David

Maker of mermaids 

Sculptures and paintings

tempera patchworks

Rich glowing colour

Drawing lines across the sky

The arctic geese fly in

This cold late January

And you are with them now

In the light

In the dark

In the old silence of the stars

In the warmth of the woody fire

I will remember

Kindness and humour

A twinkling smile

Breakfasts at dawn

I will still see you

In sculptures and paintings

That carry your spirit

That carry you on

Nativity Play

 Written as a performance piece for a school or congregation. This short play is partnered with the   Passion play also published in this blog

Introduction 

From out of the heavens the cold starlight Shines on the wings of angels bright 

And as they point towards the earth 

They tell us of a virgin birth 

The Angels sing (This can be an arrangement with music, extended, repeated, a refrain) 

Wrap him in clothes to keep him warm 

Hold him so tight away from harm

Feed him sweet milk  Mary

Joseph

The night is cool but I have made 

A bed for our baby

The straw was sharp so we have laid

Soft cloths to help him rest

We see the stars and hear the angels 

Singing high above us

And it is holy, magical, 

And we are truly blessed. 

Our little baby Jesus 

Like a bird inside a nest.

Mary

How I love my baby

My little baby Jesus 

Come to me and cling to me

And I'll protect you come what may

I will love you night and day 

My tiny baby Jesus 

You are a blessing to us. 

Angels sing

Wrap him in clothes to keep him warm 

Hold him so tight away from harm

Feed him sweet milk  Mary

ANGELS 

( Angels enter and use the censor with pure frankincense burning, They bless everyone with it) This could also be a metal dish with frankincense oil mixed with water which could be sprinkled if fire is a problem. The mood is majestic and full of wonder) 

Beautiful 

Solemn 

Incense smell

 

Ring the bell

 

Raise the fire of

Sacramental

Heavy high

And head bowed low

 

Swing the censor

To and fro

 

Ash and smoke and

Breath of balm

Gum from wood

Of Asian trees

Ching of chain 

 

Swing the Censor

High and low

 

Ash like snow

 KINGS

Through Snow and rain and desert storms we travelled night and day 

Through wind and dust and desert sun we suffered much and suffered long to travel all this way. 

We crossed the desert, mountains high, the planes and valleys, rivers wide 

The red dust in our hair and eyes 

The sun so very bright 

We travelled by sun and moon and star 

Our journey hard, our feet so sore

Our girdles fastened tight 

Guided always by the star. 

We searched and found him in this barn

And we'll protect him from all harm

We Eastern men 

Who've come so far

Were wise to come and worship him.

Wise to follow that holy star 

We carried jewels, gold, incense sweet, and bitter herbs to lay before 

this holy child 

our new born king

Which we will now present to him:

Gold

Light so brilliant light divine 

Pure and perfect saviour 

Gold for wisdom

Gold for wealth 

Gold to transform the dark of earth 

To golden light divine 

(repeat if wanted)

Frankincense 

Frankincense, al luban 

To burn before a deity 

God and man we worship thee

With incense for a King 

Our holy offering.

Our thanks to heaven for your birth

Our breath of prayer to rise

For we have found you 

Here at last

As we three kneel upon the earth

With lowered heads and eyes

Oh tiny little man

Frankincense, al luban

(Repeat if wanted)

Myrrh 

Of Myrrh we will not speak tonight 

It is not good for joyous light 

or birthdays sweet.

But for a distant time of pain

Of sadness and loss and dreadful shame

So close the lid, put it away

We will not need sad Myrrh today. 

Angels sing 

Wrap him in clothes to keep him warm 

Hold him so tight away from harm

Feed him sweet milk  Mary

Shepherd Boy

I heard a cry up in the field 

Not a cry of sheep or lamb 

But of a little baby

So I ran quickly down to see 

And here I found the family 

Huddled round baby to keep him warm 

Here in the night in an open barn

So I ran and ran till I got home 

And brought some sheepskin 

To keep him warm 

And then he smiled at me 

He did he smiled at me

His little mouth and eyes so sweet 

He liked the sheepskin tucked up neat

To keep him warm

I think he smiled at me 

The Shepherds 

We usually sleep in turns 

But the stars were very bright 

we'd set a small fire

talked into the night 

Of crops and olives 

sheep and wool

And listened to silence

The crackling wood spark

Enjoying the dark

Then all of a sudden 

A very bright light 

Shone down from above us 

A terrible fright 

And a voice and then voices 

Called down from on high 

And told us a baby was born

Quite close by

Said hasten and go

And travel to see him 

We darent say no! 

So we gathered our supper 

Our olives and bread 

Some wine and some cheeses 

And walked to the shed

And there in a manger 

A tiny baby! 

And light seemed to shine from him

The voices sang songs to him 

It seemed like a special thing

A special baby

Twas marvellous to see

So we shared our supper 

Our cheese and our wine 

Our olives and flat bread

And had a great time! 

And the little child Jesus 

Lay sleeping on hay

And he didn't wake 

till the dawn of the day. 

Thank goodness said Mary! 

Now we must all try to get some sleep 

They all form a tableau of sleep 

The end