For about the past ten years, I have been writing and directing children’s Christmas plays at my church. I don’t know if the kids enjoy them more or if I do, but they have become my favourite part of the Christmas season.  Now, for the first time, I am able to share one of my plays with you!

“Gloria!” tells the whole Christmas story from the unlikely birth of John the Baptist through to the hasty flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt with the young Jesus. The focus is on the ways God reassured the people involved that He was with them, even and especially in the most difficult of circumstances.

Special features of this play include:

• Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary, Mary’s song (The Magnificat), and Zechariah’s prophecy sung as solo parts to the tune of “Ding Dong Merrily on High”. The rest of the cast gets to sing the chorus with the most “Glorias” ever!
• A special song and dance number by the angels to the tune of “Jingle Bell Rock”. (Gloria, Gloria, Glory to God! Your Saviour is here; Sing songs of good cheer!…)
• A poem by the pre-schoolers, who get to dress up as shepherds and sheep.

Our cast usually consists of about 25 children from age 3 to grade 6, but the play is adaptable to more or fewer children. Props are minimal, and we prepare in four or five Sunday morning practice sessions plus one dress rehearsal the Saturday before the big day.

“Gloria!” is included in InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship 2017 Christmas Anthology, pictured above. The book contains 56 pieces (stories, poems, plays) by 40 fabulous authors. Contact me if you would like a copy!