"JESUS, OUR SAVIOR"
by Luella Dow

Scene 1

**Firewood and Dry Ice in place
**Angel and Shepherds at side door of church
**All other cast in back of church (in order to stand in choir)
**Everyone in back of church enters singing "Angels We Have Heard on High"
(start walking in one after another - when the words start)

Hymn - "ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH"

Speaker #1
"Come with us to Bethlehem. It is the time of night when the oil lamps are snuffed out. The last footsteps fade away down the darkened streets."

**Shepherds enter from side door and kneel around campfire.

Speaker #2
"On a lonely, rock-strewn hillside near the town of Bethlehem shepherds are watching over their flocks of sheep. The wind moans softly through the crags and knolls. In the distance a coyote wails his eerie song to the moon. A nearby owl glides silently from tree to tree, calling into the darkness. The occasional bleating of the sheep tells the shepherds that all is well."

**Angel enters from side door and stands by campfire
**Shepherds look frightened and surprised

Speaker #3
"Suddenly there with the trees, rocks, and good brown earth, an angel appears. She stands before the astonished shepherds."

Speaker #4
"Don't be afraid, for…I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Speaker #5
"The whole sky is then filled with angels singing the most glorious songs of praise to God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

**All sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

Hymn -- "HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING"

**Shepherd gesture and act as if they are talking.

Speaker #6
"The shepherds decided they must go immediately to Bethlehem to see this wonderful thing which the Lord had made known to them. What great joy and wonder filled their hearts as their feet sped quickly down the hillside trails onto the dusty road and straight into Bethlehem."

**As Speaker 6 speaks: Shepherds pick up firewood and dry ice and exit side door.
Mary and Joseph exit from the choir and go to side door. (Get baby and crib)
Angel joins choir.
Star comes on.
Uncover stable.
Mary and Joseph come in with baby & crib. Mary sits and Joseph on knees.
Shepherds follow Mary & Joseph in from side door & sit right of crib.

Scene 2

Everyone sings: "Away in a Manger"

Hymn - AWAY IN A MANGER

Speaker #7
"Just as the angel had said, the shepherd found the Baby Jesus in His manger bed. Mary and Joseph were gazing down at Him. From this humble beginning among His people came Jesus our Saviour." "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

**Wise Men leave
**Shepherd joins choir

Everyone sings "Silent Night"

**Three Wise Men exit back door during song. Go to side door and bring in telescope. 
Stand on right side and look for star at the second verse.

Hymn - "SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT"

Speaker #8
"Many miles away there were men of much education who studied the heaven for signs. These signs they interpreted. One night while gazing at the sky they saw the great magnificent star which God created to announce the birth of Jesus." "See the great star." "It is a sign from God." "The King of the Jews has been born." "We must go to Jerusalem to worship the newborn King."

**Wise Men exit side door with telescope. Go to back of church.

Speaker #9
"So they prepared for the long journey. After many Days they arrived in Jerusalem and asked," "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" "We say his star in the east and have come to worship Him."

"When King Herod heard of this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." "When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born" "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written…" "Then Herod called the Wise Men secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared." "He sent them to Bethlehem and said," "Go and make a careful search for the child." "As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

Speaker #10

**Wise Men leave.

"After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was."

Everyone sings: "We Three Kings"

**Kings enter from back of the church when the words start. One at a time.
Kneel in front of baby Jesus. Spread out.

Hymn - "WE THREE KINGS"

Speaker #11

"With reverent hearts the wise men gave to Jesus symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being truly led of God, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod." "Today, Jesus, our Saviour, awaits the gifts of our hearts and lives so that we too may worship Him with love."

Speaker stands with Mary and Joseph.

Speaker: 

Let us pray.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, we thank Thee
For the great salvation plan
Which proved Thy depth of love
In the redemption of all man.
We thank Thee for that early morn
When Your plan was begun.
Angels bent low from heaven above
O'er Your only begotten Son.
Help us to be faithful
And serve Three every day
So that we may be found worthy
On that first glad Christmas Day
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen

**Everyone stands; Kings move over to right side.
Everyone sings: "Carols Sing"
After the third verse, the music will play without words.
Speaker will announce everyone starting with Mary, Joseph, and Angel. After he announces them, they will go to right side and get ready for flute duet. Speaker will then announce three kings and they will bow and go to left side isle of church. Next the 3 wise men. They will bow and go to right side isle of church. He will then announce them by 2's and they will bow and split one on each side of church. Be sureto have your flashlight candles.

Hymn - "CAROLS SING"

**After everyone has been introduced, speaker brings podium to center and participants get ready to play "Jesus Loves Me".

**When they nod head, the lights go out and flashlight candles turn on.
**"Jesus Loves Me" is played once and second time all sing.
**Close with prayer.

RETURN