The nativity story

This was something I wrote for our christingle service last year. When performed we had objects to lift up whenever certain words were said.

First there was Adam and Eve
and a long while later there was Abraham
and a long while after that there was David
and a long long while after that we get to our story

There was Mary
no more than 14
in love with Joseph
who made things from wood

There was Mary
and then there was an angel
saying DO NOT BE AFRAID
God has smiled on you and
you’re going to have a baby
Mary said ‘But …’ and then ‘Ok, if you say so’

There was Mary
getting bigger by the day
and there was Joseph
who was getting more and more
suspicious
until the truth could be hidden no more
Joseph was not best pleased
until he had a dream
in which there was an angel
saying DO NOT BE AFRAID
Mary's baby is from God
and he will be the saviour of the world
When Joseph woke up
he was well pleased
and took his Mary with baby inside
to be his wife

There was Mary
no more than 14
married to Joseph
and going to have a baby
5 months, 6, months, 7 months, 8
when the news was announced
that all the people had to go
back to where they were born to be counted

There was Mary
heavy with child
and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem
Mary was read to give birth
when they arrived
but there was no where to stay
apart from a stable

There was Mary
no more than 14
There was Joseph
who made things from wood
and then there was also Jesus
born in the night
and put to bed in an invented cot

There were shepherds
with their sheep
on a hillside
out in the cold night
and there was suddenly another angel
saying DO NOT BE AFRAID
great news to tell
a baby is born
who will save the world
and there were suddenly more angels
and they were all singing
happy songs of joy

There were shepherds
running down the hillside
all the way to Bethlehem
and found the baby
the little child Jesus
and crying he did make

There were wise men
who gazed at the stars
and one day spotted a bright one
which they followed
many miles by camel.
When finally the star stopped
and so they did too
and there they found
Mary
no more than 14
and very tired
with Joseph
who made things from wood
also very tired
with Jesus
who was very much awake

There were wise men
with gifts
gold for a king
frankincense - maybe to cover the smell
for we all know what babies do
and myrrh
a strange gift that one
not one you would expect
not one you or I would think to give
but it was used some years later
but that's another story
for another day

There was Mary
no more than 14
and Joseph
who made things from wood
and there were shepherds
and their sheep
and there were wise men
with presents to give
and there was Jesus
born in the night
a miracle of God
sent from above
to bring us God's love