Christmas Narrative for Shadow Portrayal	11-27-99 dcp

Song:   “Oh Come, Little Children”   During the singing of this song, the children come forward and the screen and light are set up.  When the following narrative begins, the light behind the screen is brought up and the words are acted out . . .

Narrative 1: The Annunciation    (Mary, angel, Elizabeth)	Luke 1:26-44
	God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth.  The angel visited a young girl named Mary who was engaged to a man named Joseph.  The angel said to Mary: “O favored one of God, greetings.  The Lord is with you.”  Mary did not understand the angel’s words and wondered what an angel’s greeting might mean.  “Do not be afraid, Mary,” the angel said gently.  “You are very special in the eyes of God, for you will soon carry a baby, and you will give birth to a son whom you will name Jesus.  Your son will be great.  He will be called Son of the Most High, and God will give him David’s throne so that he can rule over God’s people forever.”   Mary said to the angel, “How can this be?  How can I have a child?”   The angel replied, “The child will be the work of the Holy Spirit.  The child will be the Son of God, and your child will be holy.
	“Also, know that your cousin Elizabeth will give birth to a son, even though she is an old woman.  The woman who was never able to have children is already six months pregnant.  This is God’s doing, for with God, nothing is impossible.”
	Then Mary placed herself into the Lord’s hands, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord,” she said, “Let your word be fulfilled in my life.”   (Pause for scene change)
	Mary then hurried to visit Elizabeth in the hill country.  Mary entered the house of Elizabeth and greeted her.  When Mary spoke, the baby in Elizabeth’s stomach jumped!  The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she said, “You are blessed, Mary, and so is the child you carry.  What a wonder that this should happen to me, for when you spoke your greeting, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Song:   “The Annunciation” with Magnificat

Narrative 2: Traveling to Bethlehem for the Census   (Mary, Joseph, a registrar?)	Luke 2:1-5
	Caesar Augustus, the emperor of the Roman empire, ordered that all the people in the land be counted for administrative purposes.  Each person was instructed to go to the town of their heritage in order to register.  (Pause for scene change)   So, Joseph traveled from his home in Nazareth to Bethlehem because he was of the house of David and because Bethlehem was known as the city of David.  He brought Mary with him.  He was engaged to her, and she was expecting a child.

Song:   “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Narrative 3: The Birth of Jesus   (Mary, Joseph, baby)	Luke 2:6-7
	(First sentences w/ light off)  While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem to register for the census, they tried to find a place to stay.  But because there was no room for them in the inn, they found shelter where animals are kept and fed.  (Light on) It was then that the time came for Mary to deliver her firstborn.  It was a boy, just as the angel had foretold, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth and placed him in a manger.

Song:   “Away in a Manger”
Narrative 4: Shepherds Hear the News of the Savior’s Birth  (Shepherds, angel)	Luke 2:8-12
	In the hills not far away, shepherds were watching their flocks during the night.  Then, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the angel’s glory shone brightly.  They were terrified!   But the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid because I am bringing you good news filled with joy.  Today is born in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah and the Lord.  You’ll know you have found him when you find a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

Song:   “What Child Is This?”

Narrative 5: The Angels Sing   (Angels)	Luke 2:13-14
	Suddenly, the angel that visited the shepherds was joined by countless other angels, and together they praised God and sang:
	“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those who God favors!”

Song:   “Angels We Have Heard on High”	

Narrative 6: Wise Men Follow the Star  (Wise men, Herod, Mary, baby)	Matthew 2:1-5a, 7-11
	Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.  They asked, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we have seen his star and have come to pay him honor.”  Now when Herod, the local king, heard that another king had been born, he was frightened.   So he called together the religious leaders and asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  They told Herod that according to the prophets, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
	Then Herod secretly spoke to the wise men and learned from them the exact time the star appeared in the sky.  He then told the wise men, “Go to Bethlehem and search everywhere for the child.  And when you find him, tell me where he is so that I too may go and give him honor.”   (Scene change)
	So the wise men left Herod and followed the star until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were filled with joy.  And there they found Mary holding the child and they knelt before him and gave him honor.  Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him precious gifts.
	And when they left to return to their home in the East, they left by another road, because they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod.

Song:   We Three Kings”

Final Narrative -- Not to be acted out	John 3:16
	And so, God’s gift to the world, to you and me, was given in the baby known as God’s son, Jesus.  Jesus would grow and teach and heal and finally give his life for all of us.  It is because of this great gift, that these beautiful words were written in John’s Gospel”
	“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”    (Give Children Gifts)

Song:   Good Christian Friends”   (children return to their seats)