Straw Into Gold: The Advent Angel and the Children

The Advent Angel and the Children

A Puppet Play for the Fourth Advent Sunday

Table is set with a scene conveying a garden. Small plants around. Some greens and mosses. On a table close by is the crèche, in a setting still rather bare with more green boughs, the rocks, crystals and shells from last week and a few green plants. Red apples (real and artificial may decorate as well as some red roses, real or artificial. Animals have been added to the scene (wooden, knitted, etc.) Mother Mary and Father Joseph may be in the stable or on their way. Shepherds may already be in the garden with their sheep. The Advent Wreath is present on/ in the Garden or on a separate table.

Narrator

Dear children and families, friends and relations, welcome to the fourth Advent Sunday Garden. Here is a little play about a time long, long ago, about two thousand years ago. Our beautiful earth was suffering from the cruelty of Mankind. And Humankind was suffering because we had forgotten our Heavenly birthright and who we really are in God. So the Son of God was sent down to the Earth to remind human beings of who we really are and to help us turn away from ways that bring us pain and make us forget how to love each other. He came to bring Love back to human hearts, the Divine Love of God that heals us, makes us happy and teaches us how to love each other as the Angels and Archangels love us, no matter what we do.

This beautiful Child, the Christ Child, who was born so long ago in a humble stable in Bethlehem came to teach us how to love the Divine Father and the Heavenly world again and how to love each other as we love ourselves. For if we love God and each other, we could never want to do or say anything that would be hurtful to anyone else or to ourselves.

Each year, the time of the Christ Child’s birth comes again. And in truth, He is born again every year in our hearts. Every year we must make ourselves ready to receive Him again and to prepare our homes and our souls to house and nurture Him. As we love our families and friends and prepare gifts, good food and fun things to do to make each other happy, we can feel that we are doing these things for the Divine Child who lives among us. So let us begin together to prepare for His coming, for the Advent of His Birth into our lives once again.

It is said that before the time of the Christ Child’s birth, the Human Kingdom was the fourth and final one to wake up, to be aware of His imminent approach. Today it is a few days before Christmas and the Earth, her crystals and stones, her plants and fairies already feel the approach of the Divine Child. The animal kingdom has woken up. Our dear friends and companions, wild and tame are waiting for the Christ Child in the garden. But where are the people? Will human beings also hear the news of His coming and see the signs in the Heavens in time to be there to greet Him? Let us follow these children, a boy and a girl living at the time of the Christ Child’s birth. Perhaps this is how they learned that Love was coming back to the Earth, to bring gratitude and healing back to our relationships with the Earth, her plants, her animals and with each other.

Two children are wandering alone.

Little Sister Says –

Dear Brother, how much farther is it to home? I am so tired and hungry and the night is so cold!

Little Brother Says -

I am sorry, dear Sister. I think that we have wandered far away. I thought that I knew the way back, but I can’t find it. I can usually find things by the night stars, but there is a new star in the sky tonight and it is so bright that I can’t make out the smaller stars.

Little Sister Says –

I am sorry to be a burden to you, dear Brother. But I am so worried about our mother who is ill and our father whose strength has been failing him for some time now. I would like to be able to help them in some way, little though it may be.

Little Brother Says -

I understand, dear Sister. I feel the same way. I am not old enough to do everything, but I want to do what I can to help.

The Fourth Advent Angel appears (from viewing left) –

yellow or golden robe with angel tunic and wings

Sings -

Said the night wind to the little lamb,

do you see what I see

Way up in the sky, little lamb,

do you see what I see

A star, a star, dancing in the night

With a tail as big as a kite

She stops and sees the children.

Advent Angel

Greetings dear Children, from Heaven on High

I heard you lamenting as I was passing by

Whatever is the matter, what grieves you dear children so?

If there is a way to help you, please just let me know.

Little Sister Says –

Greetings dear Angel from Heaven on High

We heard your sweet singing as you were passing by

The dark night has fallen and gone is the day

The sun set so fast and we lost our way

Little Brother Says -

Small jobs we were seeking to help out at home

We didn’t expect so much farther to roam

Normally night is a starry-filled friend

And usually stars help us to homeward wend

Little Sister Says –

Now here shines a new star so big and so bright

That outshines the guiding stars there in the night

The paths are all lit up as clear as the day

But only our home stars can show us the way

Little Brother Says -

What star is that shining in heavenly hues

Our grandmother says that the stars bring us news

But only a wise man can say what they mean

Does it augur some good or some evil foreseen?

Advent Angel

Dear Boy and Dear Girl, please don’t be afraid

I’ll help you to find your way back to your home

But first there is something to see on the way

I promise you’ll surely not journey alone

Yes, it is new, this brilliant, bright star!

It augurs a Saviour whose birth was foretold

For all of Mankind who has fallen so far

His story was written in tablets of old

Little Sister Says –

Grandfather read from the tablets and scrolls

And spoke of Messiah we’re all waiting for

The stories of old, are they coming true now?

Is he here among us, is this the right hour?

Little Brother Says -

Where is he living? In which stately palace

Will someday he come to our poor humble town?

Can we run out to greet him and bring him sweet laurels?

Would he ever descend from his high kingly throne?

Advent Angel

Oh yes, dear sweet children, He’s coming among you

No palace or throne will our good Savior need

No treasure or crown will our Lord ever make due

He has no part in human power or greed

No silken bed waits him, but only good silage

No garments of gold will our sweet Christ Child wear

He’s journeying now to your own lowly village

On a donkey, who carries his mother with care

Little Sister Says –

What do you mean by a bed of good silage?

That’s fodder for beasts, the hay and the oats.

No one I know of would sleep in a stable

With cows and with sheep and sometimes with goats!

Little Brother Says -

What kind of a king would go sleep in a stable?

Oh Angel, you’re jesting, you’re having a joke

Why not sleep in a clean bed if someone is able?

This man will lie down with a pig in a poke?

Advent Angel

No I am not joking, though perhaps it sounds silly

But strangest of all is that he’s not a man

But only newborn, a tiny wee baby

Whose bed will be hay in a manger at hand

To a stable in Bethlehem His Mother is coming

We must now make haste to welcome him there

This bright star will guide us, so follow it gladly

New life is upon us, so do not despair

Little Sister Says –

Dear Angel, we have to believe what you tell us

But how can a Savior be less than a King?

How can he free us from sorrow and suffering

What help can He offer, what hope can He bring?

Little Brother Says -

A tiny wee baby can’t heal all the illness

That people are having, can’t rescue the lame

A heavenly child, no matter how lovely

Is only a child, not a man, all the same.

Advent Angel

And you are a boy and your sister a girl child

But who knows what healing you bring to the world?

The time will pass quickly for you both to grow up

And all of the gifts in your hearts to be freed

Even a king must be born to a Mother

And this king of kings will be born just the same

But as he grows up, just like you little brother,

He’ll bless and he’ll heal both the blind and the lame

But more than the wonders and beautiful blessings

He’ll bring to the people who meet with him then

Is the power of forgiveness and true selfless loving

The ground of this world now forgotten by men

The Earth has been dying, herself the first victim

Since humankind first turned to evil and crime

But no matter how far they turn from the Heavens

All will be rescued by love and in time.

Away now let’s go to be ready and waiting

To see how the wonder of God shall unfold

To give gifts to the Christ Child and give them all freely

The gifts of the heart are more precious than gold.

Little Sister Says –

What gifts can we bring to this dear precious baby?

Our family is poor with just barely enough

To feed and to clothe us and keep us in shelter

Our furnishings simple, our fabrics are rough.

Little Brother Says -

If I just were older, I’d work in the wheat fields

Or pick the blue grapes to make into wine

But I cannot earn even one silver penny

To buy Him a gift of something so fine.

Advent Angel

Dear Children, fear not and approach empty handed

The gifts of real value are there in your heart

The love that awakens when first you will see Him

Will be more than enough of a gift on your part

For this love will always be all that He asks for

From all Humankind to nourish and grow

A new world of peace and of joy and of healing

From one to another His blessings to show

A new star is shining, a new song is rising

Your tongues will find words for the love that you feel

And each passing lifetime will bring you much closer

To a new world more honest, more good and more real.

Narrator

And so with the Advent Angel to lead them, the Children came to the humble stable in Bethlehem. Other children joined them, led by Angels and Stars and they gazed in wide wonder at the infant of Light. This miracle passes beyond understanding, the Blessing of God that was born in the night.

So, let us make ready our gifts, no matter how simple or humble they may be. We bring what is good, true and beautiful within us and wait, like the Children to serve Him when He calls us. Come, return to the stable again to wait with all of our brothers and sisters, for that very happy day!

Candlelighting

In the fourth candle of Advent shine
Our open hearts, both yours and mine.
We can now fill our hearts with love
And shining light from heaven above.
Now we are on the earth,
Waiting for the Christ Child’s birth.

Advent Angel

(speaking to the Advent Garden and the Human figures placed there)

“I am the Fourth Advent Angel! O Humans! You who live in North and South, East and West, From mountain to seaside, from desert to jungle, I call upon Humankind to Wake Up! The Turning Point of Time is upon us. The Lord of the Dance will soon be among you. Tune your hearts to the music of the spheres. Wake up and Rejoice, O People!”

Christine Natale

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,

do you see what I see

Way up in the sky, little lamb,

do you see what I see

A star, a star, dancing in the night

With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,

do you hear what I hear

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,

do you hear what I hear

A song, a song, high above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,

do you know what I know

In your palace warm, mighty king,

do you know what I know

A Child, a Child shivers in the cold

Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,

listen to what I say

Pray for peace, people everywhere!

listen to what I say

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light

The Children of Bethlehem

The children of Bethlehem,

One cold winter's night,

Were wakened by singing,

And a heavenly light.

With whispers and murmurs,

On pattering feet,

The children of Bethlehem

Came into the street.

The people were sleeping,

All safely in bed.

The children heard singing

In the sky overhead.

They heard, "Peace will be with you,

Whoever you are.

Oh, come to the stable

Come, follow the Star!"

And the children of Bethlehem,

That cold winter's night,

Came down to the stable;

They followed the light.

Now the roosters were crowing,

At the dawning of day.

The baby lay sleeping.

In the manger he lay.

The children of Bethlehem,

Came in two by two.

They came to the manger,

That the Star brought them to.

They came to the manger,

Where the sweet Baby lay.

The children of Bethlehem,

Showed us the way.

People Look East

Words and Music: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), 1928

MIDI / Noteworthy Composer

1. People, look east. The time is near

Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able,

Trim the hearth and set the table.