A Christmas to Remember

Lauren

(flipping channels) (Lindsey enters talking on the phone)

Lindsey:

"and she said(Nathan enters playing trumpet)

Lauren :

(still flipping channels): "Stop playing that in here, I can't hear the TV. (Nathan turns to Lauren and blows trumpet loudly)

Lauren:

"if you're going to play, go in the other room." (Lauren continues flipping channels)

Nathan:

"You go in the other room" (argumentative)(continues playing)

Lauren:

"Mom, make him stop." Mom, make him stop. (mockingly)

Nathan:

Mom:

(offstage): Nathan! (Nathan exits playing the trumpet)

Lauren:

"Man there's nothing on TV" This is the most boring Christmas Eve ever.

(knock on door)

Lauren:

(to Lindsey): See who's at the door.

Lindsey:

"I've got to let you go, someone's at the door." (hangs up phone)

(Lindsey goes to the door and opens it. Girl1, Girl2, Girl3, Boy1, Boy2 enter).

Lindsey:

"hey, what're you guys doing?" "I thought you'd still be at the mall Christmas shopping."

Girl3:

"yeah, the malls closed early, besides we've got most of our shopping done--we thought we'd drop by and see what you guys were up to."

Lindsey:

"we're just hanging out. Frankly it's pretty boring around here. Lauren can't seem to tear herself away from the TV, Nathan is making a nuisance of himself as usual."

Nathan:

(re-entering room) "Watch it."

Lindsey:

"what a night!" It's supposed to be a time of joy and cheer"

Girl__:

"There's nothing to do" (whining) "the malls are closed (nodding her head in agreement)

Girl__:

Nathan:

"and from the size of the packages under the tree, I'm probably not getting that new stereo system I asked for." "Come on guys, it's Christmas let's do something to get us in the Christmas spirit." "We could go caroling" (jumps up and sings) "Joy to the World"

Girl__:

Lindsey:

Boy__:

"Nah, that's lame! "

Girl__:

"Besides that, it's raining outside. The weather is terrible."

Girl__:

"It doesn't seem much like Christmas"

_____:

"Yes it does, Christmas in Texas."

_____:

"I know, We could make cocoa"

_____:

"yeah, with marshmallows"

Boy2:

"okay, you girls go make us some."

Girls (in unison): "forget that!

Girl__:

"Make your own."

Nathan:

"I know, I could play my Trumpet and you all can tell me how great I am! (starts playing the trumpet)

Girls:

"Nathan!!!" (Nathan stops playing)

Girl___:

"When we were little my mom used to read us the Christmas story."

_____:

"That's cool--we could do that. Maybe that'll get us in the Christmas spirit."

(Someone runs off to get the book, as they return to the room, there is a knock at the door and more teens enter)

_____:

"We were driving by and saw the car out front--you guys having a party without us?"

_____:

"No, but we're about to read the Christmas story,

_____:

"have a seat" (the teens gather around. The lights dim)

(the lights come up across the stage: a male and female dressed in flannel pajamas and night caps stand, stretching as if preparing for bed.)

_____:

"Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse"

_____:

"Not that Christmas story dufus" (the teens throw pillows from the couch at the person reading) "The real Christmas story." (emphatically) (Night Before Christmas Actors look at the audience, shrug dramatically and walk offstage)

_____:

Girl___:

"Here I've got my Bible" (She pulls the Bible out of her purse and begins to read) (Lights come up across stage to reveal a manger scene) "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] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 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."

(Lights dim on manger scene. Lights come up on shepherd in the field)

"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,"

Lindsey:

"I know this one I've been the angel in the Christmas play for the last five years" (jumping to her feet) "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. "

(pillows are thrown at lindsey)

_____:

"sit down."

_____:

"be quiet".

(Girls__ resumes reading) "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. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (lights come up on heavenly hosts)

Boy___:

(acting sillyjumps up, clasps hand to chest and begins to sing) "Angels we have heard on high." (others chime in-acting goofy)

Everyone other than Girl reading the scripture: "Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria." (confusion)

Girl Reading Scripture:

"Y'all stop it." (she resumes reading)

"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."

(lights come back up on manger scene--shepherds walk toward manger) "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

_____:

"Now that was an exciting Christmas."

_____:

"Don't you wish we lived back then.

_____:

"What's the purpose anyway--What's so important about the birth of a baby?"

_____:

"He wasn't just a baby."

_____:

"He was the Son of God."

Girl reading scripture: "You see it's not just that he was born. The Bible says that he came to save us from our sins. You see he wants us to live with him forever, but sin cannot be where God is.

_____:

"We celebrate his birth because if he were never born, he could not have given his life so that we can be free from sin."

_____ (Same person that said I wished I lived back then):

"I don't know. I

still stay it would have been awesome to be alive on the night the Son of God came to earth.

Girl Reading Scripture:

"It could happen"

_____:

"What!!!

Boy___:

"Yeah right!"

Girl Reading Scripture:

"No I'm serious we could be alive when the Son

of God comes to earth"

Boy___:

"Been here, done that."

_____:

"What do you mean by that?" He's already been here he's already done that!"

Boy___:

Girl Reading Scripture: Jesus coming."

"No, really. My pastor has been preaching about

_____:

"Oh, yeah a lot of kids at school have been reading this book

Girl Reading Scripture: Bible."

"Forget that book. Here, I marked it in my

"And the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: so shall be ever be with the Lord." (Nathans ears perk up)

Nathan:

"A trumpet, a real trumpet?" (reaching for his trumpet)

Lauren:

"don't even think about it"

_____:

"That is so cool!"

_____:

You think that's cool, Revelations says that God himself will dwell with us, that we will be his people and he will be our God (turning to the Bible) "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone"

_____:

"Hey, (alarmed). "This is Christmas. Don't talk about that."

_____:

"Yeah, you're giving me the creeps."

Girl Reading Scripture:

"But that's why Jesus came the first time,

so that we don't have to be those awful things and that we can live with him forever."

_____:

"When's all this supposed to happen?" "When the trumpet sounds" (raising the trumpet as if he is going to play it)

Nathan:

All Girls:

"Nathan!"

Girl Reading Scripture: We're just supposed to be ready."

"The Bible says no one knows when.

(There is an awkward silence, one of the girls stands up)

_____:

"Why don't we make some cocoa." (getting up to walk to kitchen)

Girl3:

"I just remembered that _______ (input name of local store) is open late, maybe I can pick up some last minute gifts Let's go guys." (walking towards door).

(all kids get up to leave the living room. Nathan is still sitting on the couch) (Offstage a trumpet is blown. Everyone stops in their tracks, turns around and look toward Nathan who is still sitting on the couch).

In unison: "Nathan" (exasperated)

Nathan:

What? (lifts empty hands in a shrug)

(lights go black)

Voice over PA:

"Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Surely I come quickly."