Cell Phone Christmas

A multimedia Christmas program

by Emily Demuth Ishida

Characters
Speaking roles: Newsie, God (speaks off stage), Angel, Mary, Shepherds, King 1, King 2, King 3, Joseph, Reader

Nonspeaking roles: Extra shepherds, sheep, angels

Production Notes 
A computer, projector, and screen will be used to project text messages from God, as well as words to songs that the congregation sings.  The tech crew will also need to call the cell phone numerous times in the course of the show.  A chime or bell choir, which could be the children who sing, is used to make “ring tones.”

At stage left a chair and desk are set at an angle, piled with books, papers, a laptop computer, and a working cell phone buried in the mess.  Newsie is seated at the desk as play begins.

All children, except for Angel, Mary, and Newsie, can be seated in front pew, or on altar step, where they can stand to sing as needed. 

Cell phone rings.

Newsie: Where is that phone?  It must be here somewhere. Digs under papers to find phone.  Answers it.  Hello?  News desk, can I help you?

God: Voice comes from back stage  I’ve got a story for you.  Old, but good.

Newsie: I don’t really want an old story.  This is the news desk.  We’re looking for breaking news, as in “We interrupt this broadcast for a special report.”

God: This is special news, and it’s worth interrupting whatever you’re broadcasting.

Newsie:  Sure it is.  Who am I talking to?

God: God

Newsie: Sure you are.  And I’m Peter Jennings, saying Goodnight.  Flips phone shut. Starts working on computer.

Text message appears on screen

MARY RU REDY 4 BABY TAFN ;) ;)

Newsie: I’m not Mary.  Are you ready for baby?  What baby? TAFN–That’s all for now?

Angel enters stage right, walks across stage and looks over top of computer. Newsie stares in astonishment.

Angel: Looks like God is trying to communicate 21st century style.  

Newsie: Who are you?

Angel: Gabriel.  You know, 2000 years ago, angels were the most efficient means of communication. As Newsie shakes head, Gabriel walks to Mary, who has entered stage right.  Music for “The Annunciation” from Holden Vespers plays.

Angel sings: Rejoice o highly favored, for God is with you.  You shall have a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High.

Two measures music.

Mary sings: I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.

Children stand to sing “The Magnificat” from Holden Vespers.  Mary and Angel move to center to sing.

All: 

My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you,
You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my life through.
Great and mighty are you, O Holy One, strong is you kindness evermore.
How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart.

You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of heart, 
You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part.
Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice, strong your love,
As you promised to Sarah and Abraham, kindness forevermore.

Verse 3 appears on screen, congregation joins in singing.

You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of heart,
You have filled the hungry with wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part.

Mary and Angel exit stage right.  Mary and Joseph go to back of church. Children are seated.

Newsie: Shakes phone. I’ve got to check out my ring tone.  Blessed me all my life through. Well yes, babies are blessing. That’s nothing new. Phone rings. Hello? News desk.

God: God again.  For the record, Mary’s song rocked the world!  Favoring the weak, casting the mighty from thrones–one could call that revolutionary.  That’s what this story is about.

Newsie: Revolutionary?!  Wasn’t her baby born in a barn?

God: Laid in a manger.  No room in the inn.  That’s all it says.

Newsie: Whatever.

God: Phillippians 4:8.

Newsie: Huh?  Flips phone closed and goes back to work on computer.

Text message appears on screen. 

ALL 2 B 123456... 

Newsie: Looking at computer screen. All to be 123456

Cell phone rings.

Newsie: Answering phone. Hello

God: Counted. All to be counted.

Newsie: Right...

God: In a prompting voice  The census... 

Newsie: Oh yes. Last one in 2000....

God: 1 BC.  Look it up.  Luke 2.  You do have a Bible among your reference books.  Said questioningly. 

Newsie:  Digs out Bible from under books on desk, starts reading Luke 2.  In those days a decree went... Voices dies out as Reader picks it up.

Reader: Picks up reading. ... A decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

During the reading, Mary and Joseph slowly walk up the aisle to center stage, where they sit on low stools.  Manger and baby are placed in front of them. 

Phone rings.

Newsie: Answers phone. Hello.

God: How about a new ring tone? 

Chimes or bells play first few notes of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” British melody.  Children all stand to sing. 

All:

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light,
The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary And, gathered all above.
While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!

Congregation joins in singing final verse.  Words on screen.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!

Children are seated.

Newsie: Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us–this doesn’t sound revolutionary, it sounds like a really bad science fiction flick. Shakes head and goes back to the computer.

Text message appears on screen.

NO FEAR 2 U SAVIOR BORN 0:) 0:) 0:)

Newsie: Shakes computer. What is this all about?

Angel: Enters stage right and walks to computer again.  Angel smilies.  Cute touch, but not as good as the real thing. God should stick with angels.

Newsie: Whatever.

Angel: Phillippians 4:8

Newsie: Looks to audience.  Great.  A running gag. 

Angel: Never mind.  Walks to center stage in front of Mary and Joseph.  Could I get some shepherds here?  Shepherds and sheep gather in center.

Angel: Fear not, for I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Shepherds: Let’s go and see the baby! 

Newsie: Oh brilliant.  The Savior is born and who’s the first to find out?  A bunch of sheep farmers.  They should have called CNN.  Phone rings. Newsie answers phone.  Hello.

God: You need a new tone. 

Chimes or bells play first few measures of “Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow”  Children stand to sing.  Angels, Shepherds and sheep stand by Mary & Joseph.  

All:

There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
It will lead to the place where Christ was born, rise up, shepherd and follow.

Refrain:
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Follow the star of Bethlehem, rise up, shepherd and follow.

If you take good heed to the angel’s words, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds, rise up shepherd and follow.

Refrain:
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Follow the star of Bethlehem, rise up, shepherd and follow.

Children are seated.  Angel, Sheep and shepherds sit in front of manger.  

Newsie: Follow farmers to see a baby?  I don’t think this story is going anywhere.  I’ve got more important stories to cover.  Starts working again.
Text message appears on screen. 

KINGS C * CUM 2

Newsie: Kings see asterisk come to ... to where?  What asterisk?  Cell phone rings. Newsie answers it.

God: Don’t get technical with me!

Newsie: What?

God: Star! Not an asterisk! Star! They saw a star!

Newsie: A whole lot of people have seen stars.  We’ve got millions of them.

God: Of course you do.  I made them.

Newsie: Yeah, whatever. 

God: Phillippians 4:8.  Newsie rolls eyes, shakes head. This was a special star.  It proclaimed the birth of the Messiah, the Savior.

Newsie:  I see.  Flips phone shut.

Three kings on stage right take turns looking through telescope, pointing at sky and gesturing to one another.

Newsie:  Watches kings and gestures toward them. Technology at last!

King 1: We observed a new star rising, and traveled to Jerusalem to ask about a new king.

Cell phone rings.

Newsie: Hello.

God: The star thing?  Let me explain. It was before cell phones.  Before televisions.  Had to get the news out somehow.

Newsie.  Got it. Thanks.  Flips phone shut. 

King 2: King Herod  told us that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, so off we went.

King 3: Herod wanted us to return and tell him about the Messiah, the new king, but God warned us that Herod might harm the child.

Newsie: Got a tip on your cell phone?

King 3: Shaking his head. No, just a dream.

Newsie: Oh yeah.  No cell phones. 

Angel: Standing up. Just angels. 

King 1: And stars.

King 3: And dreams. Angel is seated. 

Newsie: Wait a minute. Why would Herod hurt a baby?

King 2: Well, you know, old kings, new kings....

Newsie:  Ohhh... Casting the mighty down from their thrones.  Revolutionary.  I see.  Now the story’s going somewhere.  What happened next?

King 2: We went to Bethlehem, and took very expensive gifts.  Gold.

King 3: Frankincense.

King 1: And myrrh.

Cell phone rings.

Newsie: Answers phone. Hello.

God: How about a new ring tone?. 

Newsie.  Good idea, God.  Thanks for calling.

Chimes play first few measures of “As With Gladness.” Children stand to sing. 

All:

As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led by thee.

Kings move over to manger during this verse.

As with joyful steps they sped, Savior, to thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before Thee, whom heav’n and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet Ever seek thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare At thy cradle, rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heav’nly king.

Congregation joins in singing.  Verses appear on screen.

Holy Jesus, ev’ry day Keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls as last
Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heav’nly country bright Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown, Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing Alleluias to our King.

Children are seated.

Newsie: So what happened?  Did Herod get the baby?

Joseph: Stands up.  Oh no.  God told me to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.

Newsie: Followed a star, did you?

Joseph: Nope.  No star.

Newsie: Dream, maybe?

Joseph: The angel appeared in a dream telling me to go.

Newsie: Wow–that’s like a text message and a cell phone call.  Must have been important.

Mary: Stands up.  It wasn’t time for Jesus to die.  He had to grow up, and preach the good news of God’s great love for us.

Newsie: But he did die.

Mary: That’s another story.  Today’s story is that he came.  He came to us.

Newsie:   Into our hearts.  To show us a new way to live.  Cell phone rings.  Newsie answers. Hello.

God: Is it a good story?  
 
Newsie: Not bad.  Suspense, intrigue, revolution.
God: We interrupt this broadcast stuff.

Newsie: Yeah, whatever.

All: Phillippians 4:8

Newsie: What is it with Phillippians 4:8?

God: Look it up.  You still have a Bible, don’t you?

Newsie: Verse appears on screen in fancy type.  “Whatever” is larger or bolder than rest. Continues to hold phone. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Phillippians 4:8  Nods his head.  That sums it all up.

God: Sums what up?

Newsie: Your story!  The Christmas story.  True and pure and just and pleasing and worthy of praise!

God: I’m glad I was able to communicate it to you.  How about a new ring tone?

Newsie: Excellent.

Chimes play first couple measures of “Joy to the World.”  Children stand to sing.

All:

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 

Congregation joins in.  Verses on screen.

No more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.

Text appears on screen.

I  LUV U   B MY MSNGR TAFN ;) :)

GOD

© 2005 Emily Demuth Ishida
885 Spring Rd
Elmhurst IL 60126