keep christ in christmas - adults

7/26/2019 Keep Christ in Christmas - Adults

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"Keep Christ in Christmas Musical

An old Christmas Story about a shoemaker as he waits for a visit fromJesus.

Narrator 1: It was Christmas Eve. In a small Russian village, excitedchildren were playing in the streets. Down the street shuffled an oldshoemaker. He waved at the children as he made his way to his small shopon the corner.

Everyone loved the kind old shoemaker. He went inside and set to workmaking and mending shoes.

(Shoemaker waves to audience as he enters stage)

Narrator 2:The old shoemaker stopped and stood in the window of hisshop. He listened to the squeals of laughter as the children played, but histhoughts were far away.

He did not have a family, and on Christmas Day he would be all alone.

CHOIR: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

(Shoemaker picks up a book on the table)

Narrator 1:He sighed, picked a big leather-bound book from a shelf, andrested in his big old chair. He ran his fingers along the lines of the book. Itwas the story of Christmas. He read how the Wise Men had brought giftsfor Jesus-the best gifts they could offer. He scratched his head, lookedround his little room and thought, If Jesus visited me, what would I be ableto give Him?"

Narrator 2:Then he settled back in his chair, pulled up his favorite blanketand before very long, the warmth of the fire made him drowsy. He thoughtof all the hustle and business of shoppers out there; he thought of those

who had no home; he thought of all the presents that were being wrappedat this very moment, he thought of Jesus and the innkeepers who had noroom for him.

(Shoemaker sits in chair and wraps blanket around himself)

CHOIR: No Room


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Narrator 2: Outside, the children returned to their homes. A small group ofchildren huddled together. They did not have a warm home to go to. Theydid not have parents to care for them. They were orphans. Slowly theymade their way to the cold, empty orphanage and huddled together to keepwarm.

Narrator 1: Across the street from the orphanage, the old shoemaker wassnoring gently. Suddenly he heard a voice in the room.

VOICE: "Dear old shoemaker, you were wondering what you could giveMe. Tonight I am going to visit your village. Look out for me. I shall not saywho I am."

(Shoemaker jumps to his feet startled)

Narrator 2: The old shoemaker jumped to his feet and rubbed his eyes.Jesuswas coming to visit! What could he give Him? He was sure Jesuswould like a hot drink on such a cold evening. So, he lit his stove and put akettle of water on to boil. He was sure Jesus would like something to eat.

He looked in the larder and there was a fresh loaf of bread and soup readyfor warming. When Jesus came, he could invite Him to sit in his chair, withhis warm blanket around Him, and give Him a hot drink, soup, and freshbread to eat.

(Shoemaker picks up a loaf of bread)

Narrator 1:Tomorrow would be Christmas Day and he so wanted to giveJesus a special gift, but what could a poor shoemaker give Jesus? All of asudden he knew. He could make Jesus a pair of his finest shoes. But whatsize were Jesus' feet? He would need to make a pair of his finest shoes inevery size, and Jesus could have the pair of shoes that fitted Him best!

(CD Music fades)

(Shoemaker sits down again and then jumps up as if to look outside)

Narrator 2: He set to work at once. As he worked, the old shoemakersuddenly heard footsteps. He rushed to the window. But it wasn't Jesus.

(Shoemaker sits down again)

CHOIR: Were You There On That Christmas Night (CCLI)

(Child carrying a lantern enters and walks across platform)


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Narrator 2: It was a young child lighting lamps along the street. His coatwas threadbare and he shivered as he worked. "How cold he looks,"thought the old shoemaker, "I could give him my blanket, I still have othergifts for Jesus." He shuffled outside with his blanket and wrapped it aroundthe shoulders of the young boy. The boy stopped shivering, smiledgratefully, and went on his way.

(Shoemaker walks over to child and wraps his own blanket around thechildren)

Child Solo: One Small Child (V 1 & 3) (Child exits after song)

Narrator 1: The shoemaker returned to his shop and carried on working.Just then, he heard voices outside. Had Jesus come?He rushed to thedoor. But all he could see was a group of children singing carols.

Children Speak:#1It's Christmas Day, #2goodwill on earth,

#3Let's

celebrate The Savior's birth.#4God gave His love, #5what can I bring

#6That's worthy of a new-born King?"

Narrator 2: The old shoemaker smiled and said,

(Shoemaker greets children and gives them each a cup)

Shoemaker 1:"Thank you. You must be so thirsty after your singing. Ihave hot drinks warming on my stove. I was saving them for a special

guest, but I'm sure He won't mind. I have other gifts for Him."

(Shoemaker waves goodbye and sits down again)

Narrator 2:No sooner had he gone back to his work than the oldshoemaker heard a different set of footsteps. It must be Jesus!He rushedout into the street. But as the footsteps came closer, the old shoemakerrecognized the figure of a poor widow and her children. How hungry theylooked.

(Widow and child walk up isle and onto platform)

(Shoemaker greets them and usher them to a chair. He hands them each abowl of soup and sits down with them)

Shoemaker 1:"Come in and have some of my soup, "I was saving it for aspecial guest, but I'm sure He won't mind. I still have another gift for Him."


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Narrator 2:The widow and her children went into the shop and warmedthemselves by the fire. The old shoemaker gave them soup and freshbread to eat. Meanwhile, across the street, the children in the orphanagewere getting ready for bed. They tucked themselves under the covers andfell asleep.

(Widow and child exit as music begins)

CHOIR: Keep Christ in Christmas

(Widow and child exit as music ends)

Narrator 1: The poor widow and her children thanked the old shoemakerfor his kindness and went on their way. The old shoemaker looked at hisclock. It was getting late. He must finish making his gift for Jesus.

Every so often he would look out of the window to see if Jesus was comingdown the street. But no one came. Just before dawn he finished making theshoes. He had a pair in every size, but Jesus had not come to collect Hisgift.

(Shoemaker places several pairs of shoes on display then goes to peer outthe window. He wipes his tears)

Narrator 2:The old shoemaker stared out of his window. Tears streameddown his face. Jesus had promised to visit him, but Jesus had not come.

What would he do with all the shoes he had made?

(Shoemaker gathers up all his shoes and places in a bag and slowly beginsto leave)

As the sun rose in the sky, he looked across the street at the orphanageand wiped his tears away. He had a wonderful idea! He gathered up theshoes into a sack. Then he tiptoed across the street and into theorphanage. He placed a pair of his finest shoes by each child. Then hetiptoed back to his shop, sat in his comfortable chair, and closed his eyes.

As he dozed, he heard the same voice he had heard the night before:(Shoemaker freezes as he hears the VOICE, and then exits platform as themusic begins)

VOICE: "Thank you kind shoemaker. I visited you last night and you gaveme warmth. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was hungry and youfed me, and, kind shoemaker, I was in the orphanage and you came to visit


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Me. Thank you for giving me the finest pair of your shoes. Whatever youdid for all these people, you also did for me."

Narrator 1:Christmas bells rang out across the village as the orphanswoke to find their gifts.

CHOIR: Come On Ring Those Bells

(Shoemaker joins the children and all walk out of sight)

Narrator 2: Excited children rushed out to play. The old shoemakershuffled out to join the Christmas celebrations. The night air seemed aliveand the star shone down in their glory. It was the happiest Christmas hehad ever had!

CHOIR: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Paul Thompson who adapted it from Leo Tolstoy. Jeanne McIntosh who

adapted from Paul Thompson 2014.

keep christ in christmas - adults

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