(Well before the play ( at the practices) costume and pose the children into slide suggestions below. Slides would be shown on large screen as this poem is being read….I have included some examples of the slides you could experiment with with your children. Make sure no one is left out in the group!)
A Christmas Poem
by Mildred Krentel with Diane Krentel Hodge
(Children march down the aisle to a Christmas song and line up facing the audience, on the count of three altogether call out…….)
All Children: GRANDMA!!!!
Child One: We need all the Grandmas here today to stand up because we need one of you to read us a story! Who should I choose? Wait a minute, I see her. (child runs down and take her hand and bring to a big rocking chair on stage)
(“GRANDMA” is planted in the crowd somewhere with a gray wig and cape with speckles……A big story book with words inside is right by a rocking chair on stage….picking it up……..the poem begins. The children are all sitting on the floor around her in festive sweaters and dresses)
Child Two: Grandma, tell me that story again!
Grandma: But I’ve told it so often before
Child Three: But each time you tell it Grandma, it seems like we love it even more!
Grandma: All right, There were the shepherds, remember?
Slide #1 Shepherds watching their flocks
and sheep,.......... many sheep
Slide #2 Sheep
It was dark, maybe midnight
Most folks were asleep
The night so quiet, the air was quite clear,
When suddenly they saw an angel appear!
Slide #3 One angel with wings spread….
The shepherds were frightened, just what could this mean?
For not one of these men and angel had seen!
Slide #4 Shepherds faces frightened
The angel then spoke:
Child Four: Fear not, for behold I bring you Good Tidings which ever were told.
(show angel slide again)
For unto us all is born this glad day the Savior, Christ Jesus
Grandma: “What more need he say?
“The shepherds then said.
Why this is God’s promise
This wonderful news should not frighten but calm us.
Slide #5 Multiple angels ( pix looking down on group of kids)
Then suddenly there was with the angel on high
A great host of angels praising God in the sky!
Glory to God, let everyone sing
Glory to Jesus our long promised king
And even more news the angel had told them
The sign by which they soon would behold him
For away in the manger the angel did told
Jesus was laid on his bed in the hay
Slide #6 Mary putting Jesus in the manger
Child Five; Not a crib with clean sheets
Where most baby’s sleep?
Grandma No, he in a stable his slumber did keep
And then when the angels had all gone away
The shepherds began to each other say,
Slide #7 Closeup of shepherds happy pointing to the star
“Let us even now go and see this great thing
We all want to praise and adore our new king.”
They went with such haste , I’m sure they did run
For they were so happy that God sent his son!
Could ever there be a more wonderful morn?
Joy to the world our savior was born!
Child Six: Don’t you wish just a little that you had been able
to follow the shepherds and look in that stable?
Slide #8 Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the stable
Child Seven: I’d see Mary and Joseph and Jesus...all three!!
Oh I wish we had been there just you and just me!
Slide #9 Shepherds kneeling at feet of Jesus or standing around the stable
Grandma The Shepherds knelt down at the feet of their Lord
With hearts full of love for the one they adored
His name was called JESUS
And the reason He came was to save
all those people who believe on his name
Child Eight Grandma, what did they bring him, a present? a toy?
Grandma No dear, just their hearts running over with JOY!
AND there were wise men from the east who followed a star
Slide #10 Three wise men pointing at a star holding three gifts
Over hill and vale bringing precious gifts from afar!
they brought shiny gold and rare spices
Why their gifts were quite expensive and priceless!
Child Nine But what can I give Him? I’m still sort of small
and I have no money I’ve nothing at all
Slide #11 Closeup of uplifted hands....just hands
Grandma You know grown-ups are funny, they ask the same thing
And then decide for themselves just what they should bring
Some people give money....they suppose that they should,
It eases their conscience and makes them feel good.
And others give time, they fill up their day
with meetings, committees from Monday to Sunday
Now, it matters to God the things that we do
But first of all He’s concerned about you!
He wants you to love Christ to bid Him come in
And enter your heart and cleanse it from sin.
And here ends my Christmas poem to you today
Would you ask Jesus to live in your heart to stay?
Slide #12 Picture of Jesus knocking at your hearts door
Child 10 Thank you Grandma for this great story.
Grandma Now, why don’t you sing for me and give God the glory!!
(Children would file back to edge of stage in two rows to sing two or three Christmas medleys…..ending with We wish you a Merry Christmas!)
( During the two Christmas carols, cycle through the slides of the children again as they sing… so parents and grandparents can take another look….)
Just a Comment: The nice part about this mini play is that you can use all age children and it is easy for the children……all the costuming is done early in the month, not day of the play. Plus, it takes under 15 minutes, so it can be done in a morning service. ENJOY!
