The Messiah is Born

(Music)

( Narrator’s voice)

It happened more than two thousand years ago. The Roman Empire held sway
over Palestine. Its powerful emperor Augustus Caesar wanted to raise money
from his subjects. So he ordered them to go to their home towns. They were
required to register their names in their home towns and pay the tax due from
them.
(Music)
(Narrator’s voice)

Among the people who set out to obey the Emperor’s orders were a carpenter
named Joseph and his wife Mary. They were traveling from Nazareth, where they
had been living for some time to Bethlehem, which was their home town. When
they reached Bethlehem, they found that all the inns were full. Joseph and Mary
were worried. Mary was expecting a baby which was to be born soon. A kind
inn-keeper took pity on them. He offered them a stable behind the inn with plenty
of hay to keep them warm
( Music)

(The lights come on. Mary and Joseph are seen arranging hay in a manger in the
stable. The lights go off again)

(Narrator’s voice)

There in the stable, at midnight in the chilling cold, Mary gave birth to a baby
boy.
(Music)

(The lights come on. Mary is seen wrapping the baby in swaddling clothes.
Joseph stands watching. A glittering star appears in the background)

(Narrator’s voice)

Though Mary was tired, she was filled with joy, for the birth of her child was the
fulfillment of God’s promise to Joseph. For an angel had told him in a dream that
the Holy spirit would come upon Mary and bless her to be the mother of the son
of God.
(Music)
(Lights fade out)
(Narrator’s voice)
Soon an angel appeared before a group of shepherds who were watching over
their flocks in the fields outside Bethlehem. The angel said to them:

(The angel’s voice)

Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born in the city of David, a saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(Lights come on. The shepherds are seen entering the stable)

(The Narrator’s voice)

The shepherds gazed in awe at the child who was to be the saviour of all mind.
Then they bowed before it, praised God for the wonder they had seen and
returned to their flocks
(The shepherds are seen paying their respects to infant Jesus, praying to God and
leaving the stable).
(Music)

(The lights fade out and come on again).

(The narrator’s voice)

The magi or the three wise men from the East learned of the birth of Christ from a
star that appeared in the sky and seemed to be moving. They followed the star
and arrived in Bethlehem. They went into the stable in the inn, fell down and
worshipped the child and presented him with the gifts they had brought.

(The magi are seen entering the stable, presenting gifts to the child and
worshipping him. The star in the background moves as the magi enter the stable).
(Music)
(Narrator’s voice)

Thus began the eventful life of Jesus Christ who was born to proclaim the glory of
God and to redeem mankind from sin.

(Music, Carol)
(Lights fade out as the carol ends).