Sharing Time:

A Nativity Presentation

By Pat Graham and Alice Morrey Bailey

Directions: Here is a program that you can present with your family during the Christmas season. Some of the family members will be readers and some will wear costumes and pantomime the actions. You can all sit in a circle, or you can have a “stage” area for those pantomiming.

If you are the director, you will choose which person will say or act out each part. If there are only a few members in your family, have only one or two people do all the reading. Write each reader’s name in the blank by his parts. Family members chosen to pantomime may need to take more than one part.

Have everyone design his own costume, or cut out each character’s picture from this page and glue it onto a name tag. Ask someone to lead the music and someone to hum or to play the background songs on an instrument. Everyone should practice his part. You can share this magazine or make copies of these pages for everyone.

Narrator _____________:

Every Christmas season

Our eyes grow strangely dim

When all the little children

Sing a cradle hymn.

Song: “Christmas Cradle Song” (Sing with Me, F-5).

(Little children could hold dolls and rock them during singing.)

Narrator ______________:

Think of that first Christmas,

And from your heart will stem

A picture pathway leading

Back to Bethlehem.

Background music: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (Hymns, no. 165).

(Mary and Joseph should begin at the back of the room. Innkeepers should stand at three locations along their path. All should pantomime the words of the story.)

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 all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.”

Narrator ________________:

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem …

“To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”

(Mary and Joseph slowly walk toward First Innkeeper. Children with speaking parts need not be seen.)

Voice of Joseph _____________:

Do you have room for us at your inn?

Voice of First Innkeeper _____________:

No, all of our rooms are full.

(Mary and Joseph walk to Second Innkeeper.)

Voice of Joseph ______________:

Do you have room for us at your inn?

Voice of Second Innkeeper _____________:

No. we have no more room here.

(Mary and Joseph walk to Third Innkeeper.)

Voice of Joseph ____________:

Do you have room for us at your inn?

Voice of Third Innkeeper _______________:

Nothing at all. Every room is filled.

Voice of Joseph ____________:

We have come a long way, and my wife, Mary, is very tired. Surely you have some place where she can rest.

Voice of Third Innkeeper ______________:

There’s an unused stable. If you want to use it, you may.

Voice of Joseph ____________:

Thank you for your kindness, but Mary needs a comfortable room to rest in.

Voice of Mary _____________:

Joseph, let us take the stable. I cannot go farther.

(Third Innkeeper leads Mary and Joseph to a stable with a stone manger.)

Narrator _________________:

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

“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.”

(Mary lifts doll from cradle and hugs it.)

Song: “Mary’s Lullaby to the Infant King” (Sing with Me, F-10) or “Sleep Little Jesus,” (Friend, December 1981, page 38).

Narrator _________________:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

“And the angel said unto them,”

Voice of Angel _____________:

“Fear not: for, behold, 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.”

Song: “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains” (Hymns, no. 33), one verse.

Narrator ________________:

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

Narrator __________________:

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

(Shepherds walk to manger.)

Song: “Picture a Christmas” (Friend, December 1983, page 28).

Narrator ________________:

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there [later] came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, …

“And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

(Mary and Joseph take doll out of manger area. Mary sits down and places doll in a cradle. Wise Men walk to family and kneel.)

Narrator ___________________:

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

(Wise Men place gifts in front of cradle.)

Narrator ________________:

These earthly treasures were gifts fit for a king. Yet Jesus’ own gift was the greatest gift of all. He brought eternal life. Let your thoughts be upon Him at this time of year so that you may learn of Him and follow in His footsteps.

Song: “He Sent His Son” (Friend, December 1984, page 10) or “Joy to the World” (Hymns, no. 89).

Quotations are from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 [Matt. 2].

Sharing Time Ideas

1. Adapt this program to fit the number of children you wish to involve. To involve more children, you could assign each narrative part to a different person.

2. Additional songs or hymns can be added, using soloists, small groups, a class, all the children, or the entire congregation.

3. A microphone can be passed to the people with speaking parts, or the narrator(s) and angel could use the pulpit microphone.

4. Before each song is performed, the accompanist might play it softly as background music.

Illustrated by Elise N. Black