Room for Christmas Scene 1: The Rehearsal Running Out of Room – Fish and Wings Choir Angel: Joseph: Angel:

Okay everyone! Let’s get to work. Wait a second. Where’s Ms. Arielle? She’s home with a cold. That means I’m in charge.

Shepherd 1: Hey, no fair! Joseph: Angel:

Why do you get to be in charge? Because I’m the oldest, which means…..

Shepherd 2: You’re the grumpiest? Angel:

It means I’ve been in the most Christmas pageants so I know what’s supposed to happen.

Mary:

We all know what’s supposed to happen. It’s a Christmas pageant.

Sheep 1:

Why can’t we do something cool this year? Let’s add some ninja penguins!

Sheep 2:

Or instead of wise men, three aliens can bring gifts. (In a monotone/alien voice) “Take me to your leader.”

Angel:

But that’s not how the story goes!

Mary:

That’s the point. Everyone already knows how the story goes.

Angel:

Let’s just stick to the script. Please tell me you’ve learned your lines.

All:

(muttering as they go to their places for beginning of pageant – ANGEL at center, NARRATOR to one side, all others slightly to each side for entrances)

Angel:

Seriously?!! The pageant is next week!

Shepherd 2: Hey, it’s a busy time of year. Joseph:

Yeah. We’ve already got a lot going on.

Angel:

Whatever. All right, Narrator, hit it.

Narrator 1: (tentatively) Ahem. Four score and seven years ago, Caesar Salad declared that…..

Shepherd 1: (trying to be helpful) No. It’s – In those days a decree went out from Caesar Salad. Angel:

There is no Caesar salad in the story.

Shepherd 1: (matter-of-factly) That’s too bad. Caesar salad is delicious. Angel:

(to Narrator) I suggest you practice your lines, or you’ll just have to use your script at the pageant. Let’s go to the part where Mary and Joseph arrive at the inn.

(Innkeeper enters at area beside manger. Mary and Joseph enter and cross to the Innkeeper.) Joseph:

I am Joseph and this is my wife, Mary. She is expecting a baby.

Mary:

We have traveled a long way. Do you have any room for us?

Innkeeper: Ah yes, Mary and Joseph. We’ve been expecting you. Here is your key and room number. Elevators are on the left. Complimentary breakfast is from six to nine. Angel:

Here’s your key? Complimentary breakfast? There isn’t any room at the inn!

Innkeeper: Do you know who this is? It’s Mary and Joseph. We have to make room for them… (tenderly) and for Baby Jesus. Angel:

But that’s not how the story goes.

Innkeeper: (impassioned) I don’t like that part. No one made room for Christmas way back in Bethlehem, and 2,000 year later, what has changed? Am I right, people?! Mary:

She’s got a point. (Joseph and Mary go to stand behind the manger.)

Angel:

No, the point is to stick to the story. Let’s just skip to the angel – me – bringing the news to the shepherds.

(Shepherds and sheep enter. Sheep are on all fours. Through this part, the sheep “baa” so loudly that Angel’s line cannot be heard.) Angel:

Fear not, for…..(lots of “baa”ing)…for behold I bring you…. (more “baa”ing)….I bring you good news of…..(too much “baa”ing)….Hey, sheep! Seriously! (The “baa”ing stops. All the sheep stand up.)

Sheep 1:

At least we know our part.

Angel:

But you’re stepping on my big moment.

Sheep 1:

The sheep only get one line.

Sheep 2:

Yeah. What about our big moment?

Sheep 3:

(Defiantly) BAA!

Angel:

But…..you’re sheep.

Sheep 2:

Well, these sheep want their moment in the spotlight.

Sheep 3:

BAA!! We Are the Sheep – Fish Choir

Angel:

(exasperated) We’re running out of time. Narrator, get us to the part about the three kings.

(Wise Men enter at opposite side from Shepherd and Sheep) Wise Man 1: (in a know-it-all tone) Actually, in the Bible they are called wise men not kings. Angel:

Three kings, three wise men, what’s the difference.

Wise Man 1: Actually, the Bible never says there are three wise men. We just assume that because there were three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Wise Man 2:

What kind of baby gifts are those, anyway?

Wise Man1: Actually, by the time the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, Jesus probably wasn’t a baby anymore. Wise Man 2: But still, Frankincense? Myrrh?! Why didn’t they bring him a blanket? Or a teddy bear? Or at least some diapers? Wise Man 1:

Actually….

Wise Man 3: (interrupting) Hey, I have an idea! Angel:

We don’t have room in the story for any ideas.

Wise Man 3: (ignoring) We could give this old story a new twist. Angel:

And we certainly don’t have room for a new twist.

Wise Man 3: What if we each brought a toy from home? Wise Man 1: To use as props for the gifts? Wise Man 3: Sure, but not just props. What if, after the Christmas pageant, we donated our toys to kids in need? Sheep 1:

Ooh. That’s a great idea! We sheep want to do it, too.

All:

(Random lines of agreement – “Me too,” “I’ve got a toy I could bring,”etc. – from everyone except the Angel.)

Sheep 2:

Yeah, then we can make room.

Innkeeper: (earnestly) Yes. That’s what I’ve been saying. We can make room this season for what matters most. Sheep 2:

Yeah, more stuff!

Sheep 3:

Baa!

Angel:

A toy drive! But that’s not part of the story.

Wise Man 3: It could be. Shepherd 2: Our pageant doesn’t have to be just like the Bible story. Angel:

Yes it does! That’s what people expect. It has to be just right so we can…make it feel like Christmas.

Mary:

But Christmas isn’t something you make. Christmas is something that is. There Was Love – Wings Choir

Reader:

In the beginning, before anything had ever been made, he was there with God. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Angel:

Well, it looks like we’ve run out of time for practice. Everyone please try to study your lines this week.

Wise Man 3:

And?

Angel: (sigh) And don’t forget to bring a toy from home for the toy drive. (Everyone exits) Interlude (What Do We Do) Scene 2: The Christmas Pageant The day/evening of the Christmas pageant, the cast is in costume, and the stage is set. Angel:

The big day is here! Places everyone!

Shepherd 4: Look at all those people out there! Sheep 2:

(waving) Hi, Mom!

Joseph:

I wish I’d practiced more.

Angel:

It’s too late for that now. Just do the best you can. Okay, Narrator.

Narrator 2: Ahem. In those days the emperor Caesar…(trying to remember)…. Caesar…. Augustus (a proud pause) made a decree that everyone in the empire should be counted. This meant that people had to go to their hometown to register. Joseph had to go to the town of his ancestors, Bethlehem. He was engaged to Mary, who was expecting a baby. (Mary and Joseph enter and cross to inn. Innkeeper enters.) Narrator 2: When they arrived in Bethlehem, they found an inn. Joseph:

I am Joseph, and this is Mary. She is expecting a baby.

Mary:

We have traveled a long way. Please, do you have any room for us?

(Innkeeper, clearly not wanting to say line, has her mouth clamped shut and is shaking head “no”.) Angel:

(to Innkeeper) Just say your line.

(All the others are peeking over at Innkeeper, nervous that she won’t say the line.) Innkeeper: (reluctantly) I’m Sorry. There is no room in the inn. All: (relieved) Whew! Innkeeper: But…(walks to center stage.) Angel:

Uh-oh.

Innkeeper: There will always be room for you IN MY HEART! (looks over at accompanist) Hit it! Room In My Heart – Fish and Wings Choir Narrator 3: So, um….after the song, Mary and Joseph found a stable. And this is where the baby was born. Mary wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. (Shepherds and Sheep enter) Narrator 3: Meanwhile, there were shepherds in the field, keeping watch over their quiet sheep by night. Sheep 1, 2 and 3: (softly) Baa. (Sheep continue “baa”-ing very softly so the following dialogue can be easily heard.)

Narrator 3: An angel appeared to them and said….. (Angel still frozen.) Shepherd 3: (to Angel) Fear not. Angel:

(to Shepherd 1) I know that part, but I can’t remember what comes after it.

Shepherd 3: No, I mean fear not. Your friends are with you. You can do it. All:

(words of support for Angel – “Yeah,” “you can do it,” “We’re here for you, etc.”)

Angel:

(tentatively) Fear not. (takes a deep breath and says with more assurance) Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy. (gathering confidence with every word) For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Christ the Lord. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (sigh of relief)

Shepherd 4: (to Angel) Way to go. Sheep 3:

(softly) Baa.

Narrator 4: The shepherds and sheep hurried all the way to Bethlehem. They found Mary, Joseph and the baby. (Shepherds and Sheep go to manger scene and stand to the side.) Away in a Manger – Young Children and Worship Narrator 4: After a time there came…um…an indeterminate number of wise men from the east. (Wise Men enter at opposite side from the Shepherds and Sheep, carrying toys for the toy drive.) Wise Man 1: We have followed your star since its rising. (starting to launch into another know-it-all moment) Although actually, stars don’t technically rise, theyWise Man 2: (to Wise Man 1) Shh! (to Mary and Joseph) We knew it would lead us to you. Wise Man 3: And look, we’ve brought gifts of…um…well, we brought gifts. (Wise Men lay the toys beside the manger.) Wise Man 3:

Hey, I think he likes them.

(The Cast faces the congregation.) Narrator 4: All those years age a Savior was born. Joseph:

A child so small that the hopes of the whole world….

Mary:

….could be held in a mother’s arms.

Innkeeper: All those years ago there was no room for this child. Shepherds: The Savior of the world, Wise Man 1,2 and 3: the King of Kings, Sheep 1, 2 and 3: was born in a stable. Angel:

Today, Lord Jesus, we make room for you in our lives.

All:

We make room for you in our hearts.

Narrator 4: Many of you have brought gifts. We invite you to bring these forward and lay them beside the manger. In the Bleak Midwinter – Fish and Wings Choir Wise Man 3: Joseph: Angel:

Look at all the toys we collected for children in need.

Yeah. It feels pretty good. Good? It feels great!

Innkeeper: So you’re not upset that the story didn’t turn out just right? Angel: room.

But it did turn out just right. We made the story feel new again by really making

Sheep 2:

For what? More stuff?

Angel:

By making room for Christmas. Brand New Feeling – Fish and Wings Choir