Characters

Narrator
First Child
Second Child
Third Child
Lead Singer
Singers as needed

Script
(The story begins with the CHILDREN, one boy and two girls, seated around a rocking chair
occupied by the NARRATOR, who is either the grandfather or the grandmother. The
NARRATOR is holding a brightly decorated box which is open at the top. The contents of the
box are wrapped presents for the CHILDREN. The contents of the presents are the pieces of a
Nativity Scene. The stable is not wrapped in the box and should be taken out by the
NARRATOR before the gifts are given to the children.)
(The setting should resemble a living room of the home of the NARRATOR. It should
contain a decorated Christmas tree with a Bible and a few presents under it, a rocking chair, a
small table and perhaps an oval woven rug for the children to sit on.)
NARRATOR
It is a tradition in our family that one special gift may be opened on the night before
Christmas. And in this box I have gifts for each of you. (The CHILDREN react with quiet
excitement of receiving the gifts.) But, first let me take out this odd little shed. (NARRATOR
takes out the shed and sets it on a small table.) What does this little building look like to you?
FIRST CHILD
It looks like a stable.
SECOND CHILD
What is it for?
THIRD CHILD
It is a place for cows and sheep to eat and sleep.
NARRATOR
This is a very special stable and I will tell you why, but we must open the first gift.
(NARRATOR gives the first gift to the FIRST CHILD to open. The gift should contain the
figures of Mary and Joseph.)
SECOND CHILD
What is it?

FIRST CHILD
It is a figure of a woman and a man. They look very happy. (Places them in the stable.)
THIRD CHILD
Who are they?
NARRATOR
Let me tell you a little about these two people. Anyone have a Bible handy? (The
CHILDREN pass the Bible which is under the tree to the NARRATOR who reads Luke 1:2132.)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26

In the sixth month of Elizabeths pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town
in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
The virgins name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are
highly favored! The Lord is with you.
29

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You
will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and
will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father
David, 33 and he will reign over Jacobs descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.
30

34

How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin?

35

The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even
Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be
unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.
38

I am the Lords servant, Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled. Then the
angel left her.

SECOND CHILD
Is it my turn to open a present.....please?
NARRATOR
I was just about to ask if you would like to open one. (NARRATOR hands the SECOND
CHILD a gift containing figures of cows, sheep and perhaps a donkey.)
THIRD CHILD

What is it?
SECOND CHILD
Figures of cows, sheep and a donkey. This must be their home. (Places them around the
stable.)
FIRST CHILD
Does the stable have a manger? What does the Bible say about these animals and their
manger? Was this their home?
NARRATOR
Let me see what it says. (NARRATOR reads from Luke 2: 1-7.)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire
Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of
Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the
town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to
register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room
available for them.

(NARRATOR speaks to CHILD THREE)

NARRATOR
Now it is your turn to open a present. (NARRATOR gives the THIRD CHILD a present
containing figures of Shepherds.)
THIRD CHILD
There are figures of Shepherds. (Places them around the stable.)
SECOND CHILD
Do the sheep belong to the shepherds?
NARRATOR
Let's continue reading and see what the scriptures say about shepherds. (NARRATOR reads
from Luke 2:8-20.)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good
news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has
been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a
baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
13

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
14

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

15

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
Lets go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about.
16

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about
this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary
treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as
they had been told.
17

NARRATOR
Well, I have more gifts to open. What shall we do with them?
FIRST CHILD
It is better to give than receive.
SECOND CHILD
And all of us have received.
THIRD CHILD
Let's find someone who hasn't gotten anything yet.
NARRATOR
Good idea. Go and find someone out there. (Indicates in the direction of the congregation.)
And give this gift to someone who looks very wise. (NARRATOR hands the present
containing the figures of the three wise men to the FIRST CHILD. The CHILDREN pick out
someone from the congregation and give them the gift. The person who is selected must be
brought to the small table and open their gift. After the gift, is open the THIRD CHILD says.)
THIRD CHILD

What is it?
THE WISE LOOKING PERSON
Wise men.
SECOND CHILD
(To WISE LOOKING PERSON) Place them on the nativity table.
(The children may help the WISE LOOKING PERSON arrange the wise men on the table.)
NARRATOR
I still have one more gift to open.
FIRST CHILD
We'll take care of it.
(The CHILDREN go out into the congregation, find a young girl and bring her to the front.)
NARRATOR
Here is the last gift for you to open. (NARRATOR hands the girl a gift containing a cross on
a manger. After she opens it, SECOND CHILD says.)
SECOND CHILD
What is it?
FIRST CHILD
It is the best gift of all. It is a manger with a cross laying in it. (FIRST CHILD takes the girl
with the gift to the table and places it in the center of the stable.)
THIRD CHILD
Does this gift belong to all of us?
NARRATOR
His name is Jesus which means "God Saves," because he will save his people from their sins.
They will call him Emmanuel which is Hebrew for "God is with us." And, yes, this gift
belongs to all of us. (NARRATOR reads Luke 2:21-28.)

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and
Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the

Lord, Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in
keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons.[b]
25

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was
waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed
to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lords Messiah.
27
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child
Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and
praised God and said,
29

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.
4

30

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32 j

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon
blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and
rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through
your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.
33

34

35

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She
was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a
virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she
began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption
of Jerusalem.
36

37

38

The Return to Nazareth

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they
returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became
strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
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