A Relative Christmas

Written by master dramatist and friend of DramaShare, Karen Dickson

A Relative Christmas tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of those connected to the people who witnessed His life firsthand.

A shepherd’s daughter remembers the angels. The granddaughter of a Wise Man recalls the star. Others share stories handed down through Simeon, Nicodemus, the Bethlehem innkeeper, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. Moving from the night of Christ’s birth through His ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and the early church, each character adds another piece to the story of who Jesus is.

Music, Scripture, communion, symbolic banners, and a moving candlelight conclusion bring the cast and congregation together with a reminder that the light of Christ was never meant to remain in Bethlehem — it is ours to carry into the world.

Cast:    7 main speaking roles — Sarah, Tamara, Hannah, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth, and Paul.

Optional/non-speaking roles: Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and a child portraying the Little Drummer Boy may be used in the opening Nativity scene

Bible Reference:  Luke, Mathew, John, and 1 Corinthians

Set:   A simple bare stage or area, there should be, on either side of center, a divider of sorts, on which banners can be hung and tall enough that actors can walk behind without being seen.

Lighting:   spots able to move the audience's gaze to follow the story

Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song:   Several popular hymns and songs were used in the original production; they are listed here as suggestions which can be changed to suit your production.

SFX:  none

Costumes:    should be simple, and something that suggests the character while allowing for street clothing underneath.

Props:     as indicated

Special Instructions:

• Throughout the play, time changes from the birth of Christ to 50 years after His death, to modern-day.
• Visually, the scenes should be placed beginning from stage left to right, so that by play's end the audience views a montage of banners/emblems.
• Each character will display a symbol connected with their relative in the Christmas/Jesus story.
• In the original production, the symbols were made of felt, mounted on felt banners and hung to the wall behind the actors.
• An important bit of information for every scene is the time when the scene takes place. This may be printed in the program.
  • Scene 1: The birth of Christ symbol is a manger
  • Scene 2: Five years after the birth of Christ symbol is an angel
  • Scene 3: Twelve years after the birth of Christ symbol is a star
  • Scene 4: 33 years after the birth. symbol is a heart
  • Scene 5: The same year: 33 years after the birth  symbol a "NO VACANCY" sign
  • Scene 6: A week later.  symbol is a cross
  • Scene 7: 50 years after the birth carrying the symbol, a candle
  • In the final portion communion is served to all
  • Additional notes: While the characters in this play suggest certain ages and gender, there is a lot of flexibility. For instance, the part of Hannah was originally written for Nathaniel, a teenage student of Nicodemus who was the great-nephew of Simeon. However, the teenage boy didn't want to be in the play, and our pianist, a middle-aged woman, was willing. Hannah came to be. If your needs for characterizations vary widely from those listed, kindly contact the author and perhaps other variations will find life.

Run time: Approximately 30–40 minutes, depending heavily on how many suggested songs are performed in full and whether communion is included.

Sample Script:

Download A Relative Christmas Sample Script

As the audience members enter, each should receive a small unlit candle.

Scene 1: The birth of Christ

Cast sings: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

While the song is sung, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are by a small manger filled with hay. A small child may play the part of the Little Drummer Boy and pantomime the actions in the song. If the people are not available to do this montage, the song stands well on its own. It is nice, however, to have the manger filled with straw and a doll for baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths. At the end of the song, have Sarah take the baby and put it backstage.

Scene 2: Five years after the birth of Christ

Sarah enters. She hangs her symbol -- an angel.

SARAH: Every year on this day, Papa gathers us together -- my brothers and sister and I -- and tells us about a special night -- five years ago. He takes us to his field where he and his co-workers always watch over their sheep. We gaze in awe at the dark night sky as Papa describes how frightened they were that night.
You see, the sky lit up suddenly and was filled with bright, shining angels -- I've never seen one, and Papa says he hasn't since -- but he'll never forget. He says we shouldn't either. God sent us, that night, His most precious gift -- His only son. He didn't look like the Son of God. You see, He was just a ruddy baby. But Papa was sure -- would you ever doubt an angel?

Cast and audience sing: WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS

Scene 3: Twelve years after the birth of Christ

Tamara enters. She hangs her symbol -- a star.

TAMARA: I was so excited today! My grandfather took me to the Temple in Jerusalem. When I turned 12, he promised me he would take me there. What a place! What a sight! But even more amazing was this boy -- he was my age but we saw him actually teaching the elders! He spoke with such understanding, my grandfather says he knew at once this boy was the child he'd seen years ago in Bethlehem. Grandpa has been looking for the child ever since. You see, he is supposed to be the Son of God! Seeing him and his wisdom today, Grandpa says he's sure.
How does Grandpa know he's the Son of God? When the boy was born, God set a special star in the sky to lead my grandpa right to the place of the birth. Even the great King Herod wanted to know about the birth, but God warned Grandpa not to let Herod know. Only such protection would follow God's only Son -- Messiah, Grandpa calls Him.
And today, I saw Him, too!

Cast and Audience sing: THE FIRST NOEL

Scene 4: 33 years after the birth

Hannah enters, sweeping the floor. She stops and hangs her symbol, a heart. An oil lamp sits on a small table, lit.

HANNAH: Good evening. I'm called Hannah. Many years ago, my Uncle Simeon witnessed the Christ Child. Uncle Simeon had been promised by God that he wouldn't die until he'd seen the child. And sure enough, one day a young couple came to the temple for the ritual dedication of their new son. Uncle Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary that the child would bring about the fall and rising of many in Israel. It disturbed Uncle to say it, but he also told the mother that a sword would pierce her own soul, and that because of her son, the thoughts out of many hearts would be revealed.

I had heard that story so many years I decided I wanted to find out more about this child and about the scriptures written about him. The Lord led me to this position; I'm a housekeeper for the great teacher Nicodemus. He was captivated when I told him the story of my Uncle Simeon, and together Nicodemus and I talk for hours sometimes about the prophecies in the scriptures and the stories we hear about a man from Nazareth called Jesus.

This morning I was surprised when I came to work to find the lamp already lit. Nicodemus looked tired, but something about him was glowing. He was incredibly excited. He told me he'd been waiting up all night for me to come. You see, he met with Jesus last night. He went under the cover of the night, so as not to raise anyone's suspicions. He says that Jesus told him we all must be born again into God's spirit in order to see the kingdom of God. And Nicodemus taught me what Jesus had told him. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

So this Jesus, the child my Uncle Simeon blessed, is truly God's only Son, sent as a gift of love from God Himself.

{Hannah pauses to think, sweeps a bit as she begins to hum, then sings: "God So Loved the World". The version we used is written by Jack Hayford.)

Scene 5: The same year: 33 years after the birth

Jacob enters. His symbol is actually a "No Vacancy" sign. He wears a money pouch hung from his belt.

JACOB: What a day! I don't quite know what to make of it. Pop was feeling pretty good as the crowds in town for Passover are always great for business. There certainly have been many days -- weeks even - when his rooms have stayed vacant. Even back in the old days when he only had his small inn in Bethlehem. But, mind you, don't you get Pop started about his 'no vacancy' stories -- it won't take a second to hear it -- his Story of Stories! That crowded night -- it's been, let's see -- can it be 33 years? It was even before I was born, but I've heard the story so much I feel like I was there.

You see, there were no rooms left and the night was cold. Mama -- she always had such a soft spot for anyone in need -- she convinced Pop to let a young couple stay out in the stable. The woman was pregnant, you see. And wouldn't you know, she had her baby that very night! Some really odd things happened after that, too. All sorts of strangers showing up as if they knew where this couple was, and somehow they knew the baby had been born! How, I'll never know. Some say miracles -- angels -- God -- but I don't know.

Download A Relative Christmas Sample Script

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