NEW HOPE
A Readers Theatre Script for Christmas
Written By: Glen E. Dawursk, Jr.
November
1979, Re-developed October 1983
www.yuthguy.com
INTRODUCTION:
Advent is the celebration of Jesus “coming” three
times in the lives of His people. He comes
first as the baby at
Jesus’ Advent is given new meaning and life when we
see it as a “visual” experience. “New
Hope” portrays Christian life as it is – a learning, growing experience. Too often people expect their lives to be
full of smiles everyday now that they are a Christian.
Each “situation” in
The situations are presented as sanctification
lessons; and therefore, should be tools for spiritual growth of existing
Christians. Justification, with the
saving Gospel message, is the basis for sanctification; and therefore,
Glen Dawursk, Jr.
PS: There is also a power point
presentation made to synchronize with this production and also a short
theme song for the intro and exit to the production. Contact me if you are interested in
either. Listen to the New Hope song in wav
file format here.
(Stage is
dark. Readers are seated on stools in a
semi-circle.
They are dressed in either purple of black.
Song “
Reader 1: In the beginning God created the Heavens
and the Earth.
Reader 2: No form.
Reader 3: No purpose.
Reader 4: No sin.
Readers: NO LIGHT!
Reader 1: In the beginning was the Word. And nothing existed.
Reader 2: No form.
Reader 3: No purpose.
Reader 4: No sin.
Readers: NO LIGHT!
Reader 1: And God said let there be light! (Lights
fade on brightly)
Reader 2: And it was good!
Reader 3: Very Good!
Reader 4: No sin.
Readers: JUST LIGHT!
Reader 1: And God created man in His own image.
Reader 2: And man was good!
Reader 3: Perfect!
Reader 4: No sin.
Readers: JUST LIGHT!
Reader 1: But man chose to doubt … to suffer … to
die.
(All readers
say “sin” as reader 1 talks above. Grow
in volume until final “SIN”!)
Reader 1: Man chose to …
Readers: SIN! (Lights go out)
Reader 2: No life.
Reader 3: No purpose.
Reader 4: No one.
Readers: NO LIGHT!
Reader 1: But the Word was God and dwelt among us full
of grace and truth.
(In an echo
effect …)
Reader 2: Full of grace and truth.
Reader 3: grace and truth.
Reader 4: truth.
Readers: JESUS!
Reader 1: But
take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop giving attention to your
sinful nature, to satisfy its desires.
(Lights fade
up.)
Reader 4: Well, the movies over, time for you two
to go to bed.
Reader 2&3: Oh, Mom, do we have to?
Reader 1: You heard what your Mother said!
Reader 4: It’s getting close to Christmas, and you both
know what that means.
Reader 3: (reluctantly) Yeah,
we know.
Reader 2: Be good, or Santa Claus won’t come to our
house.
Reader 4: That’s right, now get to bed. And don’t forget to say your prayers!
Reader 3: Ya know, Sally,
I’m not going to be good just because Santa Clause.
Reader 2: (surprised) You’re
not?
Reader 3: Nope!
Jesus came at Christmas, and I’m going to be good for Jesus.
Reader 2: How come?
Reader 3: Well, we learned in Sunday school that
Jesus was always good.
Reader 2: He was?
Reader 3: Yep! And, and, I want to be just like
Jesus!
Reader 2: But why?
Reader 3: Well, that way Dad won’t yell at me
anymore!
Reader 1: (angrily)
Will you two get to bed!
Reader 2: (frightened) I think I’ll be good for
Jesus too!
(Lights
fade)
Reader 1: Darkness.
Reader 2: Sin.
Reader 3: No light.
Reader 4: No life.
Reader 1: And God said, “let there be light!” (Light candle on wreath)
Reader 2: And He was good!
Reader 3: And He was perfect!
Reader 4: And He was hope!
Readers: And He was LIGHT!
Reader 2: Accept on another, then, for the glory of
God, as Christ has accepted you.
(Lights fade
up)
Reader 3: (excited) Dad, Dad, guess what
happened! The Beavers made me a member
of the team.
Reader 1: The what team?
Reader 3: The
Beavers, Dad. You know, the pee-wee
basketball team Jimmy’s dad started.
He’s the coach!
Reader 1: Oh,
I see. Well, I’m proud of you son!
Reader 3: Boy, is this going to be neat. I’m so excited; I can’t wait for the first
game!
Reader 1: That’s
great, son. Did anyone else I know make
the team?
Reader 3: Yeah,
but nobody important … (pause,
discouraged) I don’t know why the coach chose Dave Morton; he’s no
good. Why, he’s still a baby! He still dribbles the ball with two
hands. He shouldn’t be on the team!
Reader 1: Now,
Billy, I’m disappointed with your attitude.
After all, Dave Morton was just like you.
Reader 3: He
was? How?
Reader 1: At
first neither of you were on the team.
You both were nothing; but because the coach of the Beavers accepted
you, just as good or bad as you are, you made the team. Now, maybe it’s true that Dave can’t dribble
very well …
Reader 3: (interrupting) That’s
for sure!
Reader 1: … but what about the way you free throw?
Reader 3: Oh,
Oh!
Reader 1: Do
any of the other boys throw the ball from between their legs?
Reader 3: Well,
I guess not!
Reader 1: You
see, Billy, we all have our weaknesses as well as our own strengths, and maybe we
aren’t as good as we want to be; but in any case, your coach accepted you just
as you were. He knew your strengths and
weaknesses – but still accepted you because He wanted you!
Reader 3: Well,
maybe; but what about Dave?
Reader 1: In
the same way as your coach accepts you, He accepts Dave Morton. Therefore, Billy, you should accept Dave as a
fellow teammate no matter how different he may be from you. Follow your coach’s example! Trust your coach!
Reader 3: Yeah,
I guess you’re right, Dad; but what should I do now?
Reader 1: Why
not talk to your coach first about it.
He can help you two to get along better.
Just tell Him the problem. I’m
sure He has the answer.
Reader 3: Okay,
thanks, Dad! (Pause) You know, Dad, I
guess there’s a lot more to the Coach’s team, than just playing the game.
(Lights fade as readers talk in echo effect)
Reader 2: I
guess there is.
Reader 4: I
guess there is.
Reader 3: I
know there is.
Reader 1: God
says it; I believe it; that settles it! (Blow out candle)
Reader 2: But
it’s so dark. We need some light!
Reader 3: Where
is the light?
Reader 4: No
form.
Reader 1: No
purpose.
Reader 3: No
light.
(As reader speaks, group says “sin” growing in
volume)
Reader 2: But
I had form. I had purpose. I had the light. Where is the Light? Why have I lost the light?
Readers: SIN.
Reader 2: (cry) Why have
you taken the Light?
Reader 1: So
you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord
comes; He will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes
of men’s hearts.
Reader 3: And
then every man will receive from God the praise he deserves.
Reader 2: (cry) But I’m so guilty!
Reader 3: Guilty!
Reader 4: Guilty!
Reader 1: Guilty!
(As mallet is slammed)
Readers: GUILTY!
(Lights fade up)
Reader 2: Mommy,
Mommy, Billy took Herbie my Teddy Bear again; and he
won’t tell me where he hid it!
Reader 4: Billy,
is this true?
Reader 3: No!
I didn’t take her dumb teddy bear. Maybe
Herbie ran away by himself.
Reader 2: No
he didn’t! YOU took him.
Reader 3: I
didn’t touch your dumb teddy bear.
Reader 2: Yes
you did. Yes you did. I know you did!
Reader 4: How
do you know Billy took Herbie, Sally?
Reader 2: He
always takes my things and hides them.
Reader 4: Does
that mean he did it this time?
Reader 2: Well,
I… (Reluctantly) I don’t know.
Reader 1: Ring
– ring ring ring – Ring (continue until reader 2 finishes next line)
Reader 4: I’ll
be right back. I have to answer the
phone – so, sit down and no arguing!
(Readers 2
and 3 turn away from stage center. They
should gradually make faces to audience center (focal point) as if making them
at each other. After a
few times, they should suddenly turn to focal point and say the next two lines
(*) simultaneously.)
Reader 2: You
did, you did, you did! *
Reader 3: Did
not, did not, did not!*
Reader 2: Your
nose is going to get real long; you wait!
Reader 3: Yours
already is!
Reader 4: Sally, that was Mrs. Morton.
It seems you left your teddy bear over at their house the last time you
played with her daughter, Susie.
Reader 2: Oh,
oh.
Reader 3: Told
ya!
Reader 2: Ah,
thanks Mom! I got to go clean my room!
Reader 4: Hold
it – stop right there. Don’t you think
you should say you’re sorry to Billy?
Reader 2: (pause, then reluctantly) Do I have to?
(All readers nod their heads “yes”)
I’m
sorry, Billy, I thought you took my teddy bear.
Reader 4: You
see, Sally, we shouldn’t always he ready to blame someone else. Often times I too get angry and want to blame
someone before I know if that person really did something wrong. But I know that that’s not right. When Jesus was on the cross, He didn’t blame
anyone. Instead, Jesus loved
everyone. Just like Jesus, we should not
judge others.
Reader 2: I
guess you’re right, Mom. You know what,
Mom?
Reader 4: What, Sally?
Reader 2: Instead
of blaming Billy the next time I lose my teddy bear, I think I’ll ask Jesus to
help me find it!
Reader 4: That’s
a good idea, Sally, and I’ll bet you’ll find it, too.
Reader 2: I
know I will.
(Lights fade during echo effect)
Reader 1: I
know I will.
Reader 3: I
will!
Reader 4: I
will!
Reader 2: (angrily) I won’t!
Reader 1: In
the beginning God created …
Reader 2: I
won’t
Reader 3: In
the beginning was the Word …
Reader 2: I
won’t!
Reader 4: Before
anything else existed, there was Christ with God. He has always been alive and Himself is God.
Reader 2: I
won’t!
Reader 4: He
created everything there is – nothing exists that He didn’t make.
Reader 2: I
won’t!
(Other readers chant “sin”)
Reader 1: But
although He made the world, the world didn’t recognize Him when He came!
Reader 2: I
won’t! I don’t care! I won’t!
Readers: GUILTY! (Mallet
slams)
Reader 2: (yell) NO! (Cry)
It’s so dark. I need the Light! Where is the Light?
Reader 1: Talk.
Reader 3: Ask.
Reader 4: Pray
Reader 2: Oh,
God, I need the Light! We need the
Light!
Readers: We
need the Light!
Reader 1: Let
everyone see that you are unselfish in all you do.
Reader 3: We
need the Light!
Reader 1: Let
everyone see that you are unselfish in all you do.
Reader 3: We
need the Light!
Reader 1: Don’t
worry about anything; instead…
Reader 2: Talk.
Reader 3: Ask.
Reader 4: Pray.
Reader 1: Tell
God your needs!
Reader 2: (cry) God, we need your Light!
(Lights fade up)
Reader 1: I’ll
check and see if Billy is in bed yet, dear.
Reader 3: (praying) …and also, don’t forget, God, that
Christmas is real close – so please give me that new bike I want, the one with
the horn. It doesn’t matter what color, (pause) but, if it’s okay, I’d like it
to be green … and, if you could, …please can I have a new baseball glove – one
like the real baseball players; and a bat; and a ball; and a …(pause) well, God, I’ll tell you the
rest tomorrow night. Good night
God! Amen.
Oh,
hi Dad.
Reader 1: Hi, Billy, I heard you praying.
Reader 3: (excited)
Yeah, I was telling God all the things I want for Christmas.
Reader 1: You want lots of things for Christmas,
don’t you Billy?
Reader 3: I sure do, Dad!
Reader 1: Billy, I want to ask you a question. Why do we get presents at Christmas?
Reader 3: I don’t know, I guess because we’re
supposed to? Huh?
Reader 1: Well,
Billy, that’s the answer many people would give. Many people think we are supposed to GET
presents at Christmas. They expect
them. But is that the real reason for
Christmas, to get presents?
Reader 3: Well,
I guess not.
Reader 1: You
see, Billy, Christmas is a time for giving not
getting. God gave each of us the
greatest present ever – His only son, Jesus, and He wants us to share His gift
with others. We should follow God’s
example to give rather than get!
Reader 3: Yeah,
Dad, I guess you’re right. I should
thank God for giving Jesus to me and all the world, and not worry about what I
get.
Reader 1: That’s
a good idea, son.
Reader 3: Dear
God, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank
you for giving Him to everyone. Help me
to give more and expect less, and teach me to thank you when I get. Thanks God! Amen.
Reader 1: Good
night, Billy.
Reader 3: Good
night, Dad, and thank you.
Reader 1: Just
remember to thank the Lord, son, thank the Lord.
(Lights fade out as mallet slams)
Readers: GUILTY!
Reader 2: And
they didn’t recognize Him when He came.
Reader 3: And
they nailed Him to a tree. (Mallet continues to slam)
Reader 1: We
nailed Him to a tree!
Reader 2: I
nailed Him to a tree!
Reader 3: He’s
dead!
Reader 2: Oh
no, I killed Him. (Cry) I killed the
Light. Oh, it’s so dark. Help me.
Help me.
(All readers chant “sin”)
I
can’t see. I can’t see. Help me.
I need help. Help me. I need light!
(Yell) SAVE ME!
(Chants and mallet stop abruptly at “save me.”)
(One by one a candle on the wreath is lit)
God,
I’m so sorry. I put out the Light!
Reader 1: For
God has revealed His grace for salvation to all men.
Reader 3: A
child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be
upon His shoulder, and He will be called …
Reader 1: Wonderful!
Reader 4: Counselor!
Reader 2: Mighty
God!
Reader 3: Everlasting
Father!
Reader 4: Prince
of Peace!
Reader 1: In
the beginning God created the world …
Reader 3: And
God gave Light to the world …
Reader 4: The
Light of the world …
Readers: Jesus!
(Lights fade up)
Reader 1: Time
for family devotions, kids; everyone to the kitchen table.
Reader 3: Devotions
on Christmas? When are we going to open
the presents?
Reader 2: Why
not have devotions; it’s Jesus’ day, isn’t it?
Reader 3: Yeah,
I guess every day is.
Reader 1: Mother,
will you read the Bible verse for today?
Reader 4: Sure
I will. The Bible reading is from John
one verse ten. “But although He made
the world, the world didn’t recognize Him when he came.”
Reader 1: Thank
you Mother. Here’s today’s devotion.
Where
have we lost the manger scene? Where are
the angels singing praises to god? As we
look to the baby Jesus, we see the love He pours out to each one of us. We become mirrors, which reflect that
love. We are His messengers proclaiming
“Glory to God in the Highest! We are the
wise men who still seek Him! We are the
shepherds showing the true meaning of Christmas in the love we share with
others.
As
Christmas draws closer, it becomes harder to recognize that baby Jesus among
all the world’s commercialism and ignorance.
God gave us the world’s greatest Christmas gift – but we fail to open
it! Let’s turn our eyes on Jesus this
Christmas, for only then can we experience true “Peace on earth” and “Goodwill
toward men.”
Sally,
will you say the prayer?
Reader 2: Dear
Jesus, thank you for coming – come everyday!
Bless Christmas Jesus. Thank you.
Amen.
Readers: Amen!
(Lights fade out)
Reader 4: Amen. It shall be so!
Reader 3: Amen. We have NEW HOPE in Jesus!
Reader 2: Amen. The darkness has gone!
Reader 1: Amen. The Light has come!
Readers: THE
LIGHT HAS COME! AMEN!
(Song begins “
+++ The End +++