“NO ROOM” – a play by Liesa Stienmetz

The scene opens with a mother setting the table for supper.
Her husband comes in carrying {or use a hand-dolly) an angel holding a sign saying “no room”, sets it down behind the table.
(The angel is a yard ornament but is played by a child.)
{ the “NO ROOM” sign is held up each time someone says something that qualifies as “no room” / time = for “Christmas” }

Mother – What in the world?
What did you bring that in the house for?

Father – Don’t you see?
For some reason it is saying “no room” instead of holding the
sign that says “joy” like it always has. I brought it in to fix it.

Mother – Well, don’t bother with that now, it’s almost time for
supper. How was work today?

Father – (as he’s “washing” his hands at sink…)
Not bad. We have a new employee. His name is Mike,
and has a wife and three kids. They just moved here from
Indiana or Illinois or something. They don’t know a soul here.

Mother – That’s too bad.
Do you want coffee or tea with your supper?

Father – Tea. I was wondering if we could
have them over for supper this week, you know, to kind of
make them feel more at home.

Mother – This week! Are you crazy?
I have so much left to do. I still have a few more presents to
buy the kids, I have cookies to bake and I have to get a dress
for Christmas. Then there’s the high school basketball game
on Thursday and Janet’s Christmas concert on Friday.
I don’t know when you expect me to fit it in!

{ ANGEL lights up sign “no room” and holds over head }

Father – Sorry! Don’t get all upset, please!
Maybe we can do it some other time… after the new year?

(Mother calms down; walks to stage left - calls kids for supper.)

Mother – Jim, Janet, time for supper! Hurry!
I have a meeting at the country club tonight.
I don’t want to be late!
We are putting up decorations for the Christmas party.

(Janet and Jim come in and sit down at the table. Janet is reading a book and Jim is talking to someone on his cell phone.)

Jim – Nope, I’m sorry I can’t do it that night.
I have a basketball game… I know you need singers but
not this time, maybe next year, sorry.

Mother – Put your cell phone away. Who was that anyway?

Jim – Vicky, our youth group leader.
She wanted me to go caroling at the Sauk County Heath Care
Center with the youth group but I can’t - Basketball that night.
{Angel lights sign & holds it up}

(Still) Jim: My buddies & I are gonna wear t-shirts spelling out
BEAVERS. …and I’m the letter “V”.

Mother – Oh that’s too bad, you have such a beautiful voice.
Well, that place always depresses me anyway.
Who needs that right before Christmas?
That reminds me Janet, Pastor wanted to know if
you could read the Lessons this Sunday in worship?

Janet – Mom, don’t you remember? I’m going skiing with my friends over Christmas! And we leave next Sunday morning.
{Angel lights sign & holds it up}

Mother – (agitated) I don’t know why you have to go away
with your friends for Christmas. Christmas is all about family!
My parents never let me go skiing over Christmas.

Janet – Mom, we’ve been all through this. Remember?
You said I could go! Are you telling me that I can’t now?

Father – We did say she could go, dear.

Mother – YOU said she could go.
You never put your foot down with the children,
you let them do whatever they want!

Father – Now dear, we have been through this,
why don’t we all calm down and just have supper?

(Mother is still angry, goes to kitchen, stage left, to get roasting pan, takes Janet’s book from her & signals her and Jim to help.)

Mother – Help me with the serving. [Set table & sit & dig in]
Ahem. Did we “forget” something – you heathens?

Everyone – ( THEN… said very hastily )
For what we are about to receive, let us be truly thankful. Amen.

Mother – (to Father) Brad, Miss Louise asked if you would shovel her sidewalk again. It snowed almost 6 inches last night.

Father – I shoveled her out last time. {Angel lights sign…}
Doesn’t she have any family?
Isn’t there some other neighbor she can pester?

Mother – Now you know her two nephews moved to Florida
and she is all alone. She’s almost 80 and can’t do it herself.

Father – (sarcastically) Why don’t you do it then?
Or better yet, send Jim over, his back is stronger than mine.

Jim – I can’t. I have practice every night this week after school.

Mother – (sarcastically too) Well, maybe it will melt before she steps out and breaks her neck. (all ignore)

Father – Jean, you’re still keeping Friday night open aren’t you?
It is my office Christmas party?

Mother – Oh, I wouldn’t miss that for the world!
Didn’t we have a great time last year?
I wonder what ridiculous outfit Gloria will be wearing this year.
She always over-dresses for these things.

Father – (laughing) Do you remember last year
when my boss got up on the table and started telling
that story about the –

Mother – (flustered) BRAD! Not in front of the K-I-D-S!

Jim – Mom, “hello”! We’re in high school… we can S-P-E-L-L.

(Angel standing still suddenly comes to life, begins to speak.)

Angel – Ahem. (Clear throat loudly)

Janet – Did anyone hear something?

(Everyone looks around then shrugs… go back to eating.)

Angel – Ahem… (clear throat loudly) Excuse me!

(Everyone looking around) The angel, it’s talking!

Angel – I was just wondering if you were ‘ready for Christmas’?

Father – What does that supposed to mean?

Angel – I was wondering if you all were ‘ready for Christmas’?

Mother – What kind of question is that?
I’m never ready till the day before…and maybe not even then.
I always have so much left to do!

Father – I am almost ready.
I just have a few more parties to go to.

Jim – I’m all done, I am giving everyone gift certificates.
Janet – Hello, everyone. Why are we talking to a yard-angel?

Angel – No, no, no, all those things are not important.
I said = Are you ‘ready for Christmas?’
Janet – Whatever do you mean?

Angel – Many years ago, about 2000 to be exact,
people were much the same as they are now.
(Enter Joseph and Mary down center aisle.
“Animals” enter down side aisles. )

They were bustling around with their busy lives.
Wives were making supper, husbands were coming home
from their work in the fields, children were playing, and
no one knew that a wonderful miracle was about to happen.

Joseph – Just wait here Mary,
I’ll see if they have a place for us at this Inn.

Mary – Oh, Joseph, I just need to lie down. I’m soo tired.
I don’t care where I lie down anymore.

(Joseph walks off stage – comes back looking a little relieved.)
Joseph – I hope you meant what you just said Mary.
There is no room in the inn but the owner said
there is room in his stable around back.

Angel – You see, even back then, people were too busy
to notice what was about to happen.

Janet – But, they had no idea,
I mean they had no warning, no time to get ready.

Angel – Oh they didn’t? Listen to what it says in Isaiah…
a prophet who spoke hundreds of years before Christ was born.

( Wait till all characters & animals are in place. )

Readers: – Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 9:2-7, Micah 5:2-5

Angel – There was no warm palace to welcome this King
but the animals in the stable did what they could
to comfort the Holy family.

Carol of the Beasts sung by 3rd and 4th graders.
( Parts / verses for Donkey – Cow – Dove – Lamb )
Yard Angel – Then the little baby Jesus was born right there
with the beasts and animals as witnesses.

Away In a Manager – K & pre-school angels (sing 3 vss)

Yard Angel – While Mary was about to give birth to the
Messiah, the Promised One, there were some shepherds
guarding their flocks. (Enter shepherds)
They didn’t have just a 40 hour work weeks back then!
When suddenly the sky was filled with angels. (enter angels).

Congregation & Children sing:
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
( OR LBW Carol: #71 or #60 )
(during singing – an older angel climbs a step ladder stage left)

Angel Herald – Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy!
For unto you is born this night a savior who is Christ the Lord.
Go, see the child lying in a manger wrapped in simple cloths.

Shepherd #1 – I don’t believe what I just saw.
Hurry let’s do what the angel said!

Shepherd #2 – I don’t either, but I want to believe.
But how will we find them?

Shepherd #3 – Let’s follow that star.
( young child in a STAR Costume leads to Nativity scene )
(with Mary and Joseph; KNEEL by the manger)

Yard Angel – So the shepherds came to the stable to
find the Christ child and worship him.
It is a wonderful story – it’s even poetic.
Have you heard this version of the story?
Verse Choir: parody “The Night Before Christmas…”
{Choir of 5th?, 6, 7 & 8th graders come on stage, recite, exit}

Congregational Carol: “Angels We Have Heard on High”
(# 71 – or #60 “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”)

Yard Angel –Then later that night, three wise men had been
watching the Star & followed it to Bethlehem. (Wise Men enter)
They finally reach what they thought would be the scene of
a most important event for the whole world.

Song – We Three Kings sung by angel choir
(Each Wise Man sings or speaks “his” verse to the Carol
Congregation sings refrain after each verse )

They had been told to go find the child and report
where he was to King Herod, who wanted to kill the baby.
But the wise men came to worship the Child, bringing Him gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
(While the angel is telling this the Three Wise Men arrive
with their gifts. They bow to worship the child.)
When they were done, they returned to their kingdoms never
telling Herod what they saw. Instead they warned Joseph &
Mary to flee as soon as they could.

Father – This is all very nice of you to come tell us this story,
but what does that have to do with us?
And why does your sign still say “NO ROOM”?

Angel – Don’t you see?
You are all so busy with giving yourselves a happy party at
Christmas, that you have forgotten the most important thing!
You have forgotten to make room in your hearts for the
Christ Child! You have forgotten to get ready for Christmas!

(Angel stops talking, the lights go down, other characters leave stage, the family is staring at angel holding the “no room” sign)

Congregation Sings – “Come to My Heart Lord Jesus,
There is Room in My Heart for Thee”

(Lights go up on chancel – family around table)

Mother – Boy, what that Angel said was certainly strange.
I wonder what the Angel meant though?
Why did he say we haven’t made room in our hearts for Jesus?
We go to church every Sunday, well,
almost every Sunday…well, usually.

Father – Maybe the Angel was talking about
the way we have all been behaving.
I know I, for one, have been kind of selfish.
I think I’ll go shovel Mrs. Kester’s walk right after supper.
On second thought, I’m not even hungry anymore.
I’m going over now! (He grabs coat, gloves, shovel & blows
a kiss to family & leaves house. Everyone gets really quiet.)

Janet – Mom, I’ve been thinking…
I guess it is selfish of me to leave all of you on Christmas.
I mean, I only have a few more years until I’m off to college and, well maybe I should go call Amy and tell her I’m not going.

Mother – Oh Janet! (hugs her; wipes her own tears w/ apron.)

Jim – I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to miss one game.
Someone else who doesn’t have anything to do can be the “V”. I’m going to go call Vicky and tell her she can count on me –
– one more for Christmas caroling at the Care Center.

Mother – (looks at Jim as she does some soul searching)
I guess I’m not to busy to have your Father’s friends over
for dinner this week. Now that you’re not going to the game,
I could have them over on Thursday. (Lights out)

Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung by congregation.

(Lights up on table & chairs with family plus friends of Father’s from work. Mrs & Mr Kelly & three kids = Sandy, Bobby & Missy)

Mrs. Kelly – Thank you so much for having us over, Jean.
Mother – Oh it was no trouble… Not after we made room for God in our Christmas activities. So, how do you like Loganville?
Mrs. Kelly – Well, we moved here from Chicago
so it is taking a little getting used to. I miss my family.

Mr. Kelly – Now Linda,
I told you we’d be going there for New Years.

Mrs. Kelly – I know but it just isn’t the same.
I will so miss our old church’s Christmas Program.
– Kids, do you remember last year’s program?

Missy & Bobby & Sandy – O yes, it was so much fun.

Mrs. Kelly – Kids, do you remember that poem you all said?
Here, use this as a microphone. (tape a wooden spatula /
spoon to cordless mic – face it toward congregation)

(Kids brighten – huddle – whisper – giggle…stand in a row)

Kids – Ahummm …OK, OK, OK. One – two – three:
Let not our hearts be busy Inns,
That have no room for Thee;
But cradles for the Living Christ
And His Nativity. (kids give high fives around)

Mother – Well that was so cute & so true.

Mr. Kelly – That reminds me, dear. Why don’t you & Sandy sing that duet you did in church last year sometime?

(Haley and Carley sing: ) INTO MY HEART ( 2 verses)

Mother – That was amazing. So beautiful. Maybe you can sing
something like that in our Christmas Program this year.
I think you’ll really like our Christmas Eve Program.
Everyone gets to participate. Ohhh, it’s such a nice church.

Mrs. Kelly – Loganville is such a nice, friendly little town, too.
Thanks for introducing me around the past several days Jean. The holidays sure can seem so lonely when you’re new in town.

Mother – I’m glad I could be of some help.
I remember how lonely I was when we first moved here.
Father – So, how are you adjusting to the new job, Mike?

Mr. Kelly – Oh its fine. Things are a little slower paced up here
but that’s one of the reasons I wanted to move out of Chicago.
Life is too short to spend it hurrying around. You need to take time out for important things like spending time with your family. Say, I hear Loganville has a softball team in the summer month. Can anyone play?

Father – Yes, kids of all ages. Even kids our age!

Mr. Kelly – Did you hear that kids?

Bobby, Missy & Sandy – ( together, excited ) Yeah, great!

Bobby – I was the pitcher on my old softball team at school.

Missy – I hope they let me play short stop.

Sandy – Are there lots of boys at these games?
(Others giggle and Sandy gives them a threatening look.)

Mother – Our son, Jim, plays every week.
(Jenny & Jim look at each other appalled & quickly look away.)

Mr. Kelly – (standing up) Well, it was a wonderful dinner, Jean, we’ll have to have you all over when we get settled in.
(the family get up as they see Mr. Kelly get ready to leave.)
By the way, I love your yard decoration, especially the angel
holding the word JOY. It looks almost life like!

Father – Thank you. Just last week we thought it looked
almost too life-like. For some odd reason, it had a different
sign last week. It said “no room”.
I guess it must have fixed itself some how.

Yard Angel – I didn’t fix anything.
But. this family learned what “JOY” really means = putting
Jesus first, then others, then yourself….Jesus, Others Yourself J-O-Y (angel points to the letters in the sign while spelling Joy).
Why don’t we all sing about joy by singing Joy to The World.

Congregation Sings: Joy to The World

CONCLUDE: Offering, Candlelighting & Benediction

KFC 2007 Christmas Program
“NO ROOM”

An original Children’s Christmas Program
written by Liesa Stienmetz

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church – Loganville, WI
December 24, 2007

This story takes place in the Dining room & Living room of an ordinary family in a small town – several weeks before Christmas Eve. They are a very busy and pre-occupied Christian family trying to prepare for and include all their “Christmas activities”. Unfortunately, it doesn’t leave time for meaningful preparations to receive the Christ Child of this Holy Season. The chaos is mounting in their midst.

Parents are as confused and harried as their children. A new family, from the Father’s office, just recently moved to town and feel left out and detached from their previous home, friends and church family. That is, UNTIL A Christian LAWN ORNAMENT, a talking Yard Angel, sets them straight.

You may recognize this family as how you once “prepared” for the Christmas Holiday, before divine revelation and intervention changed your hearts to “make room” for the Babe of Bethlehem.

We will use Christmas Carols, Special Music and Fantasy to retell the story of the First Christmas and the distractions that haunt us still today from inviting Jesus into our heart & home.

May you have a Blessed, Holy Christmas
& Merry Holiday Season. Pastor Miller
PROPS & SCENES needed & used:

ANGEL SIGN – one saying: NO ROOM (lighted or glittery)
another says: J-O-Y
A hand-truck – optional (to ‘carry’ yard angel)
Family table and 4-6 chairs
Cordless Mic & wooden spoon / spatula (taped together)
Step Ladder & Cell phone
Costumes for: “Beasts” (donkey, cow, dove, lamb)
“Angels”
“Shepherds”
Three Wise Men (with 3 gifts)
the Bethlehem Star
Mary & Joseph and manger
Coat, gloves, stocking cap & shovel for “father”
Mother’s Apron
POEM: “The Night Before Christmas & all through the Town”

Christmas Carols & Songs:
“Friendly Beasts” (Carol of the Beasts) – sung by 3rd & 4th Graders
[ Liesa / Dawn – we need the WORDS & Tune ]

“Away in a Manger” (LBW #67) – sung by Pre-K & angels

“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night”
– sung by Congregation and Children
OR – “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” ((LBW #60)

“Angels We Have Heard on High” (LBW #71) Congregation

“We Three Kings” (WOV #646) Congregation sings Refrain

“Come To My Heart Lord Jesus” (Congregation sings)

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” (LBW #41) (congregation sings)

“Into My Heart Lord Jesus” (Duet: Haley & Carley)

“Joy to the World” (LBW #39) – Congregation sings

“Silent Night” (LBW #65) (during Candlelighting – 3 vss)

COME TO MY HEART, LORD JESUS (congregation sings)

You did leave your throne, And your king-ly crown
When you cam-e to earth for me, But in Beth-le-hem’s home
Was there found no room For your ho-ly na-tiv-i-ty.

Chorus: O Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for thee.

Heaven’s ar-ches rang When the an-gels sang.
Pro-clai-ming your royal degree; But in low-ly birth
Did you come to earth, And in great hu-mil-i-ty; Chorus

The ~ fox-es found rest And the birds their nest
In the shade of the for-est tree;
But your couch was the sod, O thou Son of God,
In the de-sert of Gal-i-lee: Chorus

You ~ came, O Lord, With the Living Word,
That should set your people free;
But with mock-ing scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They ~ bore you to Calvary; Chorus

When the hea-vens shall ring, And the An-gels sing
At your com-ing to Vic-to-ry, Let your voice call me home
Say-ing, yet, there is room. There is room at my side for thee;
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus;
When you come and call for me.

Lord’s Prayer – sung to #54 “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”

{ type out words here – 2 verses }

Offering Gathered
Special Music: during Offering = Sylvia Schlieckau (?)

Candle Lighting Service
{ duplicate from Christmas Eve service bulletin }

Carol: Silent Night (verses 1 & 2– typed out here )

Prayer for Christmas (Pastor offers for congregation)

Carol: Silent Night ( verse 3 typed out here)