Church Skits & Plays
A Christmas programThe Bethlehem Evening News14–25 actors · 30 min

Christmas · 14–25 actors · 30 minutes · All ages: teens or adults in the newsroom, children in the story

The Bethlehem Evening News

The Christmas story as a live TV newscast: census traffic from the Donkey Cam, a forecast of great joy, breaking news from the fields, and an anchor who loses his script at the manger. A full 30-minute program with Scripture readings and carols.

$8USD, tax included
  • Instant PDF download, yours to keep
  • Performance rights for your whole church
  • 30-day refund if it doesn’t fit your church
Running time30 minutes
Cast14–25 roles · All ages: teens or adults in the newsroom, children in the story
PrepMemorized, with three rehearsals. The children’s lines are short, and the newsroom reads from the desk.
Best forChristmas program, family Christmas Eve service, the Sunday before Christmas
ScriptureLuke 2:1–20; Matthew 2:1–2; Romans 10:14–15 (KJV)
ThemeThe Christmas story is news, not a legend, and it was meant for everyone to hear.
FormatPrintable PDF

About the skit

Tonight on the Bethlehem Evening News: the census has the Nazareth road backed up ninety miles, the forecast calls for great joy with scattered choirs of angels after midnight, and a field reporter sent out for a quiet night in the hills gets the breaking news of his life.

Five scenes, each opened by a Scripture reading from Luke 2 or Matthew 2 and closed with a carol your congregation sings. The palace spokesman never answers a question. And when the anchor goes down to the manger to report the story himself, he runs out of words.

About 30 minutes with carols, or about 27 without the two optional ones. Fourteen to twenty-five people, from a newsroom of teens or adults to the youngest sheep. The notes include an order of service, a microphone plan, a cue-card list and versions for a smaller cast.

Read the first page

(BRAD and DIANE are already at the news desk. CHUCK, the INNKEEPER, MARY and JOSEPH wait at the side of the open area. The NARRATOR steps to the lectern.)

NARRATOR: (reading Luke 2:1, 3–5) "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."

SCENE 1: Census Traffic

(The FLOOR DIRECTOR holds up ON AIR, then APPLAUSE.)

BRAD: Good evening, and welcome to the Bethlehem Evening News. I'm Brad Stone.

DIANE: And I'm Diane Price.

BRAD: Tonight's broadcast is brought to you by Bethlehem Bakery. Can't find a room? Have a roll.

DIANE: And by Nazareth Woodworks. Joseph and Son: tables, chairs, yokes and repairs.

BRAD: Our top story tonight. Caesar Augustus has ordered a census of the entire Roman world, which means every family has to go back to its hometown to register. (a sigh) Which means, for one week, something is happening in Bethlehem.

DIANE: For more, we go to Chuck, live from the Donkey Cam. Chuck?

(CHUCK trots into the open area on the stick donkey, microphone in hand.)

CHUCK: Thanks, Diane! It is a mess out here. Traffic on the Nazareth road is backed up for ninety miles. That's about four days at donkey speed. If you're heading south, pack a lunch. Pack several lunches.

DIANE: Chuck, how are the accommodations in Bethlehem?

CHUCK: Let's ask a local. (He rides over to the INNKEEPER, who holds up the NO VACANCY sign, and holds out the microphone.) Any rooms left in town?

INNKEEPER: Every room in Bethlehem is booked. I rented out the hallway. Twice.

(MARY and JOSEPH walk slowly across the open area, Joseph's arm around Mary, and go off. CHUCK watches them pass.)

CHUCK: (more quietly) That young couple there just came all the way from Nazareth. And she looks like she's expecting any day now. Hope somebody finds them a spot. (brightly) Back to you, Brad!

BRAD: Thanks, Chuck. Tough break for them. Coming up: weather.

The script continues in the full PDF.

Characters

  • Brad Stone, the lead anchor, sure nothing ever happens in Bethlehem
  • Diane Price, the co-anchor, who takes the story seriously first
  • Chuck, traffic, live from the Donkey Cam
  • Sunny, weather; reads whatever is on the card
  • Dan, the field reporter, sent out for a “quiet night” story
  • Narrator, reads the Scripture between scenes; your pastor is a natural choice
  • Floor Director, no lines, just big cue cards
  • Shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, Joseph and sheep, children or teens

Props

  • A news desk with a sign
  • Microphones (four handhelds cover it)
  • Nine big cue cards for the Floor Director
  • A stick donkey for the Donkey Cam
  • NO VACANCY and PALACE signs
  • A manger with a baby doll, under a cloth

What you get

  • The full script with stage directions
  • Cast list, props list and simple staging notes
  • Four discussion questions for a small group, youth group or Sunday school class
  • Performance rights for your church: perform it as often as you like and print copies for your cast

Performance rights

One purchase covers one church or ministry. Perform it as many times as you like, make copies for everyone in the cast and crew, adapt the lines and include it in your livestream. Please don’t resell the script or share the file publicly. Read the full license.

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Questions

Can I change the names or lines?

Yes. Change names and genders, trim lines for time or adapt a joke for your church. The script is yours to fit to your people.

Can we record and stream the performance?

Yes. You can include it in your livestream and post the recording on your church’s own channels.

How do I get the file after I buy?

Right after checkout you get a download link on the confirmation page and by email. It works for up to 20 downloads, and each copy is marked with your order so it stays licensed to your church.

Who is the seller on my receipt?

Payments are processed by Link, Stripe’s checkout, which acts as the reseller. Your card statement shows LINK.COM* CHURCHSKITS. Questions about the script itself come to us at hello@churchskits.org.

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