God
I am God, I have a plan,
A plan to rescue sinful man.
A plan I've had since time began.
I will send my only son,
My truly sinless beloved one,
I will send him down to earth .
Give him humble human birth.
He shall die for mankind's sin
Saving all who'll put their trust in him.

Roman soldier 1
Here I am a Roman soldier.
Tell you this, none could be bolder.
Sad to say we're far from home.
Israel, well it just ain't Rome.

Roman soldier 2
We wait for leave, not holding breath.
For we'll be long in Nazareth.
By our gods we have been blessed.
A boring town is Nazareth.

Mary
I am Mary, humble daughter,
Spend my time in fetching water.
Don't know how many jars I've carried.
But soon you know I will be married.

Angel
O gentle Mary full of grace,
Look upon this angel's face.
For I bring news of great joy!
You shall have a baby boy.

Mary
How can this be, I'm but a maid.

Angel
O Mary now be not afraid.
This is good news for everyone.
This child will be God's only son.
And good news to you I tell,
Name him Jesus, our Emanuel.

Mary
To serve our God ‘s my one desire.

Angel
Mary this child will be Messiah!

SONG:  TUNE FOREST GREEN, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, R.V. WILLIAMS VERSION, AS EXIT ANGEL and EXIT MARY

Class item
The Angel Gabriel from God
Was sent to Galilee
Unto a virgin fair and free,
Whose name was called Mary.

And when the Angel, he came there
Saying don't be afraid of me.
He looked into the virgin's face
And said, “Hail to you Mary”.

“For you will conceive a child
 As the Lord told unto me.
 God's own dear son from heaven shall come
 And shall be born of thee!”

Then sing we all both great and small,
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
We may rejoice to hear the voice
Of the Angel Gabriel.

ENTER ROMAN SOLDIERS.

Roman soldier 1
Tell me now ,well do you know?

Roman soldier 2
Place of carpenter, name of Joe?

Joseph
I am Joseph, and I am able,
To make you chair, even a table.

Roman soldier 1
We're soldiers sent here by our boss.

Roman soldier 2
Could you make a wooden cross?

Joseph
A cross to hang a thief upon a tree?
Sorry such work is not for me.

EXIT ROMAN SOLDIERS.

Joseph
O it's good to see them go.
For I've a problem don't you know?
To Mary engagement should I break?
So tired and worried I could flake.

JOSEPH FALLS ASLEEP.

Angel
I'm an Angel in your dream,
So be not afraid and do not scream.
For God has seen what load you carry.
He simply says well Mary, marry.
Take for her to be your wife,
Care for her throughout your life.

EXIT ANGEL: EXIT JOSEPH THINKING POSITIVELY.

ENTER ROMAN SOLDIERS.

Roman soldier 1
We have a decree from Emperor Augustus.
Jews must be counted in grandest census.

Roman soldier 2
Yes he calls for a great count.

Roman soldier 1
So he can tax them right amount.

Roman soldier 2
We'll count you where you got your name.

Roman soldier 1
Go back to where ancestors came.

ENTER MARY AND JOSEPH

Joseph
Wife we are of David's root, branch and stem.

Mary
Means we must go to Bethlehem.

EXIT TO MUSIC ‘IN DUCI JUBILO'
ENTER FROM OTHER SIDE OF STAGE.

Take heart the journey's ended:
I see the twinkling lights,
Where we shall be befriended.
On this the night of nights.

Mary
Now praise the Lord that led us.
So safe unto the town,
Where men will feed and bed us,
And I can lay me down.

Joseph
And how then shall we praise him?
Alas, my heart is sore,
That we no gifts can raise him.
Who are so very poor.

Mary
We have as much as any,
That on the earth do live,
Although we have no penny,
We have ourselves to give.

Joseph
Look yonder, wife, look yonder!
An hostelry I see,
Where travellers that wander
Will very welcome be.

Mary
The house is tall and stately.
The door stands open thus;
Yet. husband, I fear greatly
That inn is not for us.

Joseph
God save you, gentle master!
Your littlest room indeed
With plainest walls of plaster
Tonight will serve our need.

Host 1
For lordings and for ladies
I've lodging and to spare;
For you and yonder maid is
No closet anywhere.

Joseph
Take heart, take heart. Sweet Mary.
Another inn I spy,
Whose host will not be chary
To let us easy lie.

Mary
Oh, aid me. I am ailing,
My strength is nearly gone;
I feel my limbs are failing,
 And yet we must go on.

Joseph
God save you. Hostess, kindly!
I pray you, house my wife,
Who bears beside me blindly
The burden of her life.

Hostess 1
My guests are rich men's daughters
And sons, I'd have you know!
Seek out the poorer quarters
Where ragged people go.

Joseph
Good sir, my wife's in labour.
Some corner let us keep.

Host 2
Not I: knock up my neighbour.
And as for me. I'II sleep

Mary
In all the lighted city
Where rich men welcome win.
Will not one house for pity,
Take two poor strangers in?

Joseph
Good woman, I implore you
Afford my wife a bed.

HOSTESS 2
Nay, nay. I've nothing for you
Except the cattle-shed.

MARY
Then gladly in the manger
Our bodies we will house,
Since men tonight are stranger
Than asses, are and cows.

Joseph
Take heart. take heart. sweet Mary.
The cattle are our friends:
Lie down. lie down. sweet Mary.
For here the journey ends.

MARY
Now praise the Lord that found me
This shelter in the town,
Where I with friends around me
May lay my burden down.

MUSIC IN DULCI JUBILO. EXIT MARY AND JOSEPH. ENTER SHEPHERDS

Shepherd 1
We're shepherds in the fields abiding,

Shepherd 2
I'm wondering where my sheep are hiding?

Shepherd 3
See, I think this path they took.
Come, let's follow take a look.

Shepherd 4
It's night though, shepherds daren't sleep.
Always chasing after sheep.

Shepherd 1
But friends o'er there, on rocky ground.

Shepherd 2
Sheep once lost are now all found.

Shepherd 3
Let's praise God for he is good.

Shepherd 4
For he provides our daily food.

Shepherd 1
Here, I have milk, some cheese, some bread.
Makes for us a festive spread.

Shepherd 2
With these sticks I'll make a fire.
A blaze to welcome the Messiah.

Shepherd 3
Would a saviour come to earth?

Shepherd 4
Born like us of human birth?

Shepherd 1
Someone who'd save us from our sin?

Shepherd 2
Repent God says and turn to him.

Shepherd 3
How long we'll wait, we cannot tell.

Shepherd 4
For God with us Emanuel.

Shepherd 1
Well, what's to do they're all asleep.
And here I'm left with all the sheep.
But yonder there, I see a light.
And it is big and it is bright.
Come, shepherds must be all awake.
Must I give you all a shake.

TUNE-WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED.

Angels
Hey shepherds wake from sleep this night.
Get up from off the ground.
The Angel of the Lord's come down and glory shines around.
Fear not say we.

Shepherds
But mighty dread has seized our troubled mind.

Angels
Good news of greatest joy, we bring to you and all mankind.
To you in Bethlehem this day is born of David's line
A saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be the sign:
The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
In simple clothing tightly wrapped and in a manger laid.

All glory be to God on high and to the earth be peace!
To those on whom his favour rests good will shall never cease.

Shepherd 2
The Angel spoke but is God's word.

Shepherd 3
Let's find where lies our Christ the Lord.

EXIT SHEPHERDS SINGING THE FIRST NOEL.

Shepherds
The first nowell the angel did say
Was to Bethlehem's shepherds
In fields where we lay:
In fields where we lay,
A keeping our sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep:
 Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell, born is the King of Israel.

MUSIC ‘IN DULCI JUBILO.'ENTER WISE MEN.

Wise man 1
We're three wise men from orient far.

Wise man 2
Knowing each and every star.

Wise man 3
But look up there, up in the sky.

Wise man 1
A star, can I believe my eye!

Wise man 2
Does it proclaim, now where and when.
A king is born in Bethlehem.

Wise man 3
Now on our camels we must go.
The star it moves, we must follow.

HEROD'S PALACE.

Servant
O, sir awaits now three wise men.
To see a king in Jerusalem. (PUZZLED)

Herod
Tell me gents what is the news.
For, I am King of the Jews.

Wise man 1
O King to you our homage pay,

Wise man 2
But to you ,well we must say,

Wise man 3
A King is born we see his star.

Wise man 1
'Tis reason why we come from afar.

Herod
But I'm the King and you should know'
This news it is a bitter blow.

Teacher of law
O King we teachers of the law.
Have heard of what these wise men saw.
The prophet Micah he did tell,
Born in Bethlehem, King of Israel.

Herod
O wise men now before you go,
Come back this way, and let me know.
 For his praises I must sing.
Worship now this new born King.

HEROD BIDS WISE MEN FAREWELL WHILST BREATHING FIRE.

Wise man 1
Here we are us three wise men.

Wise man 2
The star it stops o'er Bethlehem.

Wise man 3
Is it through this door we pass?

Wise man 1
To stable made for ox and ass?

Wise man 2
A palace is an earthly thing.

Wise men
Let us worship heavenly king.

ENTER MARY AND JOSEPH
WISE MEN AND CHORUS SING “WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE”

We wise men of Orient are.
Bearing gifts we travel afar.
Field andfountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,ever proceeding.
Has brought us to this perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehems plain,
Gold I bring, to crown him again,
King for ever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Frankincence to offer have I,
Incenceowns a Deity high:
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship him, God most high,

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing , sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,ever proceeding.
Has brought us to this perfect light

SUNG TO TUNE OF FIRST NOWELL

Shepherds and wise men
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord; for Christ has our salvation wrought and with his blood mankind has bought: Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

ENTIRE CAST SING.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
hear the news of endless bliss,
Jesus Christ was born for this:
he has opened heaven's door
and man is blessed for ever more!
Christ was born for this;
Christ was born for this.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
now you need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save;
come at his most gracious call
to find salvation, one and all!
Christ was born to save;
Christ was born to save.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
hear the news of endless bliss,
Jesus Christ was born for this:
he has opened heaven's door
and man is blessed for ever more!
Christ was born for this;
Christ was born for this.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
now you need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save;
come at his most gracious call
to find salvation, one and all!
Christ was born to save;
Christ was born to save.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
hear the news of endless bliss,
Jesus Christ was born for this:
he has opened heaven's door
and man is blessed for ever more!
Christ was born for this;
Christ was born for this.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
now you need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save;
come at his most gracious call
to find salvation, one and all!
Christ was born to save;
Christ was born to save.

THE END