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Katie lights third advent candle

Narrators, Ian Christine, Gordon

King Herod , aka Bill Webster

Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus

THe Shepherds meet

Wiseman seeks baby Jesus

angel Katie



Christmas Nativity - 16 December 2018


Finalé lineup. Herod, Joseph, Mary, Shepherds, Gabriel and Angels, Wisemen, Calcas.

Our third Sunday in advent started with Katie lighting the third candle, followed by a short video explaining the meaning of Joy, where we we explored the unique type of joy to which God’s people are called. It’s more than happy mood, but rather a choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises. You can hear all about it, or watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvOhQTuD2e0

We sang hymn 295 who would think, followed by a prayer and reading from the bible.

We then welcomed the players in our Pageant of Christ’s Nativity.

The Prologue
Our narrators, played by Ian Dickson, Christine Jackson, and Gordon MacDonald, set the scene with the prologue, introducing the prophet Isaiah who storms on to the stage to a drum roll and clash of cymbals. Isaiah tells us of Gods blessing to mankind, a second start. A lass will will bear a boy who will lead us back to peace and joy. As Isaiah departs he narrators wonder if his prophecies will come true.

We sang Hymn 316 'Love comes down at Christmas', before following the story.

Scene 1 -  The Annunciation
Mary, played by Joan Cape,  enters to be visited by the Angel (meaning messenger) Gabriel, played by Charlie Sprott, who tells Mary that she will bear a son. Mary argues that as she is unwed it can’t be done. However when Gabriel tells her it will be the son of God, she will serve the Lord. Later Mary and Joseph, played by Neil Cape, are wed and head to Bethlehem for the Roman census.

We sing Hymn 304 'O little town of Bethlehem'.

Scene 2 - The Shepherds
We hear of Joseph wedding to Mary and their journey to Bethlehem for the census. On their journey Mary and Joseph stop to rest and bump into a shepherd called Sim, played by Margaret Black,  looking for a lost sheep. Soon two other shepherds, played by Elaine Jacobs and Fiona Hutcheson, wrap Sim in a cloak to keep him warm and eat before they rest until the morning light. Sim looks up while they eat and spots the bright star in the heavens. This was the sign foretold that the shepherds would know as the new born boy, heavens joy.

To the sound of 'Gloria in Excelsis' the angels enter, played by Janis Hogg, Jenny Ramage, Helen McCall, Ruby Sprott, and little Katie, to tell the shepherds of the new born king. As the angels depart, again to 'Gloria' the shepherds set off for Bethlehem.

We sang Hymn 296 'While humble shepherds'.

Scene 3 -The manger
We catch up with Mary and Joseph in the stable, there being no room at the inn. Baby Jesus is born in a manger. The shepherds arrive to see the new born Messiah, offering their modest gifts. The shepherds left and spread the word all around Bethlehem that night.

We sang Hymn 310 'See him lying in a bed of straw'.

Scene 4 - Herod the King
We switch to King Herod, strutting on his palace walls, while his herald Calcas, played by Rev John Urquhart, enters to a drum roll and clash of cymbals to read Herod's decree, that no one will pass unless they pay 5 gold coins. Calcas departs to the cymbals once more, before we see a wiseman, played by Sheila Haig, appear. Soon a second wiseman, played by Mary Paterson, appears completely lost. At this our third wiseman, played by Margaret Webster, appears and they all join together. They travel to Jerusalem and the palace of King Herod.
       
Calcas meets them and introduces them to Herod as seeking a new boy king. Intrigued Herod offers free passage for a hundred days to seek this new king. But as the wisemen leave Herod instructs Calcas to cutoff their heads when they return and kill the upstart child king.

We sang Hymn 331 'Unto us a child is born'.

Scene 5 - Epiphany
We return to Bethlehem where Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus are preparing to return home, after paying their tax to the  Roman's. The wisemen appear to a trumpet fanfare, kneeling and offering gifts of gold, incense, and Myrrh. The wisemen say they have to return to Herod but tired they res on a grassy bank.

As they rest the angels appear, to the strains of 'Gloria in Excelsis', to warn the wisemen not to return to Herod. They leave in separate directions.

Joseph has a dream the night before he, Mary, and Jesus set off home. An angel warns Joseph that Herod will play a trick. to a clash of cymbals Joseph wakes Mary and the three head off, to a clash of cymbals, before Herod finds them.

And so our story was told. Herod died as tyrants will, but Christ returned and is with us still.

We finished with Hymn 320 'Joy to the world'.

You can listen to the rest of the service,sermon, hymns and blessing 


Published - 20 December 2018

Penicuik: St. Mungo's Parish Church (Church of Scotland). Scottish Charity No SC005838