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We did not do Advent but did these four short skits before the sermon.  As I was pondering the Christmas season I saw the different ways the participants dealt with fear.  The angel told several of them to "Fear Not".  Our pastor is using these sermons as a springboard for his sermons.

“Fear Not”

Christmas 2010

Written by Pat Hertzler

December 5

Skit #1: Simeon’s Prophecy to Mary

(taken from Luke 2: 22-35)

Characters:

• Reader
• Simeon:
• Mary:
• Joseph:  

Props:

• Put reader stand on in back of auditorium
• Piano bench
• 2 pigeons in a cage & covered stool for them to set on

Dim lights after congregational singing and then bring back up spotlight.

Reader:

            When the time came for Mary’s purification offering at the Temple , as required by the laws of Moses after the birth of a child, his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord; for in these laws God had said, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.”

            At that time Jesus’ parents also offered their sacrifice for purification-“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” was the legal requirement. 

            (Enter Simeon from side). That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple .  He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. (Mary and Joseph come up center aisle-Joseph carrying pigeons and Mary carrying Jesus) For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him-God’s anointed King.  The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.

Simeon: (with great expression-lifting up hands)

            Hallelujah, thank you God, blessed be your holy name…

            “Lord now I can die in peace for I have seen him as you promised me I would.  I have seen the Savior you have given to the world.  He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel !”

Reader: Joseph and Mary just stood there marveling at what was being said about Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them. (Simeon lay hands on Mary and Jesus)

Simeon to Mary:

            “Mary, (slight pause-look her in the eye) a sword will pierce your heart, for this child shall be rejected by many in Israel , and this is to their undoing.  But he will be the greatest joy of many others.  And the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” 

Simeon gives Jesus back to Mary and walks off.

Joseph:  Mary, are you ok?  Come let us sit down.

Mary and Joseph sit on bench.

Mary:  Sits and fondles her baby.

            My heart is pounding within me. Joseph, his words-did you hear them?  But there are so many things I don’t understand and just as soon as I think I understand, I get confused.  Who is our son and what will he become?  Savior- light- rejection- joy.

Joseph, what did he mean when he said a sword pierce my heart?  I-I don’t want to die.  Who is going to kill me?  Why?   Who will be a mother to this child-this special son-sent to us from God?  Who will be your wife?  What is going to happen to us?

            I remember the angel said, “Do not be afraid”, but Joseph I am so afraid.  If only I could understand what it all means.

Dim light as actors leave.  Turn back on auditorium lights.

 December 12, 2010

Skit #2: Fear Not, Joseph

            (taken from Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25)

 Characters:

• Reader:
• Angel:  
• Mary: 
• Joseph: 

 Media Team:  PP Slide that has town of Nazareth on it

 Reader: In the sixth month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth , to a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. 

 Angel: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

 Reader: When Mary saw the angel, she was troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this was.

 Angel: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and have a son and shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father, David. He will reign over Israel forever and his kingdom will never end”

 Mary: “How can this be since I a virgin?”

 Angel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and is now in her sixth month for her who was called barren.  Remember with God nothing will be impossible.”

 Mary: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me according to your word.”

 Angel leaves.

 Spot light off Mary and on to Joseph.

 Reader: Then Joseph her fiancée, being a just man, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.

 Joseph sitting on bench:  I can’t believe this is happening.  Mary, my dear sweet Mary, how could she do this to me?  I do want to believe her-but there is no way she is telling the truth. She says she is pregnant and we aren’t married. I am not the father of her baby and yet she tells me she is a virgin and that this baby is the Son of God? 

This is impossible.  No one in their right mind will believe such a story. I don’t believe her. Mary seems to believe it but the village will stone her for adultery when they find out.  She will bring great scorn and shame on her family and me. We will be ridiculed.  I-I just can’t marry her. I can’t do it. 

Reader: As Joseph laid awake considering these things, he fell into a dream and saw an angel standing beside him.

Angel: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife!  For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.  And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus, meaning Savior, for he will save his people from their sins.  This will fulfill God’s message thru the prophets…. “Listen!  The virgin shall conceive a child!  She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel which means God with us.”

Joseph sit up, rub eyes, look around.

Reader:  When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded and brought Mary home to be his wife.

Joseph gets up and goes to Mary.  She holds out her hands to him and together walk out as reader finishes.

Props:

• Joseph sitting on small bench

December 19, 2010

Skit #3:  Fear not, Shepherds

            (taken from Luke 2: 1-20)

Characters:

• Reader:
• Shepherds:
• Shepherd 1:
• Shepherd 2:
• Shepherd 3:  
• Mary:
• Joseph:
• 3-Angels:

Reader: During the time that Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperor, he issued a decree that a census be taken of the entire world.  Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home to be registered.  And because Joseph was a member of the royal line he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home-journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth .  He took with him Mary, his wife, who was heavy with child.

(Spotlight on this scene-off to side) And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; and she gave birth to her first child, a son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the village inn.

(Spotlight back on shepherds in center). That night there were some shepherds in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly an angel appeared to them and the landscape shone with the glory of God.  The shepherds were badly frightened.

Angel: Do not be afraid, I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!  The Savior-yes the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem !  How will you recognize him?  You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger!”

Other angels join and say: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Shepherds: 

Shepherd 1: Wow, did you hear what the angels said?

            Shepherd 2: I was scared.  I thought I was going to die.

Shepherd 3: Me two but those angels-that was amazing.

Shepherd 1: Wonder why the angels told us-we are just shepherds.

            Shepherd 2: I think something really special has been revealed to us tonight.

Shepherd 3: Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.

Media Team: PP Slide with night sky and Bethlehem in distance.

Shepherds go to manger scene.  Worship.

Shepherds go back all three aisles and tell people what they have seen.

Reader:  And all who heard marveled at the things that were told them but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Props:

• Manger

December 26, 2010

Skit #4: Herod’s Rage

            (taken from  Matthew 2: 1-18)

Characters:

• Reader:
• Herod: 
• A Jewish Religious Leader:
• Three Wise Men:
• Roman Soldier:

Media Team:  PP Slide #1 that says Jerusalem

Light on King Herod sitting in center with Roman soldier standing slightly behind him.

Reader: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem it was during the reign of King Herod.  Soon afterwards some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem .

Light on wise men:

Wise men enter from side and stop in front of cross.

            Where is the newborn King of the Jews?

            We have seen his star in far-off lands and have come to worship him.

Reader:  King Herod was deeply disturbed by their questions and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors. 

Herod:  Bring the Jewish priests to me.

Enter Priest:

Herod:  Have you heard the rumors about a baby being born that will take over the throne?  People are calling him the Messiah. Did the prophets tell us where he would             be born?

Priest: open scroll

            Yes, the prophet Micah wrote. “O little town of Bethlehem , you are not just an unimportant Judean village, for a governor shall rise from you to rule my people                Israel .”

Priest leaves and Herod scratches head and ponders. 

Herod to soldier:  Go find the astrologers.  I need to see them.

Soldier leaves and returns with astrologers.

Herod:  I hear you are from a far-away land?

Astrologers: Yes and we have followed a star to this place.

Herod:  How long have you been following the star?

Astrologers:  Two years to the day.

Herod:  Go to Bethlehem and find the child.  And when you have found him, come back and tell me so I can go and worship him too.

Astrologers: Salute and leave

Media Team: PP Slide #2 with Bethlehem star

Reader: After this interview the astrologers started out again and behold, there was the star.

               It appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem .  Their joy knew no bounds.

Herod:  A baby born to take my throne?  No way.  This is my throne.  No one threats me this way.  Treason! (Pounds fist).  I am king. Everyone is talking about this.  Next thing I know someone will kill me.  I am king for life and then my son will be on this throne not just some pheasant born in Bethlehem .  I need to bring these people back into submission and let them know who is in control.

Where are those astrologers?

They were suppose to come back and report to me?

Herod to soldier:  Go and kill every baby boy two years old and under both in the town of Bethlehem and on the nearby farms.

Spotlight off

Reader:  This brutal action of Herod fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah.

Props:

• Throne
• Scroll for priest

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net