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A NATIVITY CAROL

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Written by

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Joel Newport

MyChristmasPageant.com PREVIEW COPY ONLY.

ROMAN SOLDIER Hello? Hello? I’m looking for the master carpenters. CARPENTER 1 Yes, yes we’re here.

CARPENTER 2 And why is that such good news?

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ROMAN SOLDIER Because you’ll be paid for your work.

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ROMAN SOLDIER Oh, good. I have wonderful news. Pilot needs to order more crosses. It’s been a busy month.

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CARPENTER 1 I’m not sure that’s much motivation anymore. ROMAN SOLDIER Well, then you’ll be arrested and thrown into Caesar's prison.

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CARPENTER 2 (sighs) How many crosses does Pilot require?

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ROMAN SOLDIER I believe ten will suffice. It’s been a little busy since Jesus was put to death. Jesus?

CARPENTER 1

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ROMAN SOLDIER Yes? Surely you heard? CARPENTER 2 No. Why would Pilot put Jesus to death? He was peaceful. He didn’t deserve to die. ROMAN SOLDIER Well, who ever He was, He’s in a tomb right now, sealed up by a giant stone forever. The cross you made was perfect.

2. CARPENTER 1 We had no idea. ROMAN SOLDIER I’ll be back tomorrow to pick up the order. CARPENTER 2 Fine, fine. We’ll have them ready.

CARPENTER 1 & 2 (unenthused) Yeah, Yeah. Hail Caesar... The soldier leaves as MARTHA enters.

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ROMAN SOLDIER Hail Caesar!

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Very good.

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MARTHA Hello Ishmael, Josiah, I’ve brought you some dinner. CARPENTER 1 Thank you, Martha.

CARPENTER 2 Yes, thank you, I’m famished.

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MARTHA So, I see we were visited by a soldier. Another order from the Romans?

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CARPENTER 1 Yes, sadly. More crosses.

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MARTHA They never tire of persecuting anyone who doesn’t believe as they do. CARPENTER 2 Speaking of that, did you hear? They put Jesus to death. Oh, no!

MARTHA 1 That’s terrible.

CARPENTER 1 And the worst part, they hung him on a cross we made.

3. MARTHA Oh, Josiah and Ishmael, I am so sorry.

CARPENTER 1 I know, I know.

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MARTHA Well we have to. If we don’t, we’ll be the ones in front of Pilot.

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CARPENTER 2 And now we need to make ten more. I just don’t think I can do it anymore.

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Martha leaves.

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MARTHA I’ll leave you two alone so you can get your rest. Then tomorrow you can get your work done.

CARPENTER 2 She’s right. We need to rest. This day has been exhausting.

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CARPENTER 1 Yes. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day. The Carpenters lays down.

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An ANGEL enters.

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ANGEL Master Carpenters?

Wake up!

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CARPENTER 2 What? Who are you? ANGEL I am an angel of the Lord. be afraid. CARPENTER 1 Are you here to punish us? ANGEL Why would I punish you?

Do not

4. CARPENTER 2 We are the carpenters who made the cross where Jesus was hung. ANGEL I understand, but you must not be dismayed.

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CARPENTER 1 How can we not? They killed Jesus.

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ANGEL Come with me. I have something to show you. I would like to show you the joy of Christmas. CARPENTER 2 Christmas? Never heard of it.

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ANGEL To learn about Christmas, we will make three journeys together. First, let’s start at the beginning. The first Christmas. Walk around the alter.

Shepherds enter.

CARPENTER 1 Where are we?

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ANGEL Bethlehem. About 30 years ago.

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CARPENTER 2 Right. Sure we are. (To the Shepherds) Hey! Kind shepherds! Can you tell me where we are?

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ANGEL They cannot answer you. They can’t see or hear any of us. CARPENTER 1 So why are we here? ANGEL So you can see something amazing. Just watch. SHEPHERD 1 Lovely night.

5. SHEPHERD 2 It certainly is. That star is so bright, I can see all the way down the hill to Bethlehem.

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SHEPHERD 1 Well, something is going on. Everything seems different tonight. Even the sheep are acting funny. Like they’re waiting for something. ANGEL 2 enters.

The shepherds drop to their knees.

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SHEPHERD 2

Look!

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ANGEL 2 Shepherds. Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

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CARPENTER 2 Wait. Who are they talking about? Who has been born?

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The angel takes their hands and leads them away.

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CARPENTER 1 Where are we going now?

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They travel around the alter and arrive at the manger scene. MARY, JOSEPH and the Shepherds are there. Three KINGS enter as well. KING 1 Greetings. We are kings from the East. KING 2 We have seen the star in the heavens. KING 3 A sign. From God. Announcing the birth of his son.

6. CARPENTER 2 This is amazing! The birth of the Son of God? I can’t believe we’re seeing this. KING 1 We bring gifts to honor the Heavenly King.

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The first King kneels before the manger. KING 1 (CONT’D) Gold. A true gift fit for a king.

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The King 2 kneels before the manger.

KING 2 The precious perfume Frankincense.

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King 3 Kneels.

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KING 3 And the royal anointing oil, myrrh. CARPENTER 1 This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever witnessed.

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ANGEL It’s not everyday the Son of God is born.

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CARPENTER 2 The Son of God? Born here? In a stable? ANGEL

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Yes.

CARPENTER 1 Why would God allow his Son to be born here? In a dirty, dark stable? The Kings from the East said themselves. This child is a King, worthy of all the riches of the Earth. ANGEL But understand, He is not and earthly king. He is a heavenly king. Sent from God to live among us as a man.

7. CARPENTER 2 What is His name? ANGEL Just listen. SONG: AWAY IN A MANGER

ANGEL Yes. You did. This is Jesus of Nazareth.

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CARPENTER 1 Wait? Did I hear Lord Jesus?

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CARPENTER 2 So Jesus, was the Son of God? Why are you showing this to us? Isn’t there someone more important to show this glorious vision too?

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ANGEL No Ishmael, it’s important that you and Josiah see this. Look closely at the manger. The Carpenter moves to the manger and examines it.

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CARPENTER 1 This looks just like the mangers we used to build.

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ANGEL That’s because it is.

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CARPENTER 2 So we built the manger where the Son of God spent His first days on Earth. But then he was killed, over 30 years later on a cross that was also built by us. How is that supposed to make us feel better? ANGEL It’s time to go. CARPENTER 1 Go? But we have so many questions. ANGEL I understand. But not tonight. Just lay down now and rest.

8. The Carpenters lay down. All the other characters sit back down, leaving the Carpenters alone on the stage. Martha enters. MARTHA Josiah, Ishmael! It’s getting late. What are you doing?

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The Josiah and Ishmael sit up, still groggy. CARPENTER 2 I don’t know. We must have slept in.

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MARTHA Well, you better get a move on. You promised the Romans ten crosses.

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CARPENTER 1 We know, we know. We will get on that right away. MARTHA You better. We don’t need the Romans angry with us. It’s hard enough as it is to get by.

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CARPENTER 2 I just had the strangest dream. I was with an Angel, and she showed me that Jesus was the Son of God.

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CARPENTER 1 I had the exact same dream!

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MARTHA As strange as it is that both of you claim to have had the same dream, none of that matters now. Jesus has been crucified. CARPENTER 2 Your right. It was just a crazy dream. We’ll get to work.

Martha leaves and the Carpenter picks up his tools to get start working. The Angel appears again. ANGEL Hello, master carpenter.

9. CARPENTER 1 You again? I’m not asleep, so I must be going mad. CARPENTER 2 Well if your going mad, so am I because I see her too!

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CARPENTER 1 Look, we need to work. We have to get this order finished for the Romans.

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ANGEL I understand. But I have something else for you too see.

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CARPENTER 2 I don’t think I can handle another trip back in time.

Good.

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ANGEL No, we will not be going back in time. CARPENTER 1

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ANGEL It’s time to visit Christmas present. Or more specifically, why Christmas will become so important.

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The Angel and the Carpenter walk around the alter.

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CARPENTER 2 Where are we now?

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ANGEL The tomb. Where Jesus was buried. CARPENTER 1 You mean is buried, right? ANGEL But the tomb is empty.

MARY MAGDALENE enters, crying. ANGEL 2 approaches. ANGEL 2 Woman, why are you crying?

10. MARY MAGDALENE Someone has taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him. JESUS enters behind Mary Magdalene.

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JESUS Woman, who is it you are looking for?

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MARY MAGDALENE Oh, sir, if you have carried him away, please, tell me where you have put him and I will get him. JESUS

Mary.

MARY MAGDALENE

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Teacher!

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Mary drops to her knees in front of Jesus.

CARPENTER 2 Wait a minute! Jesus is alive? How is that possible?

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ANGEL He is the Son of God. He has risen, to fulfill the Word of God by defeating death itself, so that who ever believes in him shall not parish but have everlasting life.

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CARPENTER 1 So this is why Christmas is important. ANGEL Yes. Today, because of Christ’s resurrection, Christmas will now be celebrated by all who believe. CARPENTER 2 This is incredible.

Everyone leaves the stage, but the Carpenter. CARPENTER 2(CONT’D) Wait, where are you going? We have more questions? Don’t go now. The carpenters spin around a few times as Martha enters.

11. MARTHA Josiah! Ishmael! Have you heard? CARPENTER 1 Heard what?

CARPENTER 2 So it’s true? Jesus is alive?

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MARTHA Jesus! He has risen. He’s alive.

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MARTHA Yes. Everyone’s talking about it. I’m heading into town now to see if I can learn more.

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CARPENTER 1 Okay. Good idea. We will stay here and keep working - but please come back and tell us what you have learned. Martha leaves and the Angel returns. You again?

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ANGEL Yes, It’s me. It’s time for us to take our third and final journey.

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CARPENTER 1 So it appears that everything you’ve showed us is true. You’ve showed us the birth of Jesus and then his resurrection. What more could you possibly need with us?

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ANGEL I want to show you Christmas future? CARPENTER 2 Well, I don’t suppose we have a choice?

They walk around the alter. All the Shepherds, the Kings and Mary and Joseph return to the stage at the manger. CARPENTER 1 Where are we? This place is so strange, yet so familiar.

12. ANGEL It is a house of worship. More than 2,000 years in the future. CARPENTER 2 2,000 years!

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ANGEL Yes. It’s a Christmas celebration not only 2,000 years in the future, but halfway around the world.

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CARPENTER 1 Jesus’ impact is still being felt? So far in the future and by so many people...

The smaller children dance.

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ANGEL It certainly is. Just watch.

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CARPENTER 2 That was beautiful. It’s wonderful to see all ages take part in Christmas worship.

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ANGEL It is a special time of year. One filled with peace, love, joy and song. All in the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

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CARPENTER 1 And this far in the future, people still know the story? How Jesus was born in a stable?

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ANGEL I think you’ll be surprised how much of Jesus’ birth is remembered. KING 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. KING 2 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

13. JOSEPH And everyone went to his own town to register. 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.

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MARY 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, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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SHEPHERD 1 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. SHEPHERD 2 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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ANGEL 2 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

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SING: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH SHEPHERD 1 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."