cold and Terrified! I ve never seen a winged man before! Shepherd #2: I m scared too and I m losing the feeling in my arm! Angel: Fear Not! I bring you great news! This will be a joy for all people! Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Shepherd #1: What do you mean? He was just born? Where is he? In the prefect s house? In the town of David where is that? Shepherd #2: Don t you know Bethlehem is the town of David? Weren t you listening at all in school? Angel: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Shepherd #2: A manger? Are you sure this is a baby we re talking about? Other Angels: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Shepherds, you should believe us, there is a baby and he is Christ the Lord. Go find him! Whole Meeting Sings: Hark the Herald Angels Sing Shepherd #1: Lets go down into town and see if this story is true. I m too scared to stay up here anyway. Shepherd #2: Well I m scared AND I m cold, so lets go find the baby that the Lord has told us about. Hey, Maybe this is the Messiah that we have always been hearing about in the torah you know the one from Isaiah: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor. Was that the words? I think we could use someone like that. They start walking down the hill all the sheep follow them Shepherd #1: I don t know, I wasn t paying much attention in school. Shepherd #2: I think it was Chapter 9, verse 6. There was another one too, in Micah: But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel maybe this is it! Shepherd #1: I can t believe you remember this stuff. You always were a brain. Here we are: lets look in this cave. I know an old man keeps his animals in here. They open the door and there are Mary, Joseph and the baby in a manger.

8 The shepherds go forward on their knees. Shepherd #2: Shhh, there IS a baby! It is how it was foretold! The prophets were right. Here is our Prince of Peace! Shepherd #1: Are you sure? Uhh, sir? What is the baby s name? Joseph: We will call him Emmanuel. It means God with us. Whole Meeting sings: Away in a Manger Scene IV Place: Herod s Palace in Jerusalem Time: A week later Herod, Herod s advisor, Chief Priest, Priest, Balthazar, Melchior, Casper. Herod: Well, it s been a cold midwinter, but at least we got through the festival of the lights alright. I get really worried when the jews start celebrating the triumphs of revolutionaries like the Maccabees. I like everything to be quiet and under control. If its cold maybe they will all just stay in their huts by the fire Herod s Advisor: Sire, you have very good priests in place at the temple, and as long as you have them under control, we should be able to manage any kind of uprising or challenge to your or the Roman s authority. Herod: Yes, we do have the cooperation of the Priests. It s a good thing they all come from wealthy families with a lot at stake. Herod s Advisor: (Rubs his hands together) The important thing is to make sure our spies and all our representatives report any irregularities or strange goings on. By the way, Sire, I hear that some visitors from the East are here. Some really weird people with odd notions I hear some are Zoroastrians. Ah, here they are now with the Priests, who have been meeting with them. (Magi and Priests enter.) Balthazar: Greetings from Persia, King Herod! We have come on a long journey. Melchior:

9 Greetings from Arabia King Herod! We saw a new star rising when we were meeting together in Persia. We had a vision that this star heralds the arrival of a new king. Gaspar: Greetings from India King Herod! We have come this far because we hear he will be King of the Jews and will bring peace to all nations. With so much enmity amongst people this would be amazing. Herod: (At first shocked at their news, but trying to hide his surprise) Welcome, Strangers to Judea. We will send you back to your countries with diplomatic letters from the Roman Governor. I will see you are given the best rooms in the palace and all the comforts we can offer. (The three Magi go to another part of room) (to his advisor)king of the Jews, eh? Hmm, now I am ruler of all of Palestine and I don t really know where he could be. But perhaps together we can find him. (to the priests) Where do you think this King was born? Where could he be living? Chief Priest: Well, we might look in Bethlehem, because the prophet (I don t remember his name, there were so many of them) said Priest #2: it was the prophet Micah! How could you let that slip your mind? Really how you got to be Chief Priest is beyond me. Micah can t be confused with either Isaiah or Hosea or Amos or, or Chief Priest: Yes, yes of course, just a senior moment anyway, what s important is, he said, But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. Herod: Ahh, Bethlehem, that s not too far from here Now I wonder when he was born? How old would he be? I bet it took a long time for those visitors to get here. I wonder when this star was seen? If I can find out exactly where he is and who he is, I can make sure he never causes us any trouble Advisor: Lets ask the Magi. They could give us a time. (escorts the Magi over and they huddle with the king) Oh esteemed visitors, could you give us an exact time when this star was first seen that heralded the coming of the king? This way we can record it and send greetings to him ourselves.

10 Balthazar: Well, we were meeting in Persepolis about two months ago, you know, a sort of summit of great minds, but we had to meet in secrecy Melchior: Yes, Persepolis was a central place for all of us. We do have trouble sometimes coming up with a good halfway point. Caspar: I have to travel the farthest, but I already had some business in Sanliurfa, just a small project about a divination So it wasn t that much farther on Herod: (somewhat testy) Yes, yes, I can see that, but when did the star first rise? Balthazar: Well let s see, the moon is now waxing, so it must have been at a time when the moon wasn t so full, because as I recall, the star was really very very bright- - - Melchior: If you know your astronomy, then that would mean that it had to be- - - Caspar: about 14 days ago. We consulted together right away and determined to follow this new star that wasn t anything we had seen before in the cosmos, and except for stopping to change camels at regular intervals Melchior: You know they don t breed camels like they used to. When I was young a camel could get you from Samarkand all the way to- - - Advisor: (very impatient) Yes yes, I know they all say that, but what we want to know is- - - Balthazar: Now young man, you shouldn t be so rude! Imagine interrupting a magi when she is speaking! We rode every night to follow the star and have just arrived. (We did stop at a couple of gift shops on the way because we didn t like to arrive at the new King s palace empty handed. But the gift shops were really rather poor all the same tschotschkies in each one. But we did manage to scrape up a few things.) We can t stop here longer than til sundown, as we must ride on as soon as the star is visible. Herod: Well, I am sorry you won t stay, but once you have found the new king, I hope you will come back and be my guest for as long as you like. I have a very comfortable palace here, and I would also like to know where you find the new king so that I can go too and pay my respects. Do at least eat a meal and rest a bit. (waves them off) Exit the Magi Whole Meeting sings: We Three Kings of Orient Are Scene V On the way to Bethelehem, star plainly visible, the magi walking along. Balthazar, Melchior, Caspar, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Shepherds, animals.

11 Balthazar: It is a good thing its not cloudy so we can see the star easily. Melchior: You know, I didn t like that Advisor back at the palace; he was a shifty fellow. Balthazar: The advisor was bad, but I think Herod is probably worse. Caspar: Yes, I m not sure we should go back there. While we were resting this afternoon, before we set off again, I had a dream. Melchior: Hmm, you have a lot of dreams Balthazar: No wait, I think dreams are really important. What happened Caspar? Caspar: Well, someone (I can t really remember who or what they were) told me that we couldn t trust Herod, and that we should not go back to Jerusalem. It was pretty ominous. I don t remember all the details it was kind of hazy. Balthazar: Well, I didn t like the lot of them, so lets go find the new king and be on our way back to Persepolis. We can take a different route. Melchior: Good idea. Look! The star is stopped right over that cave! Lets go down there. Caspar: Seems an unlikely spot for a king, but the star has been a good guide up until now. (They open the door to cave and find Mary, Joseph, baby and Shepherds. They kneel down and offer their presents. ) Melchior: (nudging Balthazar) Just about two weeks old our calculations were just right! (To Jesus) Oh great King! I bring you Gold to crown you. Caspar: And I bring you Frankincense to anoint you. Balthazar: And I, Myrrh as a healing balm. Whole Meeting Sings: Joy to the World

Crib Service 2. Order of service. Welcome. Opening Responses Tonight we are excited Bless us with wonder

Crib Service 2. Order of service. Welcome. Opening Responses Tonight we are excited Bless us with wonder Crib Service 2 An outline for a Crib Service narrated by the inn keeper and his wife Samuel and Sarah. Contains other readings and prayers With suggestions for carols Order of service Welcome Opening Responses