Follow Your Dreams

A Christmas Play

by Lisa Frenz c 1995

Joseph has a dream which changes his life, just as Jesus changes ours. Dreams and visions from God, God talking to us, all allow us to do things we never thought of doing. All we have to do is listen.

All parts can be broken down or consolidated to meet the needs of your particular group. The Anthem may be "Away in a Manager" or some other song.

During Joseph's "dream sequence" you might use two boys, one for the "awake" Joseph and one for the "dreaming" Joseph. Have the "awake" Joseph lie down to sleep near where the "dreaming" Joseph lies concealed so that the "dreaming" Joseph can appear to rise up while the "awake" Joseph stays sleeping.

Assistant: One or more participants may assist the Pastor

Readers: One or more readers are required.

Skit Cast:

Hanna Joseph of Nazareth's mother

Abel: Joseph's younger brother

Joseph: Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter, Mary's husband

Angel: An angel of God

Gabriel: An angel of God

Mary: The wife of Joseph, mother of Jesus

Esther: Joseph's sister

Ezekiel: Joseph's young brother

Pantomime Cast:

Joseph

Mary

Innkeeper

Angels

Shepherds

++++++++++++++++++

A: Hear that voice?

C: What voice? What voice do you hear?

A: Hear that? It's God's voice! For us!

C: God's voice? How do we hear?

A: Listen! Listen for God's voice in you and me.

Hymn: Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel (tune: Veni, Emmanuel)

Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you,

O Israel.

Oh, come, oh, come great Lord of might,

who to your tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times once gave the law

in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you,

O Israel.

Oh, come, strong branch of Jesse, free

your own from Satan's tyranny;

From depths of hell your people save

and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you,

O Israel.

Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer

our spirits by your advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you,

O Israel.

(Cast gets in place during the final verse of the hymn.)

A: Hear that voice?

C: What voice? What voice do you hear?

A: Hear that? It's the voice of God. It's near!

C: God's voice? How can we hear?

A: Listen! Listen for the voice in your dreams.

Reading: Matthew 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. Then his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Hanna: Joseph, I'm sorry, but you have to do something about this. You must put aside the marriage contract with Mary. We cannot have such a disgrace brought upon our family.

Abel: Yes, you are the Head of the House. Your wife must have a good reputation.

Joseph: Please, Mother, Abel. I know what must be done. Let me think about it overnight.

(They all lay down to sleep.)

Reading: Matthew 1:19-23

Mary's husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

(The angel comes in and wakes Joseph.)

Angel: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Pointing - Mary appears with the Angel Gabriel.)

Gabriel: Don't be afraid, Mary. I bring you news of great joy. You will bear a son and he will be called Jesus, the Savior.

Mary: How can this happen? I don't have a husband.

Gabriel: The Holy Spirit will visit you and your son will be the Son of God.

Mary: I am God's servant. Let it happen as you say.

(Gabriel and Mary "disappear".)

Angel: Joseph, she will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

(The Angel leads Joseph back to his bed and he falls asleep.)

Reading: Matthew 1:22-23

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

(The family of Joseph gathers to hear his decision about what to do about Mary.)

Joseph: I've decided to stay with Mary and raise her child as my own.

Hanna: (Appalled) Joseph! You CAN'T mean it!

Esther: Oh, no!

Ezekiel: This is crazy! What about US!

Esther: We'll be the laughing stock of Galilee!

Abel: I might have known it! Joseph the soft-hearted, or do I mean soft-headed?

Joseph: Please all of you. Listen to me. Last night an angel of God came to me in a dream, and told me that Mary's child is special, that she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Abel: (Sarcastically) Oh, right, a dream.

Joseph: Yes, a real visionary dream, like Isaiah says, "Your young men will see visions and your old men dream dreams".

Hanna: Joseph, are you sure? I mean, it wasn't just a... a regular dream.

Joseph: I'm sure. You know I had planned to dissolve our marriage contract. I just wanted to do it so Mary wouldn't suffer. I would hardly make this up!

Ezekiel: Of course not. Mother, Esther, Abel, Joseph is the head of the family. We must support him on this.

Esther: Oh, no! I'll never get a husband, now.

Hanna: Ezekiel is right.

Abel: (Sneering) Oh, yes! We now see Isaiah's new kingdom! Let the visions begin!

Hanna: Abel, be quiet.

Joseph: I don't know what it means, but it IS God's word. I must do what my God tells me. The angel said I'm to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Maybe it is the time of the new kingdom.

(They all exit except Joseph, who remains thinking.)

Reading: Matthew 1:24-25

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Hymn: I Wonder As I Wander

Tune Name: I WONDER

Text Source: Text: Appalachian carol, adapt. John Jacob Niles, 1892-1980

Music Source: Music: Appalachian folk tune, adapt. John Jacob Niles, 1892-1980

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, . . . out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, all in a cow's stall, . . . it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, . . ., 'cause he was the king.

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, . . ., out under the sky.

Reading: (based on Luke 2:1-18)

(Pantomime: Mary & Joseph travel to the stable, look for a place to stay, find a stable and Mary has Jesus. The shepherds see the angel and go to the stable to worship Jesus.)

Emperor Augustus sent out a decree that everyone had to be registered. Since Joseph was of the house of David, he and Mary, who was expecting a child, went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the City of David, in Judea. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. She gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

There were shepherds out in the fields who were visited by an angel who told them about Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. After a host of angels had sung a glorious song, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" They went as fast as they could and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. When they got there they told them what had been told them about the child, and everyone was amazed.

(The participants gather together for an anthem)

Anthem: