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Home , Bethlehem

Impromptu Pageant Script Manchester United Methodist

Characters: Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Mary Joseph (Angel) Shepherds Angels

Script Reading Instructions: The narrators will guide the action of all the other characters, so the actors don’t have to follow along with this script! Names in bold and italics are a characters first introduction to the story; narrators are encouraged to leave enough time following these markings for the character to find their way to the appropriate place. The highlighted words are to be spoken by the character as noted; the narrator is to read as written and then provide an opportunity for the character to repeat the highlighted portion.

Scene 1: The Prophets Narrator 1: The story begins a long time before was born. His birth was predicted by some of the prophets in the Old Testament. It is written in : Narrator 2: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous descendant from ’s line, and he will rule as a wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land … And his name will be The Lord Is Our Righteousness.” Narrator 1: The people who heard these words waited for this king to come. They hoped he would come soon, bringing peace and safety. They knew also what had been written by the prophet Haggai: Narrator 2: “This is what the Lord of heavenly forces says: In just a little while, I will make the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land quake … I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of heavenly forces.” Narrator 1: They waited for a long time for God to do what the prophets had said. They hoped it would happen quickly. Narrator 2: It did not. Narrator 1: They waited a long time, crying out: come, o come, Emmanuel!

Scene 2: The Announcements Narrator 1: Years later, there was a girl named Mary living in . She didn’t seem to be anybody special. She was happy living a quiet and simple life. Until one day, the angel Gabriel appeared! Narrator 2: The angel had good news to share with Mary. He said, “Rejoice, favored one!” Narrator 1: Mary was confused by these words. She wasn’t sure what kind of a greeting this might be. Gabriel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” Narrator 2: Gabriel continued to explain that Mary would give birth to a son, whose name would be Jesus but would also be called Son of the Most High. God would give him the throne of David to rule over ’s house forever and ever, in answer to the prophecies. Narrator 1: This only confused Mary more. She looked at the angel and said, “Huh?” Narrator 2: The angel continued and said to her, “God can do anything!” Narrator 1: Mary knew this was true and said she was ready to be a part of what God had planned. The only problem was that Joseph also lived in Nazareth. Joseph and Mary were going to get married. When Mary got pregnant, he decided to call off their engagement. Narrator 2: But before he told anyone, he went to bed. He tossed and turned as he thought about what to do. Narrator 1: That’s when the angel appeared to him, too! Just like he told Mary, he said to Joseph, “Don’t be afraid!” Narrator 2: Gabriel told Joseph to marry Mary because her baby would be God’s son and would save his people from their sins. And Joseph woke up and said, “Ok!” Narrator 1: They were ready to be parents to a very special baby. Narrator 2: But they had no idea that the story was about to take them away from Nazareth to the little town of Bethlehem.

Scene 3: The Birth Narrator 1: In those days, Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. Everyone had to go back to their hometown to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to the family of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem. Narrator 2: He and Mary both made the journey. But when they arrived, they discovered that there was no room for them guestroom and no place to stay except for a stable. Narrator 1: While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a . Narrator 2: And Joseph did just as the angel told him, looking at the newborn and saying, “His name is Jesus.” Narrator 1: For a time, it was quiet in the stable. Mary and Joseph sat by the manger, Jesus slept, and the only sounds was of the animals nearby. Narrator 2: But there were about to be more visitors coming by, just as soon as they, too, heard from an angel on high.

Scene 4: The Shepherds Narrator 1: Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, watching over their sheep that night. Suddenly, a great assembly of angels stood before them. The shepherds were terrified and screamed, “Ah!” Narrator 2: Just like the angel had said to Mary and to Joseph, now the angels said to the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid.” Narrator 1: The angels explained what was going on that night. The says it like this: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Narrator 2: Then all the angels said together, “Glory to God!” Narrator 1: And the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go see!” Narrator 2: They went quickly to Bethlehem to confirm what the angels had said. They found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. They were amazed at what happened that night. Narrator 1: The angels also went to Bethlehem, where looked in on the manger scene in praise for what God was doing. Narrator 2: Whether from the fields outside of town or all the way from the realms of glory, the stable was starting to fill with those who came to worship the newborn king.

Scene 5: The Magi Narrator 1: Far, far away from Bethlehem were magi who watched for meaning in the sky. One day, they noticed a new star overhead. They knew it was a sign that a new king was born and decided to follow it. Narrator 2: The star slowly made its way toward Bethlehem, many miles away. The magi followed but not all the way. They made it to and asked King Herod and all the people there, “Where is the newborn king?” Narrator 1: King Herod and all the people of Jerusalem were troubled. They thought about it and remembered a prophecy that said where the would be born. They told the magi, “Bethlehem!” Narrator 2: The magi made it to Bethlehem and found the new king. The star was right overhead of Jesus! The magi gave Jesus gifts of , , and . Narrator 1: Later, they would be warned in a dream not to tell King Herod where Jesus was and would go home by a different road. Narrator 2: But for now, they joined with everyone else there that first noel. Narrator 1: We join with them in worship still today. Narrator 2: Born is the king of .

Scene 6: The Incarnation Pastor Dillon: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. Tina: The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. Pastor Dillon: The Word become flesh and made his home among us. Deacon Tina: We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, fully of grace and truth.