Train Up a Child: Christmasنموونە

You can read the devotion out loud as a family, giving two people a part to read. Or have one person read it out loud. Have fun with the voices and characters, and if you're up for it, you can even act out the script!

More than Just an Advent Candle

Janet enters the room looking at her watch.

Janet: Timothy Simon Markwell, where are you? We’re going to be late for the rehearsal.

Timmy: Forget about it! They can do the Christmas program without me this year!

Janet: What do you mean? You’ve been talking about playing Joseph for months. You even made me take you to the petting zoo to research the eating habits of donkeys, for crying out loud.

Timmy enters, dressed in a ridiculous Candle costume, his head hung in shame.

Janet: What’s that?

Timmy: My costume.

Janet: What happened to Joseph?

Timmy: Change of plans. The Kids’ Ministry doesn’t have the budget to pull off the town of Bethlehem with live animals and angels that swing from the roof in harnesses.

Janet: So, um, what are you supposed to be?

Timmy: Say hello to the Advent Candle of Peace.

Janet: Oh my.

Timmy: See? Even you think it’s lame.

Janet: I don’t think it’s lame.

Timmy: Every one’s just gonna laugh at me.

Janet: Well, laughter is an important part of theatre.

Timmy: Mom, I’m serious!

Janet: You just surprised me. Here I was expecting Joseph the husband of Mary to walk down the stairs and instead you arrived in… in this —

Timmy: It’s a candle costume.

Janet: Right. In this candle costume. When does your candle come into the story?

Timmy: Near the end, when the angels do their final number. Around the manger that has no real baby and no real barn animals.

Janet: Honey, maybe your expectations were a little high. We’re a small church, but just because we can’t put on a big production, doesn’t mean that we can’t do something meaningful.

Timmy: I just wanted a real cool part, where I could run around in character. I love the Christmas story. And I want people to love it too. Now it’s just a silly little Advent play. It’s not even a musical.

Janet: Do you have any lines?

Timmy: One. It’s the last line of the show.

Janet: Alright, let’s hear it.

Timmy clears his voice and looks intently at the sky. He delivers the lines with great effect, unaware of the power of his words.

Timmy: He came, not to win the hearts of women and men through acts of violence or war. He came, not with wealth and worldly power that people would be impressed by his might. He came as a baby, tiny and helpless in a dangerous and frightening world. His life like one flickering candle to bring light into the darkness, love and peace to a world in need.

Advent season reminds us that Jesus is a savior for hearts in need of salvation most.

As he finishes the lines, the top of the costume glows with light (from either a spotlight or a bulb hidden in the costume) so that Timmy glows in soft light. But he’s unaware of the light.

Janet: Timmy, that’s actually beautiful.

Timmy: But no one will see past this silly costume.

The light that shone suddenly dwindles.

Timmy: Wouldn’t it be better if I was swinging above the stage on a rope as an angel? Or with a gold crown and a sword as a wise man on a real camel?

Janet: If you say it like that, I don’t think it will matter. I love it!

Timmy: You do?

Janet: Yes! It’s exactly the kind of thing an Advent service should be about. We don’t need special effects and big budget action. People need to hear the beautiful truth about Jesus, and you’re going to tell them that.

Timmy: I am?

Janet: Yes. You just did. In fact, say it again.

She pulls out her phone and holds and opens her video app.

Janet: I want to share it with Grandma. She’ll just love it.

Timmy: Mom. Come on, let’s go.

Janet: Where?

Timmy: To rehearsal.

Janet: Oh, I thought you weren’t going.

Timmy: Well, I am now. I’ve got some truth to tell.

Timmy starts walking to exit. As he does, his costume starts to glow again. He doesn’t notice it but Janet does. She looks up at heaven, curious, trying to determine the source of the light. Finally she just smiles.