"Give Us This Day Our Daily Christmas" -- A Christmas Play for Young People

A mother can't understand why her daughter is so preoccupied with Christmas. But with the help of an angel, she begins to see what's in her child's heart and what Christmas really means to her.

This is a play I wrote for our church a few years back. It was performed by our teen Sunday School class, with some help from the children's class. The young people had fun doing it and the audience enjoyed it, too. If you need a Christian play to do with young people, you can add this one to your list of plays to consider. It's free and everything!

Stage setting

On one end of the stage, there should be something that displays the date in letters that are large enough for the audience to read. Perhaps an easel with sheets of paper on it, or even a person holding pieces of poster board.

If you're performing the play in a church, you can, of course, "break the fourth wall" for the church scene. Just reserve a few seats in front for the actors, and let the audience sing along and play the part of the congregation.

Casting

The genders for the characters can be adapted to the group of actors you're working with. We did the play with a female child, a female parent, and a male angel, but any of those can be changed. Just change the names and dialogue accordingly.

The number of people used in the group scenes can also be adjusted to the size of your group. You may have the same people who play the co-workers at the office also play volunteers at the mission.

The church scene in the play includes two songs. The songs we used are "Amen" and "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him". You may want to use other songs, but the underlying idea is to do songs that are officially Christmas music, but are really songs that you wouldn't mind singing in church any day of the year.

The speaking parts, in order of appearance

* JENNY - A young girl

* Two FRIENDS of Jenny's

* SUSAN - Jenny's mother, a busy executive who is a single parent

* A Christmas ANGEL (the angel carries a Bible at all times). The angel can either wear an "angel costume" or just wear ordinary clothes, all white.

* An OLD PERSON at a mission

* A PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER at a church (this is a singing role)

* The PASTOR of the church

Other background characters

* Susan's CO-WORKERS

* Needy PEOPLE at the mission

* VOLUNTEERS at the mission

* A church CONGREGATION

Setting: Susan and Jenny's home

(JENNY and her FRIENDS are sitting in the living room of her house. There is a Christmas tree in the room. On the other side of a partition (maybe just an imaginary one), SUSAN is in the kitchen.)

(The date display at the side of the stage reads: DECEMBER 24.)

FRIEND #1: Wow, Jenny! Your Christmas tree is huge! It's almost as big as the one at the mall!

FRIEND #2: And you've got more presents under your tree than my whole family is getting! You're gonna have an awesome Christmas!

JENNY: I love Christmas so much. I wish it were Christmas all the time.

FRIENDS: No!! Don't wish for that!!

FRIEND #1: I saw a show once where a kid wished for Christmas every day. It was terrible! People had to chop down so many Christmas trees that there were no more trees left!

FRIEND #2: Yeah, I saw that, too! Their whole town was almost buried under huge piles of fruitcake! The kid had to reverse his wish at the end of the show.

JENNY: I still wish that it could be Christmas every day. Christmas is better than anything!

FRIEND #1: Well, not me! (gets up) Anyway, I better get home, it's late. I'll see you guys later.

FRIEND #2: (gets up) Me, too. See you later. Merry Christmas.

JENNY: Bye, guys. Merry Christmas.

(The FRIENDS leave the stage in one direction to go home. JENNY leaves the stage in another direction to go to her room.)

(SUSAN walks from the kitchen to the living room.)

SUSAN (talking to herself): Why on earth would Jenny want to have Christmas every day? She has everything a child could ever want! She lives in the best neighborhood in town. She has all the latest clothes and toys. She gets more stuff every week than most kids get at Christmas!

(The ANGEL walks into the room)

ANGEL: Maybe I can help.

SUSAN: Who are you?

ANGEL: I'm a Christmas Angel.

SUSAN: Well, if you can explain it, please do. Why would Jenny be so hung up on Christmas? She has everything!

ANGEL: But Christmas is about more than just getting gifts. Let's go back and look at the last couple of days and see if it gives you any clues.

SUSAN: Go back and look?

ANGEL: Don't worry. Time travel is safe when you do it with an angel.

SUSAN: OK. I'm ready, I guess.

END OF SCENE

Setting: Susan's workplace

(SUSAN and her CO-WORKERS are leaving the office. The ANGEL is standing to the side of the stage.)

(The date display reads: DECEMBER 23.)

SUSAN: Good night, everybody. Have good holiday.

(STOP ACTION)

ANGEL: So this is where you work?

SUSAN: Sure is. I'm one of the company's rising stars! If I stick to it, I think I can make CEO in about 5 years.

ANGEL: What time is it right now?

SUSAN (looking at her watch): Five o'clock.

ANGEL: Is that the time you usually leave the office?

SUSAN: No way! Most nights I'm here until 8:00 at least! It takes a lot of work to stay on top.

ANGEL: What about weekends?

SUSAN: Usually, I'll either be here or working in my home office.

ANGEL: But today you left at 5:00 because it's Christmas. So Christmas is the one time of year that Jenny gets to spend the evening with you instead of with the babysitter.

SUSAN: I guess you're right.

ANGEL (opening his Bible): The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go." Do you think you're spending enough time with Jenny, training her to become the person God wants her to be?

SUSAN (thoughtfully): I don't know.

ANGEL: In five years, you could be a CEO with a daughter who barely knows you.

SUSAN: I guess I have some things to think about.

ANGEL: Anyway, after work, you and Jenny spent the evening together, and then you had more activities the next day. Let's see what else happened.

(ACTION RESUMES)

(Various CO-WORKERS say "Good night", "Merry Christmas", wave goodbye, etc., as they all leave the stage.)

END OF SCENE

Setting: A mission

(Needy PEOPLE are seated and food is being served to them from VOLUNTEERS, including SUSAN and JENNY. The ANGEL is standing to the side.)

(The date display reads: DECEMBER 24.)

(JENNY is bringing a plate of food to an OLD PERSON.)

OLD PERSON: Thank you so much. God bless you.

JENNY: God bless you. Merry Christmas.

(STOP ACTION)

ANGEL: Jenny really seems to enjoy helping people.

SUSAN: She does have a very big heart.

ANGEL: How long have you two been coming to this mission?

SUSAN: My company became a co-sponsor a few years ago. We come and help out every Christmas season.

ANGEL: Do you come any other times during the year?

SUSAN: No, we don't have time. But you know, sometimes Jenny asks me about the people at the mission, about how they're doing. As if I would know.

ANGEL (opening his Bible): The Bible says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." All year long, Jenny receives. She gets everything she needs and wants. The only time she experiences the joy of giving to others is at Christmas.

SUSAN: I think I'm starting to understand.

ANGEL: So after spending a few hours at the mission, you and Jenny had one more activity to finish your day.

(ACTION RESUMES)

(SUSAN approaches JENNY)

SUSAN: Time to go.

(SUSAN and JENNY leave the stage)

END OF SCENE

Setting: A church

(The PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER is at the front holding a microphone. SUSAN, JENNY, the ANGEL, and the rest of the CONGREGATION are seated.)

(The date display reads: DECEMBER 24.)

(With the PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER singing the lead, the CONGREGATION sings "Amen". JENNY is clapping and singing along.)

P & W LEADER: Praise the Lord! Merry Christmas, everybody!

(STOP ACTION)

(The ANGEL stands. SUSAN then stands also.)

SUSAN: OK, I know the next question. When's the last time we came to church.

ANGEL: You're right. That's just what I was about to ask you.

SUSAN: And you already know the answer. We haven't been here since last Christmas.

ANGEL (opening his Bible): The Bible says . . .

SUSAN (interrupting him): The Bible says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Don't worry. Some things are definitely going to change.

ANGEL: Good. Now that that's settled, we can enjoy the rest of the service.

(SUSAN and the ANGEL sit back down.)

(ACTION RESUMES)

(The PASTOR comes to the front.)

PASTOR: We hope that every one of you has a blessed Christmas. And remember, the real gift of Christmas is that Jesus came to earth to fellowship with us. And He wants to have that fellowship with you every day, not just once a year. Being in fellowship with God gives meaning to every aspect of our lives: our work, our relationships, everything. The greatest gift He has for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. That's the Spirit of God dwelling within us every day of our lives, giving us direction and purpose. Not just at Christmas, but always. God bless you.

(The PASTOR returns to his seat. The PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER comes to the front and leads the CONGREGATION in singing "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him". JENNY, SUSAN, and the ANGEL stand and sing along.)

END OF SCENE

Setting: Susan and Jenny's home

(SUSAN and JENNY are seated together.)

(The date display reads: DECEMBER 25.)

SUSAN: Before we open presents, there are a couple of things I want to tell you.

JENNY: OK.

SUSAN: Well, I saw how much you enjoy helping out at the mission, so we're going to start going down there once a month. And maybe we can bring some of your old toys and clothes that you don't use anymore.

JENNY: Yeah! That would be great!

SUSAN: And we really need to be in church more often. That's going to be our Sunday routine from now on.

JENNY: Good!

SUSAN: And, I'm going to cut down on my overtime at work. I'm going to try my best to be home by dinnertime, every day.

JENNY (amazed): Really?

SUSAN: Really.

JENNY: Wow!

(JENNY and SUSAN embrace.)

(The ANGEL silently walks onstage, coming from behind JENNY so she can't see him, but SUSAN can. SUSAN looks at the ANGEL and silently mouths the words, "Thank you." The ANGEL nods and leaves.)

END OF PLAY