CHRISTMAS AT-HOME NATIVITY SCRIPT

G O S P E L S O F M A R K A N D L U K E CHARACTERS

Narrator Shepard #1 Mary Shepard #2 Joseph Wiseman #1 King Herod Wiseman #2 Angel Wiseman #3

pg.1 Narrator: And it came to pass that Caesar Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken so that all the world would be taxed.

So Joseph went 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Play or Sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Mary and Joseph enter walking around the room(s) as if on their long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem during the song. You may choose to include a prop to be used as a donkey that helped along their journey.

Narrator: Joseph knocked on door after door trying to find a place to stay. He had no luck and everyone who opened a door told him that they had no room.

Joseph pretends to knock on door after door. Guests or family members can be the innkeepers and they keep shaking their heads turning them away.

One man told them that he would let them stay in his stable so they would at least have somewhere to rest.

Optional: Mary: "Joseph, I think the baby will be here soon. We need to hurry to the stable."

Joseph: "Mary, I’m sorry that we only have a stable for us to rest. I know God will be with us when the baby is born."

Narrator: Joseph and Mary hurried to the stable to rest. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger.

Play or Sing “Away in a Manger”

pg.2 Mary and Joseph hold a baby or baby doll and look lovingly on the baby while others are singing. Allow children to dress like animals that may have been in the stable – donkeys, cows, sheep and have them stand around Mary and Joseph while singing. Include a manger as a prop if desired.

Narrator: Not far away, in the fields nearby, there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Across the room, the shepherds are taking care of their sheep. There can be several shepherds. Sheep can be played by children or props, such as cardboard cutouts or stuffed animals.

An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The shepherds were scared but the angel said to them…

Angel: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having the angel speak.) “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Narrator: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” The angels left and the shepherds were very excited.

Shepherd(s): (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having the shepherd(s) speak.) “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Play or sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

The shepherds, and their sheep, create a path that gets them to the manger before the song ends. Once they get to the manger, they kneel in front of the baby Jesus.

Narrator: After the shepherds had seen the baby, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

pg.3 Shepherds can stay at the manger or leave the area.

Narrator: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

Wiseman: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having one of the wisemen speak.) “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

Narrator: When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed. The chief priests and teachers of the law told him that the prophesy foretold the child being born in Bethlehem. Herod called the wisemen to come see him secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem.

King Herod: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having King Herod speak.) “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Play or sing “We Three Kings”

During the song, the wisemen travel to find baby Jesus. Additional costumes or props include camels and a star for the wisemen to follow. A fun idea is to have someone with a star who leads the wisemen from place to place until they arrive at the stable.

Narrator: The three wisemen bowed down and worshiped the child. They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

This was one extraordinary night. The greatest gift ever had been given to God’s people. God’s Son had been born.

With the nativity scene complete… Play or sing “Joy to the World”

At the end of the song, everyone cheers and claps.

pg.4 CHRISTMAS AT-HOME NATIVITY SCENE SETTING

G O S P E L S O F M A R K A N D L U K E CHARACTERS

Narrator Shepard #1 Mary Shepard #2 Joseph Wiseman #1 King Herod Wiseman #2 Angel Wiseman #3

pg.1 The stable and manger should be set where the nativity scene is going to set for the Christmas holiday. Create or add props to set the scene – straw, a star or a night backdrop.

Narrator: And it came to pass that Caesar Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken so that all the world would be taxed.

So Joseph went 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Play or Sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Family member or guest walks the room(s) with the characters of Mary and Joseph as if on their long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem during the song. You may choose to include a prop to be used as a donkey that helped along their journey.

Narrator: Joseph knocked on door after door trying to find a place to stay. He had no luck and everyone who opened a door told him that they had no room.

Joseph pretends to knock on door after door. Guests or family members can be the innkeepers and they keep shaking their heads turning them away.

Narrator: One man told them that he would let them stay in his stable so they would at least have somewhere to rest.

Joseph and Mary hurried to the stable to rest. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger.

Play or Sing “Away in a Manger”

The family members or guests with Mary and Joseph move their figures to the stable. Baby Jesus is placed in the manger. These same people or others can place animals in the stable. Animals in the stable may include donkeys, cows and sheep.

pg.2 Narrator: Not far away, in the fields nearby, there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Across the room, the shepherds are taking care of their sheep. Family members or guests are across the room with shepherds acting like they are taking care of the sheep figurines.

An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The shepherds were scared but the angel said to them…

Angel: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having the angel speak.) “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The person with the angel figure holds the angel above the shepherds. If you have more than one angel figurine, have the others join the one angel who is speaking to the shepherds.

Narrator: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” The angels left and the shepherds were very excited.

Shepherd(s): (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having the shepherd(s) speak.) “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Play or sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

The shepherds, and their sheep, create a path that gets them to the manger before the song ends. Once they get to the manger, put the figures around the manger.

Narrator: After the shepherds had seen the baby, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Leave the shepherd and the sheep figures at the stable. pg.3 Narrator: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

Wiseman: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having one of the wisemen speak.) “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

Narrator: When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed. The chief priests and teachers of the law told him that the prophesy foretold the child being born in Bethlehem. Herod called the wisemen to come see him secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem.

The wisemen travel to King Herod. The figures can travel a short distance to King Herod. If you don’t have a King Herod figure, this action does not have to happen.

King Herrod: (The narrator can continue to tell the story instead of having King Herod speak.) “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Play or sing “We Three Kings”

During the song, the wisemen travel to find baby Jesus. If you have figures like camels, elephants or horses, they can join the wisemen on their journey to find the baby Jesus. A fun idea is to have someone with a star who leads the wisemen from place to place until they arrive at the stable.

Narrator: The three wisemen bowed down and worshiped the child. They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Place the wisemen near to the baby Jesus. If they have travel animals, they can be placed on the outside of the stable.

This was one extraordinary night. The greatest gift ever had been given to God’s people. God’s Son had been born.

With the nativity scene complete… Play or sing “Joy to the World” pg.4