The Nativity

            The kingdom of Judea, in those days, was under the rule of the Romans.  The Jewish people followed their own customs, but they had to obey the laws made by the Romans.  From the Emperor Augustus, a command went out announcing a new tax.  Each man was to go to the place of his birth and register there for the tax.

 

            So Joseph left Nazareth with Mary and traveled to Bethlehem, where the family of King David had lived.  The little town was crowded with visitors like Joseph and Mary. Any minute now, Mary's child was to be born, but Joseph and Mary could find no room in any of the inns.  Finally, a kindly innkeeper offered them a stable to shelter them for the night.

 

            There, Mary gave birth to her son.  She wrapped the baby in soft swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger to sleep.

           

             Not far away, some shepherds were watching over their sheep in the fields.  They looked up and saw an angel of the Lord coming down to them.  The glory of the Lord shone all around, and the shepherds were afraid.

 

            "Do not fear, for I bring you news of great joy, the angel said to the shepherds.

" Today a Savior has been born to you : the Messiah who will save all the people.  You will find him in Bethlehem, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."

            Suddenly, all around, there was the singing of heavenly voices, praising God and saying,

 

" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth. Peace and good will toward men."

 

            Then the angel was gone. 

 

" Let us go see this baby that the God has told us about,"

 

 the shepherds said to one another.  They hurried to Bethlehem and, after some searching, found the stable where Mary and Joseph were staying with the baby.

 

            After they saw him, the shepherds told everyone about the baby and the angel.  Then they returned to their flocks, praising God for what they had heard and seen.

 

            Herod, the king of Judea, also heard about the baby, and he was not pleased.  One day some wise men from the east came to his palace in Jerusalem. 

 

" Where is the baby who has just been born and who will be king of the Jews? " they asked Herod.  "We have seen his star in the east, and have come to visit and praise him."

 

            Herod pretended to be as excited as the wise men.

 

  " Go to Bethlehem, and when you have found the child, bring me word of him, " he told them.  "I would also like to go and see this wonderful baby."

            The wise men set out from Jerusalem.  They followed the star from the east, which traveled across the sky to lead them.  Then in Bethlehem, it stopped.  The wise men went to the place under the star.  There they found the baby with Mary, and fell to their knees to worship him and present him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

 

            And being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when eight days were accomplished, the child's name was called Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

 

            And His coming into the world is celebrated every year at Christmas.

THE END

 

 

Note:  Make a copy of text and give appropriate dialogue to each actor (or puppet).