New Hope Shelter Christmas

✨ A Christmas Eve like no other...
At New Hope Mission, Christmas isn't just about celebration — it's about second chances, healing broken hearts, and finding family where you least expect it.

Set in a skid row shelter, New Hope Shelter Christmas brings together a diverse group of people — staff, volunteers, and the homeless — each carrying heavy burdens of loss, regret, and hope. As old wounds surface and unexpected connections are made, God's quiet work of redemption becomes clear, showing that even in the darkest places, hope can be born anew.

With authentic characters, heartfelt moments, and surprising twists, this 45-minute drama offers a powerful reminder that God's love reaches to the forgotten corners of the world — and the forgotten corners of the heart.

Perfect for Christmas services, outreach events, or community theatre performances, this play will touch hearts and leave audiences reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas.

Cast: 13

• Cast: 13+ (most could be male or female, additional crowd persons would be useful)
• Ken, pastor, late 20’s or older
• Erica, 20’s, mission staff worker, lost parents in car accident last Christmas Eve
• Peter, late teen, 20’s, mission staff worker
• Candace, mission staff worker, any age
• April, mission staff worker, any age
• Frank, late 40’s or older, lost his daughter 9/11
• Zeke, drug dealer, late teens, 20’s
• Judy, mission volunteer, daughter had died of drug overdose
• Carly, mid teens, runaway from home
• Adam, 40’s or older, businessman who lost it all
• Shay, techie who has lost everything through Hollywood strikes
• Crowd1 and Crowd2, people from the crowd with a few lines

Bible Reference:   Luke 2
Set:

• This seven scene drama all takes place in the dining hall of a skid row mission. It can be run as a seven scene drama, or as all one scene, with lights down between scenes, and the lights focusing on the table where the action is happening.
• tables and chairs

Sound: wireless mics
Song: none
Lighting: Spotlights to direct attention to the featured table would be useful
SFX: none
Props: coffee cups, plates with food
Costumes:

• mostly old, well worn clothing

Special Instructions:
Time:   45

Sample script:

Scene I

(Lights come up. Ken is working around, arranging tables, setting up chairs.)

Ken:
There, that should do it for tonight.

(Erica comes on stage, yawning.)

Ken:
Hey Erica, Merry Christmas!

Erica:
Shouldn't it be bad luck or something to wish Merry Christmas on Christmas Eve?

Ken:
If that was the case there would be a ton of bad luck people over the last month.

(Erica stretches, yawns.)

Ken:
Looks like you are worn out, Erica. Not feeling well?

Erica:
I am OK.

Ken:
You are bummed... Care to share?

Erica:
It’s no big thing.

Ken:
OK, if you say so... If you change your mind and want to talk, I am here.
Now then... you have the songs ready for tonight?

Erica:
Yup, Jingle, Jingle All The Way.

Ken:
I hope there is something a bit more deep than that.

Erica (angry):
Look, I have been worship leader at my church back home for four years. I think I can handle Christmas Eve at a skid row shelter, OK?

Ken:
Whoa, take it easy, Erica, I...

(Peter comes on stage, happily humming “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”)

Peter:
Hey guys, seen any signs of Santa yet?

Erica (mocking):
Yeah, I am sure his reindeer are prancin’ and dancin’ as we speak.

Peter:
I just hope he got my note.

Ken:
Likely not enough room in Santa’s sleigh for a Ford Mustang.

Peter:
My luck.

(Candace and April come on stage.)

Candace:
The volunteers are here, ready to go.

April:
That new volunteer, Judy — she is so awesome!

Candace:
You are so right, April... And after all she has been through... you guys remember Simone, right?

Peter:
Poor Simone! Died of a heroin overdose, right here at New Hope...

April:
Judy was Simone’s mom.

Erica:
And she has come back here to volunteer at the shelter? How could she? I mean...

Candace:
I guess we all have our reasons for being here at New Hope Shelter.

Ken:
Yes we do... (thinks, shakes head, smiles)
It’s been three years now since God led me here to Cleveland to start New Hope... (looks around, hugs others)
And since then God has brought me an awesome team to work with... and awesome volunteers too!

Peter:
You never told us your background, Ken. You from here in Cleveland?

Ken (frowns, gets quiet):
No... no... I’m from... New York City, actually... Long story...

Candace:
This mission has a million stories it seems... New girl came in last night, Carly, just maybe 15... ran away from home. So sad!

Peter:
All ages in here... There’s this guy Adam... From the way he acts, talks, he seems like someone who has lost a lot.

Erica:
One thing Adam hasn’t lost is his attitude!

Peter (chuckles):
Adam has an attitude for sure... but it’s obvious the attitude is covering over a lot of hurt.

Erica:
Hurt happens. Adam has to learn to move on...

April:
Isn’t it amazing how volunteers would leave their own families on Christmas Eve and spend it with the less fortunate?

Erica:
Why would anyone with a family leave them on Christmas Eve?

Candace:
Why would you say that, Erica?... They leave for the same reason we do... to be a family for those who have no family.

Erica (angry):
I have news for you, Candace — if I had a family you can bet I wouldn’t be here!

(Erica runs off stage.)

Candace (embarrassed):
Did I say something wrong?

Ken:
It wasn’t you, Candace.
Erica’s mom and dad and sister were killed last Christmas Eve by a drunk driver... Christmas can be an especially hard time with all the memories.

Candace:
I am so sorry. I’ll go and apologize to Erica!

Ken:
It’s OK, Candace. Erica likely needs a little private time.

Peter:
Well, I better get going — time to get the show on the road.

(Lights down.)

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