| God | Exist! Exist! And start to be, Beloved world, and creatures free! Come find your life and joy in me! Exist, and start to be! |
may be replaced with some narration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden of Eden scenery appears; Adam and Eve enter | ||
| Adam | I love you, Lord. I love my life. I love this garden and my wife. I have no cares; I fear no strife; I thank you for my life. |
Adam should stand with his arms out and a big smile on his face. When referring to the garden and Eve, he should gesture in their directions. Maybe shrug at "I have no cares." |
| Eve | Oh, gracious God, our hearts' delight Is serving You with all our might. Your will for us is good and right, Oh God, our hearts' delight! |
Maybe put your hands on your heart? I dunno |
| God | And you, my children, you I love, As steady as the stars above, As gentle as a lighting dove, Oh children of my love. |
may be replaced with some narration |
| Adam exits down the stairs on the left | ||
The scene begins with Eve and the serpent alone in the garden near the Tree of Knowledge. The serpent is eating a piece of fruit.
| Eve | Hey, you in the tree! | Eve nods in the direction of the Serpent |
|---|---|---|
| Serpent | You talking to me? | Serpent is talking while chewing - points thumb at self |
| Eve | Yeah. Why are you there? | |
| Serpent | I'm eating. Let's share! | Serpent holds out fruit |
| Eve | Oh dear, no, I couldn't-- The good God who made us Has said that we shouldn't. He strictly forbade us To so much as handle The middle tree's fruit. Imagine the scandal-- And I'd be kaput! |
Eve holds hands out in protest, points at sky when referring to God, maybe waves finger when saying "strictly forbade," holds arms out on "imagine the scandal," and makes head-chopping-off motion on "kaput." |
| Serpent | Oh, phooey! It's dandy. This fruit doesn't hurt. It's sweeter than candy Or my name is Burt! It's not gonna kill you. Come on, take your turn. I think it'll thrill you, The things you will learn. |
Serpent waves hand in dismissal, then points at fruit. Points thumb at self when saying "or my name is Burt." Holds out fruit again when saying, "take your turn." Points to brain with big grin on "the things you will learn." |
| Eve deliberates. Puts hands on side for a while, then scratches head, all very exaggerated. Finally reaches out and grabs an apple off the tree. Takes a pretend bite... | ||
| Eve | Oh, yummy! That's tasty!
|
Eve seems thrilled at first, then pauses and rethinks. Emphasizes pasty. Stops and chews some more before "and then comes the worst." Look up, see Adam coming... |
| Eve looks up as Adam enters piano-side. | ||
| Eve | Oh! Adam! Here, try some. It's death, I perceive. |
|
| Eve holds out fruit. Adam shrugs and reaches for the fruit... | ||
| Adam |
I might as well die some My stomach is sinking... |
Pause after "Eve." Take a bite, chew, think, grab your stomach in surprise. Then your heart. |
| Eve | I'm suddenly thinking I've learned to do wrong. |
|
| Adam shushes Eve right after "wrong." Stops to listen... | ||
| Adam |
Oh no! Someone's coming! And nowhere to hide! And nothing for numbing The burning inside! |
Seems scared, looks around for someplace to hide... Grabs stomach |
| God | The death you are learning Is innocence lost. The fear and the burning Are part of the cost Of willfully choosing To eat of the tree, But worse will be losing Communion with me. |
may be replaced with some narration.
Adam and Eve should stand staring down at the ground looking uncomfortable, maybe fidgeting with their feet. |
Everybody stays where they are. As Scene 3's title is displayed, Angels 1 and 2 enter piano-side and stand, one on each side of the gates. They have flaming swords.
| God | And now, my children, you must leave The garden where your hearts fell dead, But you will live if you believe Your seed will crush the serpent's head. |
|
|---|---|---|
Adam steps forward to center
stage |
||
| Adam | Oh Father, send the promised seed To save the world from sin! Forgive your people's wicked deed And give us life again! |
Speak out loud and strong, like this is important. ('Cause it is.) |
| Adam and Eve exit through the gates. Angels 1 and 2 close the gates behind them. Angels and Serpent stand for a while with the flaming swords until the scenery helper people take their gates away. | ||
During brief textual interlude, scenery helper people haul everything off stage and replace it with Joseph/Mary's house. There's a simple room with a bed.
MILLENNIA PASS AS GOD PREPARES
THE WORLD FOR HIS ARRIVAL.
HE MIGHTILY WORKS IN MEN'S AFFAIRS
AND GIVES US HALF THE BIBLE.
Mary enters piano-side and walks to center stage and kneels behind the bed, facing the audience. She folds her hands and looks up, praying...
| Mary | Oh God, I seek your face today, As I have always done. Please wipe your servant's sins away And send your Promised One. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Gabriel enters piano-side and stands to Mary's side, half facing audience. Mary sees Gabriel and looks surprised and afraid. Covers her face with her hands. | ||
| Gabriel | Hail Mary, highly favored one! Fear not! Good news I bring. Rejoice, for you will bear a Son, Your Savior and your King! |
|
| Mary | Oh but how will this be? I'm a virgin--I'm pure! | Confused, slightly quicker, but still very clear. Clear is more important than quick. |
| Gabriel | But the Lord is almighty, and you can be sure That His promise is certain, so trust and obey. |
Gabriel points to sky, then to Mary |
| Mary | I believe. Let this miracle be as you say. | Mary nods, then bows head. |
| Mary and Gabriel both exit piano-side. Scenery helper people quickly dash on stage and change sign from "Mary's House" to "Joseph's House." Also change sun to moon if we're going to bother with that. | ||
Joseph enters piano-side and sits down on bed with his head in his hands.
Joseph |
Pregnant! Pregnant! Mary dear, How can I begin a life |
Shake head and look confused and sad |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph lies down on bed and goes to sleep. Gabriel enters piano-side. | ||
| Gabriel | Sleeping Joseph, David's son, Mary will indeed give birth, |
Joseph wakes up as soon as Gabriel begins talking. He looks surprised and scared until Gabriel says "don't dismay." |
| Joseph hops out of bed, happy and excited. Throws arms up in the air. | ||
| Joseph | Hurrah! This is better than I could have dreamed! I hoped against hope it was not what it seemed! And praise be to God, who is sending to men The seed He foretold to redeem us from sin! |
|
| Gabriel leaves. Joseph stays on stage. All of a sudden it's morning. | ||
| Announcer | This tax system teaser is sponsored by Caesar, So smile away those frowns! That's right, it's a census with no paid expenses! Now showing in your hometowns! |
This is me, I think.
Joseph and kids groan at the end. |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph exits and our super duper scenery helper people replace the house with an inn/stable and a "Bethlehem" sign. No campfire at this time. Innkeeper enters inn from far side of stage (not piano side). This may require going around behind the back pew and coming up the aisle on the right. | ||
Joseph and Mary enter piano-side. They walk across the stage, past the "Bethlehem" sign, and stop.
| Joseph | The road to Bethlehem was bumpy For a tired and pregnant wife. |
(Turn and face the audience before speaking) |
|---|---|---|
| Mary | I've never seen an inn so dumpy Look so good in all my life! |
Looking exhausted, holding your back |
| Joseph walks past Mary up to the inn and talks to the innkeeper through the window. | ||
| Joseph | Hey, let us in! We need a bed! My wife is nearly due! She needs a place to lay her head Before the day is through! |
|
| Innkeeper | Hey, sorry, pal. We're out of room, But you can have the stable. Just take the shovel and the broom, And clear what space you're able. |
Shrug and look sorry. Point to the stable. Maybe make a shoveling motion during "clear what space you're able." |
| Mary grabs her stomach and looks excited... | ||
| Mary | Oh dear! Oh Joseph, here he comes! Let's get me to the hay! The Savior born in smalltown slums! What can a poor girl say? |
Grab Joseph's hand and make for the stable. |
| Innkeeper exits from far side of stage. Scenery helper people grab campfire and place it quickly on piano side of stage while Scene 5's title is shown. | ||
The scene begins with two shepherds and their flock sitting on the ground at night.
| Shepherd #1 | This shepherding gig is kind of slow |
Look bored. |
|---|---|---|
| Angel #1 enters from center steps | ||
| Shepherd #2 | Look out! It's an angel! See it glow! |
Point and look scared |
| Angel #1 | Fear not! For I bring you joyous news Go quickly and find the infant king. |
|
| Angel #2 and Gabriel enter from center steps | ||
| Angel #2 | In Heaven the angels are struck with awe |
|
All Angels |
Oh glorify God in Heaven above! Let angels sing His praise! And peace on the earth to men who love And seek the Father's ways! |
|
| Angels leave | ||
| Shepherd #1 | What joy! This boy, The Shepherd King, Has come unto His own! Let's Go! |
|
| Shepherd #2 | Quite So! Let's see the thing That God has just made known. |
Say "Quite so" as if you're finishing Shepherd #1's thought (stay in rhythm like it's all one big rhyme) |
| shepherds start walking toward Bethlehem. Except Bethlehem is only like 10 feet away. So you have to walk REALLY slow. Except don't look like you're walking slow. Hmm... | ||
| Sheep | Will somebody help the sheep? My shepherds have wandered away! I'll have to trust God to keep The wolves and the lions at bay! |
|
| sheep leave; while Scene 6's title is being shown, shepherds keep walking in place on their way to Bethlehem. | ||
Shepherds (finally) get to Bethlehem. They look into the manger where Jesus is lying.
| Shepherd #1 | So here He is just like they told us. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Shepherd #2 | But nothing will keep us from sharing, |
|
| Mary leans over and picks Jesus up from the manger. She holds him lovingly in her arms. | ||
| Mary | And I, my child, will ponder long |
|
| Everybody leaves stage on the piano side while the epilogue is rolled out. | ||
THE SON OF GOD WILL DIE BELOW
TO CRUSH THE SERPENT'S HEAD,
YET OVERCOME THE FATAL BLOW
BY RISING FROM THE DEAD!