Christmas Program Part 1

Love Has Come: 2008 St. Luke Christmas Program

(Intern Erik, Joseph, and Mary come on Stage)

Intern Erik: This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man.

Joseph: I do not want to disgrace her, I will quietly break off the engagement.

(Joseph lays down to go to sleep)
(Head Angel comes on stage)
Narrator 3 (Pulpit): As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.' "

(Joseph wakes up)

Joseph: A message from God, I will do as the dream said.

(Joseph walks off stage)

Narrator 2 (Lectern): The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you! Don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" And Mary gave praise to God.

Mary: Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For God made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.

Intern Erik: Welcome to the 2008 St. Luke Christmas Program, Love has Come. We have now begun the Christmas story, join us as we celebrate the rest with a bit of humor, laughter, and joy.

(all enter to center stage)
Song: Love Has Come #292 (Youth sing first verse, congregation join in last 2)
(All leave except Narrator at lectern, Caesar Augustus stage right, Joseph and Mary stage left)

Narrator 1 (Lectern): At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius (kwai-RIHN-e-us) was governor of Syria.

Augustus: I Decree!

(Augustus leaves, Mary and Joseph slowly walk to center stage as narrator speaks)

Narrator 1 (L): All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

Mary: Joseph, I feel that the baby is coming soon, we need to find a place to stay.

Joseph: Let us check that inn in Bethlehem. I figure that we will need suite with a king size bed.

(All come to center stage for song)
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem #279
(All leave except Innkeeper who meets Mary and Joseph at center stage)

Narrator 2 (Pulpit): She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

(Joseph and Innkeeper argue, Mary stands in the background holding stomach and does heavy breathing)

Joseph: Do you have a suite available?

Innkeeper: Nope

Mary: {heavy breathing} (Joseph and Innkeeper ignore Mary)

Joseph: Double-bed?

Innkeeper: Nope

Mary: {heavy breathing} (Joseph and Innkeeper ignore Mary)

Joseph: Single Bed?

Innkeeper: Nope,

Mary: JOSEPH!!!

Joseph: (astonished) What! (turning around quickly)

Mary: The baby is coming, it does not matter what room we get.

Joseph: Oh, yeah, sorry about that.

Innkeeper: I have a stall filled with animals that eat from a manger.

Joseph: We’ll take it!