Producing a Christmas church play is an enormous undertaking for any youth director, choir director, or volunteer drama coach. You can make one part of the job easier with these printable scripts. Use them to create an event that will run as smoothly as any professional production and will delight your audience.
Printable Christmas Nativity Play Scripts for Church
Christmas play scripts vary depending on the age of the cast. To simplify your Christmas production, these two original nativity plays include a script, set and costume instructions, stage movement and lighting directions, and song recommendations. To view and print either play, you will need Adobe Reader.
Children and Youth Christmas Play
This Christmas play for small churches follows the nativity story. The play tells the traditional nativity story of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem where Mary gives birth to the baby Jesus and receives visits from shepherds and wise men. It offers simple dialogue and easy song selections for the youngest members of your congregation or group. A narrator is used to move the narrative forward and there are roles for 12 actors. It runs about 30 minutes long.
Christmas Play for Teens and Adults
This play is written for teens and adults. It is longer than the children and youth play at approximately 45 minutes, and includes additional scenes and songs, and longer, more mature dialogue. This play also uses a narrator to move the plot forward. There are roles for 12 actors plus a choir is needed to provide songs. The size of the choir can be determined by how much space and available singers you have. The play follows the story of the nativity from the moment the angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary she will have a child to Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the subsequent visits of shepherds and wise men to see the baby Jesus.
Additional Church Play Options
Some other ideas for Christmas plays at church are ones based on "Christmas" themes but are not biblical stories. Children and even adults can often learn more about the true meaning of Christmas when the play is set in modern times and relate to people's everyday lives.
Christmas Plays for Children
These printable plays are perfect for children although adults will enjoy them as well. They highlight the importance of the true spirit of Christmas through children learning how to give to others in need. Another possibility for a less formal church gathering is a script based on the classic children's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Short Christmas Plays and Skits
These short plays are suitable for a festive church setting, such as a youth group gathering or a play put on by church volunteers for a home for the elderly. Both plays are based on folktales and would be enjoyable for children and adults. There are also short Christmas skits that could be combined to make one longer play featuring different aspects of Christmas in modern times. Though these plays and skits are not specifically religious, they teach about the importance of giving and caring for others during the holidays.
Christmas Poetry Reading
Another way to celebrate Christmas at a church could be a simple poetry reading featuring children and adults taking turns at the podium. There are many beautiful poems that celebrate religious Christian themes and would make for a lovely and inspirational holiday event.
A Meaningful Experience
Taking on a Christmas church play is a big job, but it will create a unique holiday experience for the entire congregation. During the chaos and business of the holiday season, a Christmas play will help remind people of the reason for the season and make them excited to spread the Good News.
