Joy to the World
Mary was exhausted, but also excited. There was so much to think about just now. Her lovely handsome carpenter, Joseph, the love of her life, was to marry her at the end of the year.
She was just finishing the washing for her mother, when she felt someone close to her. She looked around and had the shock of her life. There was a large, tall man in shining clothes. She nearly fainted with fright.
“Don’t be afraid, Mary, I am Gabriel, and I have wonderful news for you.” “What is it?” she asked breathlessly. “You are to have a very special baby…”
“A BABY?” cried Mary in astonishment. “Yes a baby boy, and his name will be Jesus. He will change the world around you – he will change the world forever, and bring great happiness to everyone who listens to him.”
“A BABY?” cried Mary in astonishment. “Yes a baby boy, and his name will be Jesus. He will change the world around you – he will change the world forever, and bring great happiness to everyone who listens to him.”
Mary’s mind was on another matter at that moment, “But I’m not married, and what will Joseph say?” “I will speak with Joseph, he will be very happy to have a son who will be claimed as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. There will be great happiness for you both. Trust me.”
Mary was so overcome she simply said, “OK”. The shining man vanished—she was left with a spinning head and shaking knees. She heard music coming from somewhere—this was the strangest day of her life. This song came clearly into her head as she saw a vision of a little boy, and three important people were bringing him presents,
SONG: The Drummer Boy.
2. Well Mary’s little tummy began to grow—it does happen when people have a baby, have you noticed? She and Joseph were very happy. She was bursting to tell someone the news, so she rushed off to town to tell her cousin, Elizabeth, and blow me down…Gabriel had been to see her too, and told her she was to have a baby too! Heavens above, they had been trying to have a baby for years, and had given up hope. Gabriel had told her the baby was to be called John.
O the excitement of it all—as they hugged, and danced, sang and twirled, they both felt their babies wriggle inside—wriggling with them for joy and wonder. Elisabth and Mary were the happiest girls in the world.
Song: The Magnificat to the tune of a carol to be worked on.
3. Elizabeth’s husband had a strange name- it was Zechariah. He had had a bit of an argument with God because he didn’t belief his wife, Elizabeth, was going to have a baby when he was told—they had waited so long—well suddenly—in a flash—he was unable to talk at all, which was dreadful for a chatty man. It’s not a good idea to have an argument with God, because he always wins.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months before going home. Elizabeth little son arrived first. It was the custom to christen a baby on the eighth day. All their friends and family came along and the priest said, “What is the name of this child to be?”
Zechariah asked for something to write on to tell them to name the boy after him. This was the custom at the time too. “No, no!” said Elizabeth, “he is to be called John.” We know, don’t we, that that was because Gabriel had told her the boy was to called John?
Well would you believe it, Zechariah got his voice back at that moment, and he was so happy he laughed, and laughed and laughed, and then they all laughed, they eventually stopped, and all sang a song.
Song:
4. Now in those days, they had governments and rules too. An important fellow called Caesar Augustus—sounds a bit like ‘custard’ doesn’t it? Well Mr Custard we could call him said he wanted to see how many people there were in each place. So everyone had to go to the town where they were born to be counted.
O help! Mary’s tummy wasn’t little anymore by this time, and they had to go 70 miles, or 112 kilometres to get to Bethlehem where Joseph was born—think of it—about six days walking if you were quick. Joseph saddled up their little donkey, and poor Mary bumped along, perched uncomfortably on top for about six days—but they made it—well done them.
Song: Little Donkey
5. While all this was going on a great big new star had appeared in the sky, and three ‘star gazing men’ (I think they were kings from somewhere or other) they saw this big star and decided to follow it, which was a strange thing to do, but then ‘star gazing men’ or scientists as we call them, do funny things like that. So off they went and travelled for weeks, and weeks, and weeks, and I think we all know where they are going, don’t we? (or) Who knows where…?
Song: We three Kings
6. Mary and Joseph having arrived in Bethlehem found there were no room for them in the motel, or hotel or even in a B&B, so they had to share a stable with their little donkey, and a couple of big wide eyed cows. Who knows what happened in the stable that night? Yes, the baby Jesus was born - to the great surprise of the wide eyed cows. Joseph was wonderful, he looked after Mary as good husbands do, and wrapped the baby in his lovely warm woolly jumper, Mary was to tired, shall we sing her gently to sleep for a while?
Song: Away in a Manger.
7. Strange things were happening that night. The farmer’s young lads were looking after the sheep on the hillside. You see ther were no tractors to make fences in those days, so the boys had to guard the sheep against wolves and other wild animals who might attack and kill them. It was a beautiful night as the boys huddled around the camp fire to keep themselves warm. One of them said, “what’s that swishing noise?’’ “O go to sleep, you’re dreaming,” said another, and then….to their great surprise these …were they large birds?..no they were angels flying by, singing lovely songs to God, and telling the shepherd boys to go quickly into Bethlehem to see the new baby, the Prince of Peace, born in a stable. They scrabbled up and rushed into Bethlehem, hardly believing their ears—but the angels were right, there he was—the baby Jesus lying in a manger.
Song: While Shepherds watched their flocks by night.
8. The story is nearly over now, but we still have those three ‘star gazing men’ wandering around following that big star, do you remember? They didn’t quite know what to expect, but the star stopped. The went inside the stable and were surprised to see the little family of Mary and Joseph and the baby. Wow! They had found the most beautiful scene yo could imagine—the precious baby boy who was to bring happiness and joy to the world. They knelt down, peeped into the manger and laid their presents down beside his tiny hands and fingers. All was hushed..and silent at this holy moment. (The Kings come in, bow if they can, and give their gifts to the baby.)
Songs: Silent Night.
9. I wonder if any of you can think of someone else we love to see at Christmas time? Yes, Santa. You know Santa was really called Nicholas, and he loved the baby Jesus. He loved children too, and that’s why he helps Jesus at Christmas time. I don’t know for sure, but I think Jesus may have asked him to come to little children every year, because you see Jesus is too busy answering prayers that night.
In our home we always have Santa standing beside our small stable scene. Perhaps you can make a stable scene too for next year, from a shoe box or whatever you have, but please put a figure of Santa somewhere close, and always remember that St Nicholas, Santa to his friends, loved Jesus very much too—so perhaps, like Santa, you and I can think of someone we would like to help, or so something special for this Christmas too.
