I looked all over for an Advent play and couldn't find one.  So, we made one up.  It was a dramatization of the Jesse Tree.  Each family chose a bible story to perform.  They chose how to perform it, practiced it at home.  These are some of their ideas of how they performed some of the stories.  We just to put it all together with a narrator.  We chose to give our narrator the character of Mary and it was all told from her perspective while she looked back in history as God prepared her nation and world for the baby that was inside her.

"Waiting For Jesus"

(Mary walks to center stage, nods yes to the audience and starts to sing with them.)

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

 (On knees, praying) Here I am, Lord.  The time is coming closer to when I will give birth to your Son, and call Him Jesus.  Thank you for being with me during this time of waiting.  Thank you for the strength that you have given to me.  Thank you for the virtues that have helped me stay close to you.  I know you are always with me just as you were with all of my people from the very beginning of time.

(Stands up and walk thinking outloud to herself) Jesse was the father of King David, my ancestor. God promised David that his Kingdom would last forever - and that through him and his seed God would save his people and bless the world. Two hundred years after the death of King David God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said:

(Stop walking and look at audience during bible verse) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (speaking with power) The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. (Isaiah 11:1-4)

Isaiah was talking about the Messiah.  That is the baby the angel Gabriel told me I would be blessed to carry (touching stomach with both hands) (Pause, walks to empty tree at side of stage) A shoot that grows from a stump and becomes a new tree… Look at this bare, empty tree.  It almost looks dead.  This will be a Jesse Tree. (Lead people with  a nod ‘yes’ and your eyes to Sing)

O come, O Rod of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Your people save
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember the story of God creating the world . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage) God loves us so much!  He made us because he loved us and even made us in His own image. He gave us everything in this world to love Him and know Him. (looking up with folded hands)  Father, thank you for your perfect plan for our world:  a plan for love, peace, and happiness.  Thank you for this world, and please help us be thankful for all you’ve given us. (Walk to tree, hang ornament and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Who orders all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember the story of sin first entering the world. . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage) Reflection / Virtue  (looking up with folded hands) Prayer (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember the story when sin was so bad only one family still loved God. . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage) Sin is so terrible, that God had to wipe it out.  God saved Noah and his family when they obeyed him.  They didn’t completely understand God’s plan, but they obeyed anyway.  When the flood was over, God promised never to destroy the world by flood again and his sign was a rainbow in the sky.  Even in a sinful world, God keeps his promises.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, please give us obedience to follow you even when we don’t understand your whole plan. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Your advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember the story of God’s promise to Abraham. . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Going without knowing.  That’s what Abraham had to do to be part of God’s plan.  God promised that Abraham’s children would one day be a great nation.  But Abraham had to leave his home to follow God with nothing but faith.  Sometimes waiting for God’s plan requires strong faith.   (looking up with folded hands) Father, please give us faith to follow you when you call, wherever that call leads us. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Your tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times once give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember the story when God asked a parent to sacrifice a son . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Sometimes what God asks of us is such a sacrifice and so hard to do.  Even though Isaac looked like he was in danger, God was protecting him all the time.  It can be so hard when we’re asked to make sacrifices, but we can truly trust God.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, help us trust you even when things are  hard. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember the story of a man who tried to run away. . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  God wanted Jacob to know that the promises of God were meant for him, too.  Jacob had been running away from some bad things he’d done, instead of facing the consequences.  When Jacob was sorry, he still had to fix what he’d done.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, teach us to face the consequences when we’ve done something wrong and wait for you. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember the story of a man who lost everything. . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain as still as possible until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage) What others meant for evil, God used for good.   Even when Joseph was nothing but a slave, he still used his talents to help other people and serve God. (looking up with folded hands) Father, help us use the gifts you’ve given us.  Help us to see what we do have rather than focus on what we don’t have and help us forgive those who do evil to us. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage) Sometimes we don’t feel able to do the things God asks of us.  They just seem too big when we’re so small.  I can’t imagine why God chose me, a young girl, to become the Mother of the Savior.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, help us rise to your wishes and do even big things if you want us to. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  I’m sure it was hard to be patient while all that was going on, but if an entire nation could have patience, I can try to patiently wait for this little baby.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, thank you that your nation of Israel showed us how to have patience while we wait for your son.   (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Sometimes following God’s rules doesn’t seem very fun, but really that’s part of how God protects us.  He’s teaching us to love each other through his laws.  (looking up with folded hands) Father, learn what you want from us and mind you as much as we can. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember when God’s people forgot Him . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  The Israelites had forgotten God, until He showed them a miracle. God still performs miracles today, but sometimes they are everyday miracles, like a baby being born. (looking up with folded hands) Father, help us love you even when we don’t see exciting miracles.  We want to see your everyday miracles in our lives. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Reflection (looking up with folded hands) Prayer. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Reflection (looking up with folded hands) Prayer. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

song

I remember a man who spoke the truth . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  God sent many prophets to his people.  The prophets called the people to holiness and gave the people hope.  They said no matter how bad things get here on earth, God will never forget his people.  He would even send a Savior.   (looking up with folded hands) Father, help us be holy and wait. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Your tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times once give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

I remember a time of hopelessness . . . (look dreamily at the skit.  Remain until skit is ended)

(walk to center stage)  Waiting means we look forward to the future, for our savior. We’ve waited a long time; some people forget to keep looking for God's promised Son. They no longer care about God or God's promise, and when Jesus arrives will they recognize him? (looking up with folded hands) Father, stay with us while we wait and watch for your Son. (place ornament on tree and begin song.  Hold position of touching tree until song is ended)

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

(children move from sitting with their parents to center stage, facing Mary)

Immaculate Mary

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing,
You reign now in splendor with Jesus our King.
(Chorus) Ave, ave, ave, Maria! Ave, ave, Maria!

Predestined for Christ by eternal decree,
God willed you both virgin and mother to be.
(Chorus)

Your child is the Savior, all hope lies in Him:
He gives us new life and redeems us from sin.
(Chorus)