Journey To Bethlehem Script

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM SCRIPT 2014

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REGISTRATION

!LOBBY (WAITING AREA 1) !VIDEO ONE – AUDITORIUM (WAITING AREA 2) !VIDEO TWO – AUDITORIUM (WAITING AREA 3) ! FAMILY ARRIVES AT THE VILLAGE (STATION ONE) !(Village citizens should create an air of excitement. Energy level must be very high to establish an attitude of fun and

anticipation. Remember – even though you are going about your daily tasks… you are hurried at times… Engage guest families as they come by your area speak to them. Welcome them. Tell them what you’re doing. Explain your craft or task, involve them if possible.)

!VILLAGE HOSTESS

Welcome to Nazareth. (Be welcoming (hostess with the mostest). Point out all the different things the people can see in the village. Direct them to areas that are not busy. Encourage them to get their supplies for the journey ahead.)

!BENJAMIN

(Exit the Guide Tent and precede though the village calling your family’s name. Stop at the end of the village by the Roman Soldier). ____________ Family, follow me. ____________ Family… (You can stop and look at a guest’s paper in the village to see if they are part of your family).

!VILLAGE HOSTESS

(along with Benjamin, call out the family’s name so everyone can hear throughout the village). __________________ Family your journey is beginning. (over and over again until they leave)

!ROMAN SOLDIER 1 Papers! I need to see everyone’s papers! !BENJAMIN Family, show the soldier your papers. (Each member of group will have their papers checked) !ROMAN SOLDIER 1 Show your papers! Lift them high; I need to see every paper. !BENJAMIN

(Once all members of your family are through the gate, begin your lines) Do we have everyone? We don’t want to leave anyone behind. Is everyone packed for our journey?

!Hannah will be so excited to see you all. She is in the village getting some last minute supplies…..Here she comes now. !HANNAH I am ready now. I even have fresh bread for the trip. (Suddenly she realizes the family is there) !Oh, you’re all here. It is so good to see everyone! (If there are children you can comment on “how much they’ve grown” since the last time you saw them) !!

BENJAMIN (Laughing) It looks like we’re finally ready. We are one of the last families to leave for the Census. I was hoping we could travel with our friends Mary and Joseph, but they have already left.

!HANNAH

Yes, Mary is expecting a baby soon and they are hoping to get home from Bethlehem before the baby is born. I can’t imagine taking a journey like this with a baby due any day. Well, Benjamin, it is a long journey, we should be on our way.

!BENJAMIN

Stay close to me as we travel and don’t get off the road. You must keep your papers ready in case more soldiers ask to see them. We know that God is gracious and we pray that He will watch over us. (Gather and head to next station)

!(Fillers while walking along the trail: teach “shalom” and “shalom alechem” and their meanings – “peace” and “God’s peace be with you,” Talk about what you will see – camels, sheep, donkeys – ask what animal they came on.) ! ROMAN SOLDIERS (STATION TWO) !ROMAN 2 (Sounding official) Halt who goes there? (Romans on horses run up on the family) !ROMAN 2 (Hand up to Romans on horses) We can handle this. !BENJAMIN We are the family of ________________ !ROMAN 2 (with ridicule) And such a large family! What are you doing out so late at night? !BENJAMIN (With resentment) We’re traveling to Bethlehem to be register in the census of your Caesar as required by Roman law. We can’t cheat Rome out of an opportunity to impose its taxes on us, now can we?

!ROMAN 3 Be silent! Such talk is treason. !BENJAMIN We have our papers (more respectfully . So we can be counted in the Census. !ROMAN 3 Show them as you pass – move quickly! !ROMAN 2 There are many travelers on the road tonight. From this point on, you are no longer under our protection. !! )

BENJAMIN Yes, yes, we know.

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WISE MEN (STATION THREE)

!BENJAMIN Look there’s a camp ahead. They even have a camel – they must be very wealthy. !(Servants busy themselves with chores as the group arrives. Servants & Benjamin, do not begin your lines until the family has all made it to the campfire.) !BENJAMIN Shalom. !SERVANT 1 Shalom! Where are you headed? !HANNAH We’re on our way to Bethlehem. !SERVANT 1 Bethlehem? You still have a long way to go and it is cold out tonight. Please, come share our fire. !HANNAH Who do you serve? !SERVANT 2 Magi, wise men from the East. We’ve traveled a long way through the desert to get here. !SERVANT 1 (At the tent and bowing low) Kind masters, we have a traveling family warming at our fire. Would you desire to see them? (The Magi come out of the tent and greet the family – both servants bow.)

!WISE MAN: BALTHAZAR

Yes, yes we would. Greetings, you are welcome to share our fire.

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BENJAMIN (Bowing low encouraging your family to bow, too.) Shalom. We are from Nazareth and are traveling to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the Roman census. Why are you traveling this way, Sir?

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WISE MAN: GASPAR We are following an unusual star that corresponds with prophecies of old.

!SERVANT 1 (Quick obedient nod to magi, then answer) It’s the brightest one in the sky. !GASPAR We believe it will lead us to a new King, The King of the Jews. !BENJAMIN The King of the Jews!! (Very excited) Family, our Messiah is coming soon!!! (Hannah responds with him.) !WISE MAN: MELCHIOR
 We intend to see King Herod. Surely he will know about this King. !SERVANT 1 The magi have brought gifts to worship Him. Would you like to see them? !!

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HANNAH Oh, yes, please.

!BALTHAZAR

(Servants quickly hand gifts to each Magi just before their line) The first is a gift of gold – befitting a great King. (Hannah responds with an approving gasp, she is in awe of the gifts.)

!GASPAR We have also brought Him the gift of Frankincense – from this, expensive incense is made. !MELCHIOR And this is the gift of Myrrh – it is a special oil, one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil in the Temple. !HANNAH These are very fine gifts. (Changing thought) Do you really believe our Messiah is coming soon? !MELCHIOR Yes, we believe. We will l follow His star until we find Him. !BENJAMIN May God bless you along your way. We must be going. Shalom kind sirs. (Leave with family.) !BALTHAZAR (As family leaves.) Peace be with you. Servants keep the fire going through the night. ! SHEPHERDS AND ANGEL (STATION FOUR) !HANNAH

(As you are walking along the trail) I have never seen magi before…did you see the expensive gifts? That was amazing!

!BENJAMIN

(The Shepherds will be behind the fence – you will not see them until you are at the opening of the fence. Wait until ALL of the family is gathered BEFORE you begin your lines) Shalom! May God’s peace be with you.

!SHEPHERD: JOSHUA And peace be with you, too. Where are you traveling? !BENJAMIN

We are traveling to Bethlehem. We’ve traveled a long way and we’re anxious to get there. Can you tell me how far it is?

!SHEPHERD: JESSIE You are very close. It is the next village. !SHEPHERD: ABEL Why not stop and rest awhile? Have you had a good trip? !HANNAH (With energy) Oh, Benjamin, tell them about the Magi! !BENJAMIN


Yes, we saw some wise men from the East! They are following a special star, which they believe is a sign that our Messiah is coming soon!

!!

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SHEPHERDS (All shepherds respond with one of the following phrases) Praise God! Praise Jehovah!

!ANGEL 1: (All of these lines are recorded – only need to mouth the words) “Do not be afraid. (Shepherds and Guides kneel) I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

!ANGELS 2, 3, 4 AND 5: (Praising God and mouthing the following lines – these lines have also been recorded) “Glory to God in the Highest! And on earth – peace, Good will towards men.”

!SHEPHERD ABEL Let’s gather the sheep. We must go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened. !BENJAMIN

(With great excitement) We have seen a miracle! Did you hear what the Angel said? We must hurry to reach the town. (Benjamin takes off quickly.)

!HANNAH Yes, something great is about to happen! !BENJAMIN

(Almost in his own world of excitement) Just think. Tonight, we may see the Messiah! HANNAH We’ve waited so long for this. Can you believe this is happening in Bethlehem of all places?

! FISHING AT THE LAKE (STATION FIVE) !BENJAMIN Shalom! !ZEBEDEE Shalom! !BENJAMIN My name is Benjamin, this is my wife Hannah and this is my family. We are from Nazareth. !ZEBEDEE

I am Zebedee and these are my sons James and John. We have seen many travelers going to Bethlehem for the Census. Are you going there as well?

!BENJAMIN Yes we are. (pointing to the fishing nets) Having much luck? !ZEBEDEE Yes, we have caught many fish tonight. Would you like to join us for dinner, we should have plenty. !BENJAMIN Thank you for the gracious offer, but we must continue. !! !!

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HANNAH Our family is weary; it has been a long journey. We are ready to be counted in the Census and pay our taxes. We even hope to get a little shopping done in the market.

!ZEBEDEE

You might want to hide a few coins, then. I hear that the officials not only assess taxes for the Census, but also may require a larger sum so they can line their own pockets.

!BENJAMIN Thank you for the notice. We have come to expect that from the Romans. !HANNAH Benjamin, What do you think we should do? !BENJAMIN

Gather around family. Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. The city of Bethlehem is just ahead. Upon our arrival we first must enroll for the census. It seems the Romans are planning to take all of our money for taxes so we are going to go ahead and give each child a coin now to spend in the market. (To the children) Keep your coin hidden. Do not let them see it, or they may take it, too. After that we will enter the market.

!(They approach census area) !BENJAMIN !(*If you have to wait, you can ask each person in your group to show you their papers.) CENSUS (STATION SIX)

ROMAN SOLDIER 4 Prepare for the Census. Get your papers ready

!ARTEMAS Men to my left, women to my right. Move quickly. (Repeat as people come in.) !NEAHTUS

You are here for the Census as decreed by Quirinius, Governor of Syria, and ordered by the Divine Caesar Augustus. Our vassal king, Herod, with his great wisdom has decided that this census is to be taken according to the Jewish tradition. You can only be counted in the town of your forefathers. As the chief publican in Bethlehem, I am in charge of this census. Artemas, you may begin.

!ARTEMAS What is your name? !BENJAMIN We are the family of (give family name). !ARTEMAS Where are you from? !BENJAMIN We are from the city of Nazareth, of the house and line of David. !ARTEMAS I need to know how many men and women you have over the age of 14. !!

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BENJAMIN All men and women 14 and over raise your hand (count). We have ____ (fill in number).

!NEAHTUS (To Artemas) Would you total up the census and figure a tax? !ARTEMAS I think I will charge you for _______ (number in family plus 2) !BENJAMIN Here just take the whole bag. May we go now? !ARTEMAS That should cover it, now you may go into the city. Get out of my sight !(Exit Census Area) !BENJAMIN You all did well. We can finally enter the market. ! MARKETPLACE (STATION SEVEN) !Ideas while in the marketplace: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Take people to the shops and have them tell the shopkeepers what you have seen. Have the family ask the shopkeepers about the Messiah. Point out interesting things – chickens, goats, baskets, rugs, pottery, jewelry, etc… Take the children to the vendors who have the toys they can buy with their coin. The children will be able to purchase one of three items (1) beaded rope bracelet, (2) seashells (3) sand dollars. The children may keep the coin if they do not want to purchase a gift at the marketplace. Point out all of the different food shops – fish, bread, cheese. Stop and get a sample of the bread and/or cheese. Compliment the shopkeepers in front of your family and brag on their wares Most of all do not forget to repeatedly ask about the Messiah.

!(Roman Soldier will time guests’ visit in the marketplace and cue Benjamin that it’s time to move on). !ROMAN SOLDIER 5

Move along Jews. The hour is late and we have many people entering town tonight. (repeats: Move along, Move along)

!BENJAMIN

(speaks loudly to get family’s attention) Family, it is getting late and we must find a place to stay tonight (gather and make your way to the Inn/Home). (As you are approaching the home) This is the home of Joseph’s relatives. Perhaps since he is from our village maybe they will have room for us, too.

! JOSEPH”S RELAVTIVES HOME (STATION EIGHT) !BENJAMIN

(Approaching the doorway) (Knock on the door) Shalom, Samuel! My name is Benjamin. I am a friend of your relative Joseph from Nazareth.

!SAMUEL Shalom, Benjamin! How can we help you? !! !

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BENJAMIN Do you have room for our family to stay the night? It’s been a long day. We are all very tired.

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SAMUEL I wish I could help you, but because of the census we have many members of our family here already.

!RUTH

Yes, every room is filled. Joseph and Mary came by earlier and we did not have room for them. They are staying in the small tower down the way where the shepherds watch over their flocks.

!HANNAH Is there room in the tower for us? !RUTH I don’t think so. It’s not very big. !HANNAH But look at our children. We are all so weary. !RUTH (To her husband) Is there anything we can do? !SAMUEL I’m so sorry, there really is nothing we can do. Mary gave birth to her baby there earlier this evening. !HANNAH

(With great excitement and energy) A baby? Samuel, we have heard from angels that the Messiah has been born in Bethlehem tonight. Could her baby be the Messiah?

!SAMUEL Why would the Messiah be born and laid in a lamb’s manger? !RUTH
 Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were true? Immanuel, God with us… born right here in Bethlehem. !HANNAH

Benjamin, we must go see. (HANNAH rushes off and takes the lead of the family to the manger – Benjamin will push the family forward)

! MANGER (STATION NINE) !(As the group moves toward the manger, the stable chorus sings) (Guides speak using a stage whisper to establish a quiet, reverent atmosphere.) !HANNAH

(Quietly staring at Mary in awe until family group is there, then speak) Mary… It is you. Your baby is the Messiah? (Full of wonder)

!SHEPHERD: JACOB

(To Joseph) Sir, while tending our flock, we were visited by angels who said tonight in the city of David our Messiah has been born. Is this the Messiah, the one the angels spoke of?

!JOSEPH (Said in soft amazement, hand on Mary’s shoulder, with a smile) Yes, the Messiah is here. !!

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MARY (Never taking her eyes off the baby) His Name is Jesus.

!BENJAMIN We have found the Messiah. Let us worship Him (both guides kneel). !STABLE ATTENDANT

And so the God of Heaven entered this world here where shepherds would assist with the birth of new lambs. He came as a virgin’s baby – truly God and yet truly man. One day this baby will be called the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He came with a purpose – to bring us back to Him.

!You see, through our disobedience, we are separated from God with no way to return. But God loves us so

much He made a way for us to come back to Him. Some thirty years from his birth, Jesus will suffer and die on a cross so that we can be forgiven. But Jesus’ death on the cross is not the end. After his death he was buried in the tomb, but after three days he rose from the dead completing God’s plan and paving the way for us. If we accept his grace and forgiveness, eternal life can be ours.

!(Guides exit manger scene with family and go to the cross) !BENJAMIN (Standing on or near the rocks at the cross)

This is the final scene in the “Journey to Bethlehem,” but it can be a new beginning for you. At Current A Christian Church we believe that Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior…. and that embracing this truth can change your life forever.

!HANNAH

As you prepare for this season, we also encourage you to prepare to believe. Believe in Jesus. We wish you a very special Christmas and God’s richest blessings in the coming year.

! BENJAMIN and HANNAH exit Cross Plaza and take family to the Hospitality Area. A greeter will welcome them. !Thank them for coming and being a part of our Christmas celebration. Wish them a “Merry Christmas.” Warmly say “Shalom” and leave. !This is the end of their journey. !QUICKLY go back to the Village to get your next group.

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