Simple Beautiful Powerful Gift

(Disponible en inglés y español)

Beneath the swirl of sales, texts, and to-do lists, church bells keep singing a quieter story. On a simple park bench, a Reader recounts the Nativity as hurried strangers—teens, a business pro, a frazzled mom, a hurting neighbor—pause just long enough to hear it. What begins as noise becomes a clear invitation: the true gift of Christmas has already been given—eternal life through Jesus. A gentle, funny, and hope-filled snapshot perfect for Advent or Christmas Eve, with minimal staging and moments your congregation will recognize in themselves.

Beautifully written by DramaShare's Patti Read.

Cast: 12 m or f

• 12 (speaking, may be m or f)
• Reader – warm, casual, friendly
• Mother – frantic, busy, annoyed with her daughter
• Daughter – super cool, self-centred, embarrassed to be seen with her Mother
• Business Man – suit and tie, stuffy, professional
• IPod Guy – cool dude, a bit slow in understanding, ready to party
• Laptop Person – computer geek, taped up glasses, pocket protector, nervous
• Purse Lady – tired, disorganized
• Texter 1 – carrying cell phone, school backpacks, teens
• Texter 2 – carrying cell phone, school backpacks, teens
• Texter 3 – carrying cell phone, school backpacks, teens
• Busy Lady – carrying a to-do list, frantic, harried
• Hurt Person – male or female, tattered clothing, gentle nature

Bible Reference: Romans 6:23
Set: standard
Sound:
wireless mics if possible
Song: none
Lighting: spotlights
SFX: none
Props: handbells, tree, bench
Costumes: standard
Special Instructions:

• Parts can be modified to include more speakers, or combine speaking roles to account for less speakers
• handbell performers may be part of the 12 above or separate group
• handbell music could be taped rather than live

Time: 12

Sample script:

(Disponible en inglés y español)

scene begins with hand bell songs

Reader sitting on a park bench, reading Bible, a tree or bush beside the bench. Spot light comes up to reveal the full stage, then Reader begins to read aloud, to himself.

Reader: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

Mother and Daughter walk by

Mother, annoyed:
Come on, dear! If I told you once I told you a thousand times – NO!! I am not going driving you two blocks just so you can check out your favorite store!

Daughter: But Mom! I just HAVE to get there! Jessica said that Shayla said that Jasmyn said that Mia told her that Scatters is having simply the best sale ever on fur lined wristbands!

Mother: Who, what … Fur lined wristbands?

Daughter: Yeah, like, what part didn‟t you understand?

Mother: I didn‟t realize you had such a problem with cold wrists!

Daughter: Cold wrists?? What are you talking about! You don‟t WEAR the wristbands on your wrists, Mother! You just clip them on the right side of your backpack, which must be hanging off your left shoulder! HELLO??!! Imagine – my Mother walking around with wristbands on her wrists!! How embarrassing!
(walks off, disgusted)

Mother, yelling after Daughter:
Look, I am far too busy to worry about making you happy! You think I have nothing better to do this Christmas season than to worry about making others happy. I‟ll tell you another thing … (walks off stage)

Handbells chime off stage.

Reader watches, listens to Mother and Daughter as they exit stage, smiles, chuckles to himself. Business man, IPod Guy, Purse lady and Laptop Lady enter stage left, all standing in a group, as if waiting for a bus. Small movements, so as not to be distracting to the audience listening to the reader, but could occasionally look “down the street” to see if the bus is coming.

Reader, reads: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem … (keeps his eyes down, reading)

Business Man, looking around, speaking to no one in particular:
Did you hear that?
No one answers, all occupied with other things.

Handbells chime again

Business Man: I say, do you hear that?

IPod Guy: What? (Takes out ear buds) Hear what, uptight dude?

Business Man: The bells!!
Handbells chime again.

IPod Guy: Oh, the bells! Pretty bells … ringing … like little birdies singing for us … (starts to sing) Merrily we roll along, roll along …

Business Man, interrupts:
No, those bells! Why do they keep ringing?

Laptop Person, clears throat:
Excuse me, important person. But I think the answer you are seeking is quite logical. You see the ringing sound you are hearing, is unequivocally a direct cause and effect relationship of the bells moving back and forth and thereby clanging.

Business Man, looks around, bewildered:
Where am I? Am I on one of those hidden camera shows? Who are these people?

Purse Lady, looks through purse:
My bad, my bad! That‟s my phone ringing. Those kids think they are so smart, changing the ringer on me again! Well, at least it‟s church bells this time and not “Who Let the Dogs Out!”

IPod Guy, barking:
Who, Who, Who!

Business Man, talking into a tree:
Okay, very funny! You got me! Is the camera in here? Hi Mom!

Reader: Excuse me, but the bells you‟re hearing are from the church behind you. It‟s funny you haven‟t noticed them before – they have always been there, everyday. Same time, same place. They‟ve never changed.

Laptop Person:
Well, uh, I actually have noticed them. I have very keen observational skills.

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