About the Author: Gerald Gurka – Playwright, Director, Priest. Gerald’s first published play is REDEMPTION. He holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Wilkes University, a BA in English Literature as well as graduate degrees in Divinity and Pastoral Theology. He has studied with author, Nancy McKinley and playwright, Jan Quackenbush. Since 1980, he has written and directed yearly versions of his Passion Plays and Nativity Plays. They have been featured in THE GUIDE, a regional entertainment publication, local newspapers, CTV/EWTN and local newscasts. He has written articles for various parish newsletters in the Scranton Diocese. He has been the founding editor as well as feature writer for school newspapers. His current projects include the plays THE SHEPHERD GIRL and the MANGER and PRISCA AND THE YOUNG JESUS: PASSION PLAY 2009. He currently is the pastor of Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Larksville, Pennsylvania, where he teaches classes in adult religious education.
Four simple Nativity plays for the littlest lambs
and
Six Christmas pageants for the flock
From the Book:
SETTING:
Frame Story: Christmas Eve Present Day
Eternity / Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ Birth
GRANDPA NICHOLAS, sitting on chair, among RUDOLPH & GRANDCHILDREN, seated on floor, at Top Center KING HEROD, LUCIFER, DAXTER & HORACE at Right Front)
NARRATOR: After every Christmas Eve dinner, Grandpa Nicholas would gather his grandchildren by the fireplace.
(GRANDPA NICHOLAS, RUDOLPH, CHILDREN at Top Center)
NARRATOR: 1 Sitting by the warmth of the fire, he would tell them a story about Christmas’ past. As he was about to start, grandson Rudolph interruped.
RUDOLPH: Grandpop, what made King Herod want to kill the Baby Jesus?” (GRANDCHILDREN rise)
VOICE of GRANDCHILDREN: Yeah, why was he so mean?
GRANDPA NICHOLAS)L (chuckling) Children, please sit down. (CHILDREN sit on floor) This was not the story I intended to tell…but, my dear Rudolph, the answer to your question is found in the legend behind all Christmas legends. (CHILDREN eagerly lean forward & raise hands to ears) First of all, we must remember that King Herod was a very insecure man.
LUCIFER approaches & whispers into HEROD’S ear)
GRANDPA NICHOLAS : Herod regularly sent spies throughout his Kingdom to search out and destroy anything or anyone who threatened his position as King.
(KING HEROD exits; LUCIFER whistles. DAXTER & HORACE approach HEROD, Lights dim. GRANDPA NICHOLAS, RUDOLPH & CHILDREN exit.
GRANDPA NICHOLAS: And, Lucifer—just like Herod—regularly sent spies to heaven. Lucifer wanted to immediately be informed about any plans that God the Father would be making to help His Creation.
(LIGHTS ON: On stage: GOD the FATHER & ANGELS; LUCIFER, DAXTER & HORACE. DAXTER & HORACE place hands to ears,.)
GRANDPA NICHOLAS: Lucifer’s Hench Trolls, Daxter and Horace, overheard God the Father instructing the Angel Gabriel to go and announce to Mary that she was chosen to become the Mother of Jesus…the Son of God…the new Messiah…who would make known God the Father’s love for His creation.
(ANGEL GABRIEL talks silently to MARY. LUCIFER signals TROLLS to fatch GABRIEL & MARY)
GRANDPA NICHOLAS: And, thus began a symphonic battle between good and evil that is being fought until this very day.
(LUCIFER gestures “Do Something” to DAXTER & HORACE)
GRANDCHILDREN: Grand pop, we don’t understand!
(Lights rise as MARY, expecting, & JOSEPH, with DONKEY enter.
