Characters:

 Mary

Joseph

Angel of the Lord

Host of Angels (you may use your choir, if necessary)

Wise Men (you can have as many as you desire but no fewer than two)

Shepherds (4)

Narrator

Sis. Orleans (church’s events coordinator)

Bro. Thomas (minister of music, can make a female if your musician is a woman)

Bro. Charles (president of men’s ministry)

Sis. Monroe (president of women’s ministry)

Sis. Lynda (youth ministry director and drama ministry director)

Michelle (teenager who stirs the church to give outside its four walls)

Congregation

Choir

Pastor

Overview of play:

Michelle, a teenager, had become disillusioned with church. She saw it only as a gathering place to hear a sermon, sing a few songs and then go home, until one Sunday her pastor preached from James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  Suddenly, she sensed purpose. Touched by another teen's struggle, she learns that while many strive for a place to belong, this young lady was fighting for a place to call home. Abandoned by her mother and other family members, she grows up in group home. This young lady's pain stirs Michelle and puts her on a mission to remind her church of its God-given purpose, not just during the holiday season, but everyday.

Full-Length Play - Avg 1 hour to 1.5 hours (depends upon your song selections, suggestions are included within the play)

BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE PLAY  - You may order the complete play for $10.00 through September 20, 2008 after that cost is $13.00

NARRATOR: (the rest of the room is dimmed. Spotlight on the Narrator, soft music playing; say or read with passion) 2 Corinthians 9:15 reads, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” What an honor to be a recipient of the gift. We come tonight to encourage you, to stir your hearts, and remind you how blessed we are. Are you aware that at any given night in our country hundreds of thousands of children do not have a place to call home? They have no mother or father to go home to. They live among strangers. They are often put on rigid schedules. Many are institutionalized because they have been abandoned. There is a cry to the church to fulfill its mission in the earth and reach out to the orphans, right here in our own country, in our state, in our city, in our neighborhood, and yes, in even in our families. Not just during the holidays. Can we exhibit the love of God throughout the year? Give the gift of love. Love that is unwavering, consistent, and representative of Christ.  Welcome to our play, The Gift of God.

SIS. ORLEANS: (turn lights on; standing, holding a clipboard and pen in her hand) Okay, we need to see how we are coming with what we committed to do for this year during the month of December. Bro. Charles, how are the men coming with their project?

BRO.  CHARLES: Well, we really have not had much time to work on it yet, but we’ll get to it.

SIS. ORLEANS: If you all have not even started on it, I don’t see how you will be able to complete it in time. (looking at Sis. Monroe)  Sis. Monroe, what is the status with the women’s department project? 

SIS. MONROE: We did start on it in August. Well, we had a meeting about starting on it and we made assignments, but we have not had an opportunity to get back together since that time.

SIS. ORLEANS: (shaking her head) Bro. Thomas how is the choir coming with its project? Please tell me that you all have at least coordinated with the three centers and scheduled the charity concert?

BRO. THOMAS: (if your minister of music is a female, change name to Sis.) Well…

SIS. ORLEANS: (interrupting; frustrating) C’mon people. We have had almost a year to work on our outreach program for the holiday season. Each department came up with its own project. It was not forced on you. It is what you said you wanted to do.

EXCERPTS from Scene II

NARRATOR: Joseph, being a just man, and not willing to make a public example of Mary was torn. He did not know what to do. Mary had been gone to her Aunt Elisabeth’s for the past three months, and now she’s back, expecting a child. Not his. His mind was flooded with thoughts.  He knew the law required that Mary be stoned. But how could he do that to the woman he loved. So, he cries out to God for directions. Should he ignore the law and put her away privately, sparing her embarrassment and shame?

JOSEPH: (lying down and praying, anguished) Father, I do not know what to do. Mary and I were to be married. Now she is with child, but it is not mine. The people of the town will destroy her. (deeply anguished) But how can I marry her knowing that she has been with someone else while we are engaged. (brief pause) I don’t know what to do. I think I can just send her away. Maybe back to her aunt’s so her life will be preserved. (If you desire, you may have Joseph sing a song. Suggested song: Joseph’s Song by Daywind Music Group (16 Christmas Classics, Volume 3 CD))

(After Joseph sings (if he does not sing go right into this segment) : Turn lights down and only have a spotlight on Joseph and the Angel of the Lord –the angel is a male. Note: Joseph is asleep and the angel appears in his dream, so while the angel is speaking, Joseph is reclined with his eyes closed. You do not have to use a bed, improvise. He can be lying with his back against a large fake rock, etc)

ANGEL OF THE LORD: Joseph, you son of David. Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. (When the Narrator begins to speak, turn spot light off the angel so the angel can exit.)

NARRATOR: The Angel of the Lord had to minister to Joseph’s spirit to strengthen him so that the prophecy could be fulfilled. For it was promised that, “A virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and that they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means, God with us”. Joseph now understood his mission.

JOSEPH: (Awakes and exits as the Narrator speaks)

NARRATOR: Then Joseph did as the angel instructed him and took Mary to be his wife.

CHOIR:  Sings Emmanuel

NARRATOR: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And everyone went into his own city to be taxed. And Joseph also went up out of the city of Nazareth, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David, taking with him his wife Mary, whose delivery date was now near.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

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