Scratch Nativity
This nativity needs no rehearsal, and only a small amount of preparation. This can be advertised for everyone to come along dressed as any character from the story, and it doesn't matter how many of each character you have (although at least one of each is helpful!): Angel, Mary, Joseph, Star, Shepherd, Wise man, Donkey, other animals (optional) ...and a King Herod (probably only one, and it's worth priming someone, as it's not the most obvious choice for nativity dressing-up).
The majority of words are delivered by a narrator (in amusing, rhyming form), from front centre, although they could be split between two narrators. One other person is needed: someone to manage the action and movement of the characters, which appear in the script in red italics. But the directions in red can be ignored if unhelpful, and song suggestions likewise!
The words for everyone, or for particular characters, could be projected, but it works equally well simply repeating what the narrator says. If a gathering craft activity would fit with your context, people could turn long cardboard tubes into telescopes for the wise men, but this is not essential to the nativity.
The script also includes song suggestions - this is really a whole service plan, but if you have less time you could edit it down.
For the script, sign in or sign up, and download the PDF from above/right.
Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Christmas - Proper 1 (Year *)
Christmas - Proper 1 (Year *)
Christmas - Proper 2 (Year *)
Christmas - Proper 2 (Year *)
BETHLEHEM location sign (front left), with something approximating a manger.
JERUSALEM location sign (front right), with something approximating a throne.
NAZARETH location sign, in the middle of the room if possible
We're happy for you to do that - read this article for more information.
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Comments
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As a church we just had our Christmas service (24th Dec) and we did this Scratch Nativity. Almost everyone came dressed as a character and with a little work we created the scene as suggested. It was fantastic! Everyone loved it and had great fun. Highly recommend it as a way of retelling the nativity story. Suited our NZ congregation well. Thanks so much.
My only quibble was that despite your impressive attempt to be historically accurate, (ie, not 'no room at the inn' but 'no guest room', and even 'Jesus was probably born in September') you still twice used the phrase '1st Century Palestine'. Unfortunately, as we know, 'Palestine' now has confusing political overtones when applied to the land of Israel. But more importantly, there was no 'first century Palestine' as the word was only invented by Emperor Hadrian after the Jews had been thrown out. It was, in fact, intended to 'rub salt into their wounds' by its deliberate reference to their arch enemies, the Philistines. I am quite sure you meant nothing by this, but it is unfortunately, used rather too often by believers even today to describe the Land of Israel in Jesus's day, and has the effect (subconsciously no doubt) of making people believe both that 'Jesus was a Palestinian' and that the 'Palestinians' are an indigenous people who lived in the land long before the Jews arrived in 1948 to boot them out! Forgive me for going on a bit. I loved your script nonetheless and the children really 'engaged' with it. Blessings, Helen Stengel.