. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
JESUS’S BIRTHDAY – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: simple Christmas story
SCRIPTURE: Mt.1:18-2:22, Lk.1:26-2:38, Jhn.1:1,14; 3:16,
. 1 Cor.15:3-4, 1 John 3:16
Style: drama/conversation
. OPTION 1: act out
. OPTION 2: mime to narrating, if so...
. if there is a (2) before the cast’s role
. this means you need two people for this part,
. one for the actions, one for the voice.
. Do not have big pauses, the actions should
. keep pace right along with the voices.
Cast: Narrator, (2) Gabriel (preferably male),
. (2) Mary, (2) Elizabeth, (2) Joseph,
. (2) Messenger, Inn Keeper’s Wife,
. (2) ONE Shepherd, extra shepherds,
. extra angels, (2) Herod, (2) ONE magi,
. extra magi (any amt., Bible doesn’t specify)
Set & Props: - manger (placed between stage left and
. center stage, directions are always given
. for actors as they look out at congregation,
. also make sure that right behind the manger
. is a blank wall where the spotlight or slide
. can shine),
. - spotlight,
. - cross-shaped cookie for the spotlight,
. or a slide of a cross
. - bundled baby doll
. - Mary needs a costume that will allow her
. to easily put in and take out
. a bundled doll without being awkward
. - packages
SCRIPT:
VOICES: DIALOGUE ACTIONS:
GAB. “In the beginning The stage is dark.
. was the Word,
. and the Word
. was with God, and
. the Word was God… and
. the Word became flesh,
. and dwelt among us.”
. 2
NAR. At this time,
. God sent the angel,
. Gabriel,
. to a city in Galilee,
. called Nazareth - STAGE LIGHTS on.
. to Mary, a virgin, MARY enters stage right
. engaged to a man and crosses the stage.
. whose name was Joseph,
. descendant of David.
. From stage left, GABRIEL
. steps out, with arms
. spread out toward MARY.
GAB. Hail, favored one! SPOTLIGHT on. MARY shrinks
. The Lord is with you. to knees, hides her face.
. Do not be afraid, Mary; MARY holds her fists just
. for you have found below her chin while
. favor with God. listening, slowly gaining
. And behold, you will courage.
. conceive in your womb,
. and bear a son,
. and you shall name Him
. Jesus. He will be GABRIEL raises arms and
. great, and will be looks up to heaven.
. called the Son of the
. Most High; and the
. Lord God will give Him GABRIEL looks at MARY.
. the throne of His
. father David; and He
. will reign over the
. house of Jacob forever;
. and His kingdom GABRIEL spreads out arms
. will have no end. wide to the sides.
MARY How can this be, MARY looks at GABRIEL,
. since I am a virgin? and puts a shaking hand
. to her mouth.
GAB. The Holy Spirit GABRIEL reaches up with
. will come right hand, then slowly
. upon you; lowers arm toward Mary.
. and for that reason,
. the Holy Offspring GABRIEL puts hands to
. shall be called his chest in prayer,
. the Son of God. palms together.
. Nothing will be He keeps elbows at hips,
. impossible with God. and spreads out palms up.
. 3
MARY Behold, the bondslave MARY folds hands and bows
. of the Lord; head, like in a prayer.
. be it done to me
. according to your word.
. GABRIEL bows head and
. walks backward to exit.
. SPOTLIGHT off.
. MARY stands up to think.
NAR. Now at this time MARY moves to stage right
. Mary went with haste pausing a few times
. to a city of Judah, to think and look around.
. and entered the ELIZABETH steps out
. house of Zacharias. from stage right.
. When Mary ELIZABETH hugs MARY.
. greeted Elizabeth,
. who carried the baby,
. one day to become
. John the Baptist -
. the baby leapt for joy ELIZABETH grabs her own
. in Elizabeth’s womb. stomach in delight.
ELIZ. Blessed among women are ELIZABETH grabs
. you, and blessed is MARY’S hands
. the fruit of your womb! with a big smile.
. ELIZABETH waves and
. exits stage right.
NAR. Mary stayed MARY waves goodbye,
. with Elizabeth but then clasps hands
. and Zacharias nervously.
. for 3 months, and JOSEPH steps out at stage
. then returned home. right and looks at MARY.
. Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, JOSEPH makes fists,
. heard the news which tremble angrily
. that she down at his side.
. was to have a child. MARY’S happy expression
. Joseph, being slowly turns to sadness.
. a righteous man, MARY exits sadly.
. didn’t want JOSEPH goes to center
. to disgrace Mary. stage, running a hand
. He desired to put her through his hair,
. away secretly, but worried, & thinking.
. as he considered this, JOSEPH wilts down
. An angel to the floor and
. appeared to him curls up, as if either
. in a dream. sleeping or praying.
. 4
. SPOTLIGHT on.
GAB. Joseph, GABRIEL steps out
. son of David, from stage left and
. do not be afraid reaches out right hand,
. to take Mary as if to hold Joseph down
. as your wife; to the ground,
. for that which but not touching him.
. has been conceived Not moving right hand,
. in her, GABRIEL reaches up with
. is of left hand & an open palm,
. the Holy Spirit. then brings it down
. And she will to his stomach area,
. bear a Son making a fist.
. and you GABRIEL uses left hand
. shall call His name to motion to JOSEPH.
. Jesus,
. for it is He GABRIEL lifts left hand
. who will save and touches his heart
. His people with an open palm.
. from their sins.
. As the prophet Isaiah GABRIEL uses left hand
. says in the to look like a “book”.
. scriptures,
. “Behold,
. the virgin shall be
. with child,
. and shall bear a Son,
. and they GABRIEL reaches up
. shall call His name both hands
. Immanuel, with open palms,
. which means then brings them down
. ‘God with us’.” to sign “us”,
. Then keeps both hands
. stretched out to JOSEPH,
. like if holding him down,
. as he backs out to exit.
. SPOTLIGHT off.
NAR. Joseph woke up JOSEPH stands up on his
. and did as knees in realization,
. the angel commanded, then gets up and walks
. And took her quickly to stage right.
. as his wife, MARY steps out with hope
. and kept her a virgin on her face. JOSEPH
. until she gave birth. takes both MARY’S hands
. It wasn’t long after – with a gentle smile.
. 5
. MESSENGER steps out with
MES. A decree a scroll from stage left,
. from Caesar Augustus! and holds up a hand high
. A census with the palm out.
. is to be taken MARY & JOSEPH, still
. of all the earth. holding hands, pivot
. Everyone must go so both look at
. to register MESSENGER with
. for the census curiosity.
. to his own city. MESSENGER turns abruptly
. and exits stage right.
. MARY & JOSEPH look at
NAR. Joseph each other, then exit
. had to go to Galilee, stage right,
. the city of Nazareth- still holding hands.
. to Judea, JOSEPH leads MARY out
. the city of David, holding only one hand.
. which was called MARY looks pregnant now
. Bethlehem, and her head is covered
. because Joseph with a shawl.
. was of the house JOSEPH slowly leads MARY
. and family of David. across the stage.
. Joseph As they slowly walk toward
. had to take Mary stage left,
. along with him. JOSEPH looks back
. When they arrived, at MARY
. she was ready with concern.
. to deliver. INN KEEPER’S WIFE steps
. But at the inn, out from stage left,
. they find out - looks at JOSEPH and MARY,
. there was no more room. & shakes her head sadly.
. Having permission WIFE points to manger
. to use a stable, then exits. JOSEPH leads
. Mary gave birth MARY to manger & helps her
. to Jesus – and sit down. Behind manger,
. wrapped Him in cloths, MARY slips out doll and
. and laid Him there lays the bundled baby
. in a lowly manger. in the manger tenderly.
. MARY looks adoringly down
. at the baby.
. In the same region, SHEPHERDS quietly slip
. there were onto stage right.
. some shepherds
. in a field,
. watching their flocks
. at night.
. 6
NAR. An angel suddenly SPOTLIGHT on.
. stood before them, GABRIEL steps out from
. and the glory stage left.
. of the Lord SHEPHERDS shrink back
. shone around them; in fear, and crouch down
. and they were with heads bowed.
. terrified.
GAB. Do not be afraid; GABRIEL puts arms out
. for behold, I bring you with palms up.
. good news of a great
. joy which shall be
. for all the people; SHEPHERDS slowly dare
. For today to look up at GABRIEL.
. in the city of David
. there has been born
. for you a Savior,
. who is Christ
. the Lord.
. And this will be
. a sign for you;
. you will find a baby
. wrapped in cloths, SHEPHERDS look up with
. and amazed smiles.
. lying in a manger.
NAR. Suddenly, EXTRA ANGELS step out
. a multitude and with GABRIEL, they
. of the heavenly host stretch their arms up
. praised God. to the heavens.
GAB. Glory to God (if this is not mimed,
. in the highest, the other angels
. And on earth can join in.)
. peace among men
. with whom
. He is pleased.
. SPOTLIGHT off.
. Angels exit stage right.
SHEPHD. Let us go SHEPHERDS start at each
. straight to Bethlehem other in amazement.
. and see this thing ONE of the shepherds
. that has happened motions for others
. which the Lord to follow him
. has made known to us. to the manger.
. 7
NAR. They stayed and As SHEPHERDS bow before
. worshiped the Lord, manger, MARY smiles.
. And when they left, ONE shepherds motions for
. they glorified God, the rest to follow.
. telling everyone they They all exit stage left.
. met about the Child. MARY smiles up at JOSEPH.
. HEROD regally steps out
. at stage right and stands.
. After this, magi from MAGI carrying packages
. the east arrived in step out at stage right
. Jerusalem, and stopped and step up to HEROD with
. to see King Herod. slight bow of their heads.
MAGI Where is He who has ONE MAGI holds out
. been born King of his hand as if
. the Jews? For we saw posing a question,
. His star in the east, motions up to the sky,
. and have come then brings arm down.
. to worship Him. HEROD paces, troubled.
HEROD Where is the Christ HEROD stops & spreads out
. to be born? hands in a question.
MAGI In Bethlehem ONE MAGI points up,
. of Judea, just above the manger,
. as written then uses his hand to
. by the prophet, look like a book.
. ‘And you, Bethlehem, ONE MAGI spreads out
. land of Judah, both hands as in
. are by no means an explanation.
. least among
. the leaders of Judah;
. for out of you
. shall come forth
. a Ruler, HEROD slowly crosses his
. who will shepherd arms, then strokes his jaw
. My people Israel.” while thinking.
HEROD Go and make HEROD points to manger
. careful search like a command,
. for the Child; then puts his fists
. and when on his hips.
. you have found Him, HEROD uses a hand
. report to me, to reference himself,
. that I too may come then more humbly, smiles
. and worship Him. & folds hands prayerfully.
. 8
. HEROD exits right,
NAR. The magi continued while MAGI walk
. to follow the star over to the manger.
. to where the Child was, MARY picks up the doll
. and they rejoiced and holds it up
. with great joy. For the MAGI to see.
. When entering, MAGI fall to their
. they saw the Child knees, & put the gifts
. with Mary, up to their foreheads
. and they fell down as a way to bless them
. to worship Him. then place them beside
. And they opened the manger.
. their treasures MAGI then blow low
. and presented to Him to the ground
. gifts of gold, to worship.
. frankincense and myrrh.
. But being warned by God
. in a dream not to return
. to Herod, they left for MAGI get up and exit
. their own country stage left.
. by another way.
. An angel appeared JOSEPH crouches beside
. to Joseph MARY, who still holds baby
. in a dream. close to her, like they
. are kind of sleeping.
. SPOTLIGHT on.
. GABRIEL enters stage left
GAB. Arise, & raises arms up half-way
. take the Child with palms up.
. and His mother,
. and flee to Egypt.
. Remain there
. until I tell you;
. for Herod
. is going to search
. for the Child
. to destroy Him.
. SPOTLIGHT off.
. GABRIEL exits stage left.
NAR. Joseph took Jesus and JOSEPH helps MARY stand,
. Mary by night and left and still holding baby,
. for Egypt – fulfilling exit stage left.
. the prophecy “Out of
. Egypt did I call My Son.”
. 9
NAR. Herod had all male children slayed in the Bethlehem
. region, under the age of 2. The prophecy
. of Jeremiah was therefore fulfilled,
. “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and
. great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children;
. and she refused to be comforted, because
. they were no more.” Once Herod died, an angel
. appeared in a dream to Joseph, telling him
. to return to Nazareth, where they settled,
. fulfilling the prophecy, “He shall be called
. a Nazarene.” And the Child continued to grow
. and become strong, increasing in wisdom;
. and the grace of God was upon Him.
(SPOTLIGHT with cross-shape shines onto the manger.)
NAR. For God so loved the world that He sent
. His only Son - the Lord, Thy Salvation,
. which Thou hast prepared in the presence
. of all peoples, a light of revelation to
. the gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
. He laid down His life for us -
. Christ died for our sins. He was buried,
. and He was raised on the third day –
(SPOTLIGHT with cross-shape raises up above the manger
to shine on the wall above.)
NAR. so that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
. but have eternal life. We celebrate Jesus’s birthday,
. because He came - that we might be born again.