CHRISTMAS PLAY
"ALL I HAVE TO GIVE IS ADORATION"

About The Play

One of the reasons I wanted to do the play of the birth of JESUS CHRIST like this,
Was to join the gospels together. Gospel means "Good News" and JESUS coming is good news.
I feel that all though Luke's Gospel covers a great deal of the birth of JESUS CHRIST,
Mathew also has some needed input to round off the meaning of the historical reality
of this monumental event. I wanted a visual of some of the aspects of travel
and of Governing powers, Inn Keepers, Angels. I felt that sometimes when people are
portraying the event, enough is left out that it steals some of the reality of it.
                                                            Jimmy Vanderheyden

 Producer/Writer - Jimmy Vanderheyden
Assistant to Producer - Debbie Vanderheyden

Cast Members

Narrator - Bert Morris
Voice of Angel - Kris Millar
3 Wise Men - Kevin Browne, Dwight Millar, Tony Bayer
Quirinius - Tony Bayer
Angel - Mike Richardson
Paige - Pat McDermid
Shepherds - Sabrina Gollan, Seth Winch
Inn Keepers - Ron Ellis, Selia Winch
Costumes - Marion Morris, Bernice Kerr, Brendalee Sockett
Lights - Sam Johnson
Props / Stage Hands -  Barry Lyons, Amanda Millar, Larry White, Keith Kerr
Photographer -  Lorraine Browne
Joseph - Michael Johnston
Mary - Victoria Shelkey

Donkey - "Brownie"

 a few pictures of the play

The Play Script

Cyrenius is sitting on his throne, next to him stands his page, ready to read a decree of

Caesar Augustus

CYRENIUS-  Where is my page?

PAGE-  I am here governor Cyrenius

CYRENIUS-   Silence read the decree from our king CAESAR AUGUSTUS,   silence!

PAGE-  To-day I  CEASAR AUGUSTUS  proclaim a decree,   All the world shall be counted , All the world shall be taxed .Let it be known that from this day forth, it will be considered common knowledge  that everyone from his blood line and house of his origin

Shall return to his ancestor’s Town or city, a census will be taken from that place so the taxing will be accurate.

CYRENIUS-   SO IT IS WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE.

LONG LIVE CEASAR!

The next scene

Mary   walks over to the well to draw water .She holds the bucket   over the well and when the angel Gabriel says “HELLO MARY” she shouts and drops the bucket down the well .Now Mary is sitting on the ground beside the well and the angel says,

ANGEL- you that are highly favored the LORD is with you, blessed are you among women.

  (Mary is looking very confused)

MARY-“WHAT KIND OF GREETING IS THIS?”

ANGEL-Fear not Mary, for you have found favor with GOD, and behold you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son and you shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called son of the highest and the LORD GOD shall give to him the throne of his father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there well be no end.

MARY-how can this be, since I am a virgin? And I know not a man?

ANGEL-The holy ghost shall come upon you and the power of the highest shall overshadow you, therefore also that holy one to be born  will be called the son of GOD, even  Elizabeth your cousin is to have a child in her old age and who was called barren is in her sixth month for nothing is impossible with GOD .

MARY-I am the LORD servant, may it be to me as you have said.

        (The Angel leaves her)

NARRATOR-At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth .When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the holly spirit. In aloud voice she exclaimed; blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my LORD should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the LORD has said to her will be accomplished and then Mary said; my soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in GOD my savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed ,for the mighty one has done great  things for me holy is his name .His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation he has preformed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered  those who are proud in there inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from there thrones, but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his decedents for ever, even as he said to our fathers. 

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months then returned home.

MARY-Hello Joseph, I was at the synagogue and I wanted to stop buy and see you. What’s wrong Joseph, why are you looking at me like that?

                  (Now Joseph noticeses that Mary is showing and he is preoccupied with this)

JOSEPH- Nothings wrong Mary, UM, I’ve got a lot on my mind, and maybe you should go. I’ll see you tomorrow after I get some sleep.

MARY-, I’ll see you tomorrow then, Bye Joseph.

JOSEPH – I think she’s with child. I’ll tell her tomorrow that the weddings off, but I won’t do it publicly, they would have her stoned. Then we can just go our own separate ways. Ya, that’s what I’ll do. (Joseph leys down to sleep) I would never have thought she’d do such a thing, yes I’ll just tell her we’ll go our own separate ways.

ANGEL- Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child which is in her is conceived of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a son and you shall call his name JESUS for he will save his people from there sins.

NARRARTOR- Now all this was done that the scriptures would be fulfilled, which was spoken of the LORD by the prophets “Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name EMANEUL. Which being interpreted means GOD with us.  And Joseph knew not his wife until after the birth of JESUS. 

Mary is sitting on a donkey, and Joseph is leading the animal as they make there way to Bethlehem to be counted for the census.  It’s at night, it’s windy and it’s cold.

MARY- Joseph, are we almost there?  The sand is getting in my eyes and I’m cold.  I thought you said it wasn’t too much further.

JOSEPH- I’m sorry Mary, I guess it’s further to Bethlehem than I first thought .Wait I can see the lights Mary, just a little longer and we’ll be there.

MARY- We better get there soon Joseph I can feel the time is getting near. 

JOSEPH- Hold on Mary it’s not much further.  We’ll get a room at that Inn. 

MARY- Oh Joseph finally a place to rest. 

They have arrived at the Inn. They are knocking at the door. The door opens and there stands an Inn keeper and his daughter.

JOSEPH- Hello sir do you have a room for the night? 

INN KEEPER- You’ve got to be kidding, the whole town of Bethlehem is full of people signing up for the census.  We’ve had no rooms for three days. 

JOSEPH- Oh but sir my wife is great with child.  Is there any place with rooms? 

INN KEEPERS DAUGHTER- Father, father we have room in the stable out back. 

INN KEEPER- They do not want to stay in a dirty drafty stable.

JOSEPH- Any thing would be fine my wife needs a place to rest.

INN KEEPER- Okay, if you want to stay in the stable it’s up to you.  My daughter will take you around back.

JOSEPH- Thank you sir your very kind, May GOD bless you.

Angel appears to the Sheppard’s who are tending to there sheep in a field, when they saw the angel they were very afraid then the angel said…

ANGEL- Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is CHRIST the LORD and this shall be a sign to you ,you shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

NARRATOR-And suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly host praising GOD and saying” glory to GOD in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Then the angels were gone away to heaven.

SHEPERDS.  Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the LORD has made known to us.

     (They go to Bethlehem and find Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in the manger. They bow, worship and smile, then they levee to tell everyone leaving they almost run over the three Magi who have come following a star to worship the new born king.

The Shepards are outside praising GOD the C_D starts everyone is there to the end of the scene