Actors needed: 1 little one, 2 slightly older, 5 slightly older
Time: 15 minutes
Proposed audience: Christmas play for anyone
Theme: Learning how to celebrate Christmas through the conversations between angels
Scene 1:
Little Angel Dona: (singing) Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.
Angel Gabriel: Stop it! Stop singing. I just don’t want to hear one line of it anymore.
Little Angel Dona: (scared) Why Angel Gabriel? Why are you angry with me?
Mid Angel Mona: Dear Dona, you are not reaching the right notes. It is ‘hark’, you have to reach the high E. Angel Gabriel doesn’t like anyone singing the tune wrongly. It is ‘Hark the herald angels sing’.
Angel Gabriel: Stop it! I said stop it.
Mid Angel Mona: Oooh.. He is really angry today. Don’t know what put him off.
Jesus Christ: Gabriel! (all the angels see Jesus and bow on one knee) Why are you so unhappy today?
Angel Gabriel: Sorry Lord Jesus. Just that the song reminds me of Christmas celebrations on earth.
Mid Angel Roland: But shouldn’t that make you happy? Actually, by herald angels, I think they meant you and all who went singing with you 2021 years ago. They are singing about you, Angel Gabriel!
Angel Gabriel: Actually, that is the main problem I have. I really don’t have a problem with these carols. But what all they do in the name of Christmas, just makes me so angry. It is not about our Lord Jesus anymore. Most Christians have made a mockery out of Christmas. It is just about fun and frolicking. I just don’t like to be reminded of them.
Jesus Christ: You do have a point, Gabriel. I remember how excited you were last time when Father and I decided to send you to share the good news with Mary and the shepherds. I want you to be happy. Why don’t all of you think of what message you want to tell the world today? I would let you take that message to the Christians.
Angel Gabriel: Thank you, Lord Jesus. I am indeed privileged to be a part of the mission to carry the message of Christmas once more to the world. I will convene a meeting and get on to it immediately! Dear Angels, let us all meet in the conference room.
Scene 2:
Angel Jane: Angel Gabriel, the Analyst department, the History department, the Human Resource department, and the Media in-charge department, are all ready for the meeting.
Angel Gabriel: I welcome you all to this meeting.
Angel Mike: Angel Gabriel, I heard from angel Mona how what is happening in the world has made you upset. I share the same thoughts. I remember how it was in the previous centuries. People have just lost the real joy of Christmas. Material things make them happier these days.
Angel Rodney: I remember how they used to renew the commitments they made to the Lord and really introspect on their Christian journey. Now it is mostly just a season of get-together and parties.
Mid Angel Roland: Do you know the crazy things children ask for during Christmas. The child whom I have to take care of is asking for an iPhone this Christmas. I don’t remember him reading one page of the Bible this whole year!
Angel Jane: Angel Roland! I don’t think you should expect any different. The child’s father is praying for a Mercedes Benz! He hasn’t read one page or said one other prayer this year too! I agree with you Angel Gabriel, they have just made a mockery out of Christmas.
Angel Mike: Angel Gabriel, do you know that these days they talk about a weird concept called, ‘Spirit of Christmas’. I used to think they are referring to the Holy Spirit. He is the only Spirit of Christmas I know. But apparently, they have concepts like Spirit of the Christmas past, of the Christmas present. They talk about being cheerful and happy and as though the festive ‘spirit’ is all there is to Christmas. It is just a mockery.
Mid Angel Roland: Angel Mike, I don’t even see a festive spirit in most of them. Christmas has become so monotonous. The same old carols, the same Christmas tree, the same cake, the same party, and jokes and decorations. It is so boring at times. They have lost all creativity too.
Angel Rodney: I agree with you, Angel Roland. Angel Mike, do you remember when we went with Angel Gabriel to declare the news to the shepherds. It was a wonderful time. Do you remember the wonder in their faces? Oh, it was a sight to see.
Angel Mike: Guess, how the wise men gazed when they saw the star? (the mid and little angles make faces and actions – like that of wonder and puzzlement), how did Herod react? (a reaction that is crazy), how did Joseph react (sleeping and waking up shocked), how did the shepherds react when they heard the news? (multiple reactions of shock, fear, joy).
Angel Jane: (sadly) How do Christians today react when they are reminded of Christmas? (eating cake, sleeping, seeing wallet….). They have just lost the sense of wonder. What shall we do Angel Gabriel?
Angel Gabriel: We’ll flip it over. Our message to the Christians should be that Christmas should not be a ‘M’ockery anymore. They should flip it over. From Mockery to ‘W’orship. Christmas should not be ‘M’ontony anymore. They should flip it over. From Monotony to ‘W’onder. They should flip their attitude, flip their celebration style and flip the pages of the Bible too, to know what Christmas really means.
Mid Angel Mona: How would they do that? Angel Gabriel, should they stop celebrating all together? Don’t tell me they should stop singing all those carols. I like those carols.
Angel Gabriel: Sorry Angel Dona and sorry Angel Mona. I should not have got angry. I am not asking them to stop singing. I just want them to sing with their hearts and not with their lips. I do know that a lot of these Christians celebrate the Lent season and Easter with a true attitude of meditation and worship. Just that, they allowed the world to hijack Christmas. They have to claim back Christmas and celebrate with true worship and wonder.
Angel Jane: Instead of just giving donations to orphanages, hospitals, and the less-fortunate brothers and sisters, they could start spending some time with them this Christmas.
Angel Mike: They could be more careful with the way they spend the money on the festivities. As our Lord Jesus always says, they should learn to make the right investments. Most of their festivities are one-day affairs. They should pray and ask Lord Jesus whether they are spending money on what makes Him happy. After all, it is His birthday right!
Angel Rodney: The Christmas spirit they talk of is an attitude of receiving. Instead during this Christmas, they could ask, ‘What can I give to the King? What can I give it the One who gave me everything?’
Angel Gabriel: Oh! that is true worship. To visit the least of their brothers, to please God, and to praise the Father and the Son and the Spirit for their goodness and faithfulness.
Angel Mike: They should pray and ask God to rekindle their wonder about Christmas. No one seems to wonder how God who created the whole universe, could enter the world as a tiny baby. Their decorations, their celebrations, their carols, and their cakes should all remind them and point to the one true source of all joy – our Lord Jesus.
Angel Rodney: They have one more important thing to be amazed and thrilled. In the Christmas season, the first coming of Jesus should remind them of the second coming of Jesus and get them ready for His second coming. All of us in heaven and waiting eagerly for that big moment.
Mid Angel Roland: I like this idea. Flip it over. From M to W. From mockery and monotony to worship and wonder.
Jesus Christ: I heard the conversation you were having. I like the message that you want to share with the world.
Angel Gabriel: Thank you, my Lord. So, please tell us, to where and who are you sending us? Are we going as a group? Should we go alone? When can we go? Command us and we are eager to obey your will.
Jesus Christ: The message has already been conveyed now, Gabriel. You angels have done a good job.
Angel Gabriel: Conveyed already? But Lord Jesus, we do not understand. How is it conveyed already?
Jesus Christ: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. I talk to them in the silence of their hearts. I talk to them through the whispers of the wind. I reach them through messages on WhatsApp, through conversations at the dinner table, through sermons, through small skits by little children. He who has ears let him hear.
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