Get the Story Straight

A Children’s Christmas Musical Comedy

Written by Penny Chou, the Word Document is available for download here.

Mission connection: When advertising, ask the audience to bring a “baby gift for Jesus” to the play. At the end, they will bring them up to the communion rail. The Missions Committee can decide who to give the gifts to, perhaps Kingdom House.

Kids walk into the sanctuary in twos (older one with a younger one) and sit in front pews while “The First Noel” by Josh Groban and Faith Hill plays.

Narrator has lapel mic. In each scene another character holds the mic for everyone, as indicated.

Scene 1

Mic holder: Mary

(Mary and the sheep go on stage. Mary carries a shepherd’s staff.)

Mary and the sheep sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” a capella.

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb,

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow.

Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went,

Everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.

Narrator: No she didn’t!

(Mary and the sheep look surprised.)

Sheep #2: Then what did she have?

Narrator: Mary had a baby. (sheep look surprised; Mary smiles)

Sheep #3: Who was its daddy?

Narrator: It was a baby boy and God was its daddy. But Joseph took Mary as his wife and helped her to take care of the baby. (Joseph steps onto the stage and stands by Mary, smiling.)

Sheep #4: What did they name Him?

Narrator: An angel told them to name Him Jesus. (Angel #1 steps onto stage and waves at the sheep.)

Sheep #5: Why did God send this special baby?

Narrator: God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Sheep #6: Where was the baby Jesus born?

Narrator: Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem and they couldn’t find a hotel, so they stayed in a stable. Jesus was born there and they used a feed trough, also called a manger, as His bed.

(Mary and Joseph go to the manger scene in the corner and sit around the manger in which there is a baby Jesus. Angel leaves the stage. Ram takes black sheep to the choir loft, puts on a black shirt and head cover. )

Sheep #2: Hey, we’re Rams. Let’s play football!

(Remaining sheep split into two huddles. Then they do a simple football play. Then black sheep and Ram return to stage and scene 2 begins.)

Scene 2

Mic holder: Shepherd #2, then Angel #1, then Sheep #1

(Sheep move to one side of the stage. Shepherds come to the other side of the stage, facing the sheep.)

Shepherds sing to the sheep: Baa, baa black sheep, have you any wool?

Sheep respond: Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full. One for my master, one for my dame, and one for the little boy who lives in Bethlehame.

Narrator: No, no, no! That’s not how the shepherds fit into the story!

(Shepherds and sheep look surprised. Shepherds put their fists on their hips and look confused.)

Shepherd #1: I thought that maybe the shepherds used their sheep wool to make a blanket for the baby Jesus.

Narrator: Maybe, but they played a much bigger role than that. (Shepherds stand up straighter and look proud.)

Shepherd #2: Did we fight the lions that were going to attack the baby Jesus? (brandishing his shepherd’s staff)

Narrator: No, but you did have to be brave.

Shepherd #3: We’re not afraid of anything!

(Angels come on stage and shepherds cower. Shepherds move to the side with their sheep to protect them while cowering.)

Angel #1 (Gabrielle): Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring joy to all people.

Angel #2: The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem.

Angel #3: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.

Angel #4: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace.

Everyone on stage except the shepherds sing to the shepherds “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” UMH 251 (all 3 verses).

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,

Behold throughout the heavens there shown a holy light.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! Above the earth,

Rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,

And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;

Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

(Angels exit the stage.)

Shepherd #3: Let’s go and find the baby Jesus.

(Shepherds walk to the manger scene, herding their sheep along as they go.)

Sheep #1: Hey, wait a minute. What did WE do?

Narrator: Hmm. I’m sure you must have done something.

(Everyone on stage sings verse 1 of UMH 227 “The Friendly Beasts.” Then Sheep #1 sings verse 4 as a solo.)

Jesus, our brother, strong and good,

was humbly born in a stable rude,

And the friendly beasts around him stood,

Jesus, our brother, strong and good.

“I,” said the sheep with curly horn,

“I gave him my wool for his blanket warm,

He wore my coat on Christmas morn;

I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

(Shepherds, herding their sheep, go to the corner to admire the baby Jesus, then walk to their seats in the pew while the refrain of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is played once more as an instrumental piece.)

Scene 3

Mic holder: Old King Cole

(Mary, Joseph, and the narrator remain on stage, but everyone else should be off. King Herod is sitting on his throne on stage.)

3 magi dance onto stage while a drum beats the rhythm for “Old King Cole.”

3 magi recite together: Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he. He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his fiddlers three.

Narrator: Old King Cole might have been a merry old soul, but King Herod was not!

(Magi look surprised. Herod grins evilly.)

King Herod sings a solo (pompously): Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky, twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.

King Herod: Who have we here?

Magi #1: Greetings, Your Majesty.

Magi #2: We are 3 wise men from far lands.

Magi #3: We are following the star to see the King of the Jews who has been born.

King Herod (winking or wiggling his eyebrows): I’d like to see Him too. When you find Him, let me know where He is.

Narrator: The magi found the baby Jesus and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then they returned to their homes by another route.

(3 magi take their gifts to the manger scene and one at a time kneel down and present their gifts. Then they look over at Herod and sneak off the opposite side of the stage. After that, Herod leaves by the side steps.)

Scene 4

Mic holder: Mary

(Narrator walks over to the manger scene.)

Narrator: What a cute baby! (Mary and Joseph smile.) Koochie-koochie-koo. (Narrator tickles Jesus under the chin.) May I hold Him?

(Mary hands baby Jesus to the narrator who rocks Him in his/her arms while Mary sings “Rock-a-bye Baby” and Joseph gently shakes his head “no” during the song.)

Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Joseph: That’s not how it goes.

(He motions the rest of the cast to join him on stage.) Help me out here. (Entire cast comes onto the stage, near the manger scene, but facing the audience. Herod lags behind, then looks at the audience, shrugs, and joins the rest of the cast on stage.) All sing first 2 verses of “Away in a Manger,” UMH 217.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;

I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Narrator: (addressing audience) Please join us in singing “Silent Night” (UMH 239) together. If you have brought a baby gift, you may bring it up to the communion rail during the song.

Sing 4 verses of “Silent Night.”

Silent Night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight;

Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light;

Radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light;

With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King;

Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!

Children bow for applause. Afterward, actors stand in place while director thanks everyone and invites everyone to Fellowship Hall for Jesus’ birthday cake. Children process by two’s while “Joy to the World” by Mariah Carey plays.

Cast

Narrator (1)

Mary (1)

Joseph (1)

Sheep (6)

Angel (1 older)

Angels (# = costumes)

Shepherd (3)

Magi (3)

King Herod (1)

Sound board (1)

Pianist (1)

Costume assistant (1)

Scenery assistant (1)