Christmas In
BY Shelba Dixon
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Christmas in
depending
on how much music you use.
It has 9 characters, 5 M, 4 W.
Luke ------------a fun loving, boy about 12
Matt-------------a more
serious boy about the same age
Janet------------a matter of
fact young girl, close in age to the boys
Sally-------------a little on
the silly and hyper side; same age
Mrs. Loud------a very
opinionated gray haired gossip
Mrs. Fry---------an elderly
lady who has a lot of common sense
and twinkle in her eye, a friend of Mrs.
Loud
Pastor Lane-----a friendly,
compassionate man; appears to be
in his 40's
Soldier-----------a muscular
man or teen-age boy with a deep
voice for
reading the letter
Ishamel----------preferably a dark haired boy, non speaking part
Luke and Matt wear jeans and
light jacket w/or without a scarf
gloves and or ball caps.
In the last scene they should have church clothes .
Janet and Sally dress
appropriately for being outdoors in their first
appearance.
They can come in with the singers if you want in the
first
scene. The last scene they should be
dressed in pretty Christmas
dresses.
Mrs. Loud should be dressed in dark colors and very sophisticated.
Mrs. Fry would be stylish but
not overdone.
Pastor Lane could wear a suit
or just shirt and pants in first scene.
He needs a coat,
probably a rain coat would be cooler on stage.
The last scene he could have a suit or dress shirt and pants.
Soldier would wear camouflage
pants, could have a bandage around
his
middle. Maybe an army green T shirt. Dog tags help.
Ishmael would have brown pants
and a cream colored shirt. A fair
child could play this part if you have a wig.
CHRISTMAS IN
ACT ONE; SCENE ONE
Half of the stage is a street scene with a neat pile of
snowballs and some orange crates near by. The other half of the stage is
the inside of the church. The play starts with a group of kids singing,
“Come on Ring Those Bells.” The group moves off stage shouting Merry Christmas.
One or two kids stop to ask Luke if he is coming to the church for Christmas
program practice. Luke shakes his head “No!
Luke is busy arranging his snow balls in a neat pile as Matt approaches.
It is about a month before Christmas. Matt walks slowly up to where Matt is
stacking
snowballs.
LUKE: Hi Matt, want
to build a fort and play war with my new pile of snowballs?
MATT: Naa, I’m not in the mood today.
LUKE: Yeah, you’re
just afraid that I’ll cream you like I did last time. Ha ,ha
remember that? You were as white as a snowman.
MATT: Yeah, I
remember. (Sits down on a crate with his head in his
hands.)
LUKE: You’re not
still mad at me about that are you?
MATT: No.......Luke, did you ever wish there was no such thing as Christmas?
LUKE: (Shocked) What do you mean?
MATT: I mean that I
hate this time of year. Everybody
is so happy, singing songs,(points in the
direction the singers went.)
putting
up fancy lights,(motions toward some Christmas lights on stage.) and
walking around saying, Merry Christmas (Says this sarcastically.) to
everyone.
On top of that we are supposed to do that stupid Christmas program at
church.
LUKE: I
hate to tell you this, but if there were no Christmas then there’s
no gifts. Last week you were
excited about getting that new Nintendo game.
MATT: Yeah, that was
last week,------ before my Dad was called to go to
LUKE: Oh................man,
you’re serious aren’t you?(Luke goes over
close to Matt and sits on a crate) When does he have to leave?
MATT: In two days,(Matt puts his head down on his arms, then he
lifts his head and wipes away some tears) Mom says things are going to be pretty
tight as far as money goes. She has to go look for a job.
LUKE: That’s tough.
I know how much you wanted that Nintendo game.
MATT: (Matt
stands up and shouts) I don’t want any stupid Nintendo game. I just don’t want my Dad to die! (Matt
walks off with his head down
kicking
snow as he goes.)
LUKE: (Luke rises
and looks after Matt as he leaves. Then he turns and looks up to the sky and
says) LORD, why does there have to be war anyway?(Stats
pacing as he talks) Matt’s my best friend, and I hate to see him so unhappy. What can I do to help him? I’ve tried talking
to him before about getting saved and he just won’t listen. (Luke either
sings, Can You Reach My Friend?, or someone else can sing it and Luke can
act like he is thinking or singing it.)
PASTOR
LANE: (We see the
Pastor in the church getting ready to come out by putting on his coat and scarf.He then mimes opening the door and comes out he
should look like he going out into the cold. He picks up a snowball as he says)
Hi Luke. How is that fort coming along? I have a few minutes if you want to
volley a few snowballs.
LUKE: Oh, Hi Pastor
Lane, No, I’m not in the mood right now.
PASTOR: Now that is
news when you’re not in the mood for some fun. What seems to be the problem
Luke?
LUKE: Pastor, did
you ever wish that there was no such thing as Christmas?
PASTOR: Only when the
bills come due. But I see you are in no
mood for jokes. Why would you wish there
was no Christmas?
LUKE: It’s not me
that wishes that. Matt does, because his
Dad has to go to
PASTOR: I’m sorry Luke. (Sits
on a crate beside Luke , looks down for a moment)You
know Luke, Christmas is about Jesus coming into this wicked world as a baby, so
that all who believe on his death, burial and resurrection and take him as Lord
of their life, will have eternal life.(Luke
agrees nodding his head) Now I know that Matt’s dad and Mom have trusted
Christ as savior just as you and your family have. But I don’t think Matt has been saved yet?
LUKE: I tried to
talk to him one day but he said he has plenty of time to do that.
PASTOR: (Pastor shakes his head knowingly)You know
sometimes good things happen so that bad things can happen, so that good things
can happen. (Pastor looks rather pleased with himself)
LUKE: (Looks
confused) Excuse me, but what?
PASTOR: Well, let me
explain it this way. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus
came
as a little baby right? That is a good thing. (Luke nods in agreement).
It is always a blessed event when a baby is born. But, Jesus came as a
sweet little baby to grow up and live a perfect life and die a most terrible
death. That is a bad thing. His death was to pay the price for our sin so that
we can be saved and go to Heaven. That’s a good thing!
LUKE: I know all that, but what does that have to do with war
and Matt’s Dad having to go to
PASTOR: Well, I was
thinking that maybe this will cause Matt to be a little more serious about his
own life and death situation. Maybe if you came to the Christmas program
practice and brought Matt.. well
who knows how God will work things out? You know this just might be what it
will take to see Matt accept Christ. That would be a great Christmas present
for Matt and his Dad.
LUKE: Maybe you’re
right but right now Matt seems to be too worried about his Dad to think of
himself.
PASTOR: Well, Luke, all
we can do is pray and let God do the rest. Walk with me. (Pastor and Luke
appear to be talking as they walk off stage.)
Good
place for song.
The following is the
Chorus from Helen Baylor’s song entitled “Can You Reach My Friend.” With some reworking of the Pastors previous
line, Luke could remain on stage and sing it or remain on stage positioned as
if praying while someone else sings the song (full song or chorus).
Can
You reach my friend?
You’re the only One who can
Lord, I know You love him
Help him understand
Can you reach my friend?
Bring his searching to an end
Help him give his heart to You
SALLY: (Sally
approaches the pile of snowballs cautiously.
She rubs her hands together to warm them.) Hmm..................I
wonder where the trouble makers are hiding?
SCENE TWO
JANET: (Janet comes
in from the opposite direction)Hi,
Sal, have you been waiting long?
SALLY: No, I just got
here. (She is still looking around as if expecting to see someone.)
JANET: Why did you
want to meet here? Isn’t this where Luke and Matt hang out?
SALLY: (Defensively)
It’s close to my home...............and.......
JANET: Oh, I get it. (Accusingly)
You like one of those boys don’t you? Let’s see which one is it?
SALLY: I do
not like either one of those boys. They
are nothing but trouble makers!
JANET: Yeah, you’re
right. (Paused and looks Sally in the eyes and says) Cute
troublemakers.
SALLY: Ok (Draws
out this word) So I like one of them but I’m not
saying which one.
JANET: If you tell me
which one you like, I’ll ........................tell you which one I like.
SALLY: ( With her hands on her hips looking indignant)
I thought we took an oath not to like boys until next year.
JANET: I’m glad to see
you kept your part of the deal.
SALLY: Isn’t it neat
we both broke our agreement about the same time? We always have been....................(eyes
wide) tell me which one it is that you like..........Oh, no (shaking her
hands and jumping up and down partly to keep warm partly because she is
hoping that Janet doesn’t like the same boy.) Janet what if we like the
same boy?
JANET: It’s not like
we are getting married you know.
SALLY: You tell me
first.
JANET: No, no you tell
me first.
SALLY: I know, I have some paper in my pocket and a pen. Let’s both write
down the one we like and hand it to the other one.
JANET: Ok, but like
what is this going to prove?
SALLY: I don’t know.
Let’s just do it ok?
JANET: Whatever.
(Sally writes down on the paper and tares off a piece of paper for Janet and
then hands her the pen and Janet writes.
They both look at each other and Sally squeals) Ready, set, open!
JANET: I knew it. You like Matt!
SALLY: And you like
Luke!
LUKE: Hi, guys. What are you up to?
(Both
girls act like they were caught doing something wrong and quickly stuff the
pieces of paper in their pockets.)
SALLY: (Sounding
angry) We aren’t doing anything. And we are girls not guys.
LUKE: Excuse me. (Draws this out.)
JANET: We were just
talking about you and Matt. (Sally gives a worried look toward Janet.)
LUKE: Yeah? What were you saying?
SALLY: Oh,
we were wondering why you and Matt weren’t out here like you usually are.
LUKE: Matt doesn’t feel much like playing
since he found out that his Dad has been called to fight in
SALLY: Oh, no!
JANET: Wow, I can’t believe it. The war always seemed so far away........and
I never knew anyone over there............but now.
SALLY: I know what you mean. We always pray for the troops.........but
well I think it will make me more sincere in praying for them now.
JANET: What can we do for Matt?
LUKE: Well it doesn’t seem like much to me but I was
talking with
This is a good place for
Christmas Isn’t Christmas Christ Till It’s Christmas
In
Your Heart. (Luke
can sing this or the group of singers can sing it.)
ACT TWO; SCENE ONE
It is two weeks later and
Luke is pacing nervously
waiting for Matt.
LUKE: I’ve never
been so nervous. Matt wants me to meet him here for some reason.
I hope it’s about the
Christmas program practice. I haven’t seen him in two weeks. LORD I don’t know
what to say to him. How do I cheer up
someone who’s Dad is in so much danger?
MATT: Hi, Luke. (Sounds
cheerful)
LUKE: Hi, Matt, how
are things going?
MATT: I’m doing so
much better since I got saved in church last week.
LUKE: Really? I
didn’t know that. Oh, yeah our family went to
MATT: Yeah, You know
what? I feel better about my Dad being gone too.
LUKE: Really? Boy
God really pulls some
surprises.
MATT: Yeah, I figure
if God can create everything, keep everything working
and if he can save me and keep me saved, then he can keep my Dad safe.
LUKE: Yeah, I
suppose that is a good way to look at it. (Slowly, sounding doubtful)
MATT: Just what do
you mean? You were always wanting me to get saved, now
you don’t seem too sure that God can take care of my Dad.
LUKE: I didn’t mean
that ............I just, well,......... you
know,........ sometimes things happen .......that we
don’t want to happen.....even when God is in control. Pastor Lane says we have to remember that God
is in control even when bad things happen.
MATT: So you don’t
think that my Dad is going to be safe, is that it? (Sounds
angry.)
LUKE: I didn’t say
that. I just said that........I just was
saying that.....well I was saying what
MATT: Fine Christian
friend you are, I might as well spend time with the girls.
(Stomps
off.)
LUKE: LORD, why do I
always put my big foot in my so called spiritual mouth?
ACT TWO; SCENE TWO
Good place for a song.
(It is the following day and Mrs. Loud and Mrs. Fry are walking down the
street.
MRS. LOUD: Well if it isn’t one thing it is
another!
MRS. FRY: Very profound my
dear.
MRS. LOUD: You
know how Mabel loves to gossip.
MRS. FRY: Oh , yes, everyone knows that. What has she been up to now?
MRS. LOUD: Well, are you ready for this? She said Mr. And
Mrs. Brown are heading for divorce and are going for counseling with that Reverend
Lane and.......
MRS. FRY: Sounds to me like
they are trying to get help, not headed for divorce. I’ve heard that
MRS. LOUD: Now, Louise, please don’t interrupt me when
I’m talking. I don’t know about you but
I would never go to that church. About that Reverend, we all know what a phony
he is.(
PASTOR: Good morning
ladies.
MRS. FRY: Why reverend Lane
we were just talking about you, weren’t we Elizabeth? (Mrs. Loud acts very
flustered.)
PASTOR: Nothing bad I
hope? (Looks directly at Mrs. Loud)
MRS. LOUD: Well of
course not. Whatever could we say bad about a man of
the cloth?
PASTOR: I would like to
invite you ladies to our Christmas program next Sunday night. The children have been working very hard and
doing a fine job. I know your church doesn’t have a service that night and
besides, we will be taking up a special offering to help make Christmas a
little more cheerful for the Mason family.
You know them, they live about two houses down
from you Mrs. Loud.
MRS.
LOUD: Yes, yes, What has happened that they need cheering up?
PASTOR: I’m sorry. I took it for granted that you had
heard. Mr. Mason has been in
MRS. FRY: I’m so sorry to
hear that
PASTOR: So, we will see
you at the program on Sunday night?
MRS. LOUD: Well, I
assure you I will certainly give it considerable thought.
MRS. FRY: I’m sure she will
be there unless she is sick.
PASTOR: Good day ladies.
MRS. LOUD: What
ever made you say something like that Louise? Why I’m as healthy as a horse. (Hotly
indignant)
MRS. FRY: I thought you
might be sick after chocking on all those nice words you had for the Reverend.
MRS. LOUD: Well,
you can go to that Christmas program if you want but don’t expect me to go with
you Louise Fry. (Starts down the street in the opposite
direction.)
MRS. FRY: Tell Mabel I said,
“Hi!” (Mrs. Loud turns away from Mrs.
Fry and storms off mumbling) Well I never!
MRS. FRY: (After watching
Mrs. Loud storm off in a huff she smiles)I am going to go to that
Christmas program! Walks off singing a Christmas song.
ACT THREE
(Inside
the church on the Sunday night before Christmas. A song
has just been sung and the Pastor has just sat down. Luke is sitting alone. The
girls are behind him. Mrs. Fry and
Mrs. Loud are there. Good place for a song. Matt comes in and sits
beside Luke.)
LUKE: So you aren’t
angry with me anymore?
MATT: No, my Mom
explained to me that you just didn’t want me to get my hopes up in case
something bad happened.
LUKE: But something
bad has happened.
MATT: Right, but you
know what? This is going to be a great service tonight.
LUKE: Boy, Matt, one
minute you are angry, then when you should be sad you are happy. I think you have spent too much time with the
girls.
MATT: (Matt hits
Luke playfully and then laughs) I guess I deserved that. I have been a little unstable lately.
PASTOR: Ladies and
gentlemen, boys and girls besides the Christmas pageant that I know you will
enjoy we have an extra special treat for you tonight. As you know Sargent
Mason has bee missing in action for two weeks and his son Matthew who recently
accepted Christ has
something he wishes to share with you.
Matt, you may come now.
MATT: Hi, I don’t
have much to say but I wanted to read this letter that I got yesterday. (Opens
a letter and reads.)
Hi, Son,(Here
the boy’s voice fades and the father’s voice starts.) Lights come up on
a soldier lying on cot dressed in camouflage. There is a young Arab boy sitting
close by.
I want you to know that I am
ok. I know you heard that I was missing
in action, but I am found. Sort of like you were when you were far away from
the LORD. Now you have been found. You know you were in more danger than I was
because could have lost your soul forever but had I died, I would only have
lost my earthly life. I can’t tell you
how happy I was to receive your letter telling me that you accepted the Lord
Jesus into your heart. I have prayed for
that for years.
I told you that I am ok, but I
am in the hospital and doing fine. I
took a bullet in the side but it missed all vital organs. I thank the LORD for
that. I have to say though it did hurt,
but they are taking good care of me here and it won’t be long till I will be
home.
The battle that I was involved
in brought me in contact with a young English speaking Iraqi boy who lost his
parents in the same battle. He is a year
older than you. We were together for days and he helped take care of me and
brought me water when I was very weak.
He and his parents were trying to flee the city. They were targeted by their own people. We both pretended to be dead until the enemy
left.
The best news is, I shared
with him the truth of the gospel and he wanted to receive Jesus as his savior.
You have a new brother in the LORD. His
name is Ishmael. Isn’t that
something? He follows me everywhere I go
and is sitting here watching me write to you.
He likes your picture and says to say, “Hi!” Take care of your Mom. Keep reading the Bible and praying. (Boys
voice fades back)
Love,
Dad
MATT: I talked to my
Mom and asked her if we could adopt Ishmael.
I tried to make her feel guilty by saying I’ve always wanted an older
brother. She wasn’t sure it could be done. She said before taking a
big step like that we need to pray and seek God’s will. Well that‘s all I have
to say. (Starts to leave and then comes back.) Oh, one more thing. Would
you all pray with us about adopting Ishmael?
Merry Christmas everyone!
( We
see Mrs. Loud and Mrs. Fry dabbing a tissue to their eyes as Matt reads
the letter.)
The students that sang at the
beginning come up and join Luke and
Matt. They all join in singing an appropriate song.