Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/519438
(LUKE continues to write and KYLE and REV. JAMES both continue to read their Bibles to themselves as the lights come up on the choir and soloist as they sing "Heaven's Child.") Song: Heaven's Child (At the conclusion of "Heaven's Child," the lights dim on the choir. LUKE speaks from his writing desk.) LUKE: "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." (KYLE, very moved, looks up and starts to close his Bible.) KYLE: I feel like I'm hearing it for the first time. (KYLE picks up REV. JAMES's letter again, as REV. JAMES speaks.) REV. JAMES: The story never grows old, does it? I bet you're feeling like you're hearing it for the first time. But not so fast… don't close that book. (KYLE stops and quickly reopens his Bible.) The story is far from over. Luke had a lot more to say, in a letter called the Acts of the Apostles. I'll wait while you find it. Chapter 2. "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by mir- acles and wonders and signs, (overlapping) ("which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.") LUKE: ("which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.") (REV. JAMES nods, returning to his Bible, as LUKE continues to speak alone.) "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowl- edge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain… Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it… God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (KYLE stops reading the Bible, overcome by what he has just read. Lights dim on LUKE or he slowly stands and exits. KYLE returns to silently read- ing his letter.) ]54 (Music starts for "All Rise." REV. JAMES speaks over Measures 1 – 10.) REV. JAMES: The Christmas story doesn't end at a manger, my friend. Nor does it end at a cross or an empty tomb. Christmas may begin at the door to a stable, but it ends at the very gates of heaven. Remem- 124 For Preview Only