Written for the parish of St Martin’s Church, Heaton, Bradford  Christmas 1996

In all, a cast of 35 took part in a production that used a cleared chancel/sanctuary and the front of the nave as the main performing areas

THE PROLOGUE
        Old Mary tells her story

Old Mary                               

Young Mary                           

Joseph                                    

Herald                                    

3rd King                                 

Innkeepers                              

8th Innkeeper                         

Herod                                     

Servant                                   

Young Shepherd                    

1st King                                 

2nd King                                

1st Shepherd                          

2nd Shepherd                         

3rd Shepherd                         

1st Angel                                

Angels                                    

Shepherds/Chorus                  

Treble solos    

The trouble with being surrounded by clever people is that they’re all writing books! Mark started it with his Gospel. Paul from Tarsus was scribbling his letters for years, Matthew and Luke are both getting stuff together for their new Gospels and my dear friend John here reckons he’ll get his finished one day too.

But my story, old Mary’s story - now that is worth telling... the story of the start of it all, the arrival of my Son Jesus.  [Lights fade and come up again quickly as  Mary2 “comes out of” Mary1 and dances into the centre of the Church/chancel steps]

‘Angels’ come skipping in from the right, holding hands in a line. Make circles around young Mary, standing centre stage.

Pace:  fairly fast!

Hail O Mary, full of graces

we are the angels with dirty faces!

We’ve come to say that the rumblings in your tummy

are to tell you that you’re going to be a mummy!

You will have a boy, Jesus is his name.

From now on life’ll never be the same.

But do not be afraid, don’t be sad, do not fuss,

just remember this, you heard the news from US!

A glow in the darkness, a light in the sky,
a voice sounds across the night air.
A heavenly sound, as though from on high.
Who’s there? Who’s there? Who’s there?

The voice now is louder, though still far away,
it tells of a baby to bear;
and bids me to question in my little way,
Who’s there? Who’s there? Who’s there?

The light is now moving, the voice drifts away,
a stillness and peace O so rare.
My life is now full, my heart longs to say:
He’s there, he’s there, he’s there.           

Music: Song 21 from  ‘Sing Song’, a collection of 25 new Christmas songs selected and edited by Alison Hedger  Ó 1993 Golden Apple productions (Chester Music Limited), edited.

 Hear ye, Hear you
You must listen, you must listen.
Hear ye, Hear ye.
This is what the Emperor says:

I don’t know how many you are,
so get yourself counted before the end of this year.
Back to home town, cities too,
then I’ll know how much to tax you!

Hear ye, hear ye.
You must listen, you must listen.
Hear ye, hear ye.
This is what the Emperor says:

Some of you are lazy folk,
and this is what I call a joke:
if you think you can register here, think again:
it’s ninety miles to Bethlehem!  [HA, HA!! over chorus]

[sadly and quietly];

Hear ye, hear ye
You must listern,you must listen.
Hear ye, hear ye
This is what the Emperor said.

(entering from left, pushing his way through the crowd to a space in front nave [Point A])           Excuse me, excuse me! What’s going on here?
 Will somebody tell me what’s going on? Have I been invited... ?
I think I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date.
No time to say ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!

Good hotels are easy found in ordinary times
with nice comfy beds and a choice of wines.
; But Bethlehem is busy; busy, busy, busy.
Bethlehem is busy on that very famous night.

Some want 5 stars [*****], some want two [**]
some will take a one star [*] with an outside loo!
But Bethlehem is busy; busy, busy, busy.
Bethlehem is busy on that very famous night.

For Mary and Joseph, any place will do,
Mary isn’t fussy, there’s a baby due!
But Bethlehem is busy; busy, busy, busy.
Bethlehem is busy on that very famous night.

Sleep my son, sleep,
The stars softly peep.
They shed their bright light
in the darkness of night.
If you sleep now my son,
they will shine ‘till dawn comes.
If you sleep now my son,
they will shine every one.

Hush now, don't cry.
Can you hear the wind sigh?
Hear its rustling breeze
as it steals through the trees.
If to sleep you will go,
it will waft soft and low.
If to sleep you will go,
it will caress you so.   

The lights go out and the stage is cleared.

One of the angels reads from Point A [front of nave]:

Can you see me with Joseph, so simple and strong,
as I sit in that stable, and with a glad song
rock little Jesus, so special and small,
asleep in the manger - he’s King of us all.
Can you see how the shepherds and most of their sheep 
are watching in silence, the young child asleep.
Can you see how the kings bow so low that each crown,
touches gently the floor where their gifts are laid down.
Can you see that this stable - so dark and so bare -
is alight with young angels with Barbie-like hair!   
              
A Christmas card scene - p’raps painted in oil -
no cobwebs or rubbish or things that could spoil:
Was it really like that - tell me, what do you think?
Was everything perfect - and Jesus’ skin pink?!     

And then what of Bosnia, Nicaragua too?    [adapt as appropriate]
Is there a link, is there a clue?
For Jesus’ birth was not “long ago”,
with robins and mincepies and deep, pure, white snow;
he was born to announce a new reign of love,
the gift from his Father who looks down from above.
His message was always of joy and of peace;
calling his children their warfare to cease.
As Jesus grew up, as he left that bare manger,
he faced every hurt, every slight, every danger.
so we must not keep him a baby so small,
but like him develop, to love one and all.