Not That Far

By Ruth & Wright Eavenson

Summary
A Christmas play with choir music. Brad and Jenny are successful 20-somethings who were raised participating in church but believe they have moved on in life. God uses a trip home for Christmas, the faith of a homeless mother, and a personal crisis to get their attention and begin to draw them back to Himself. They find they are not as far away from God as they thought. The choir is also a character in the story, providing a venue to present several choir numbers. The choir is also the comic relief.

Characters
Brad - A 20-something successfully beginning a career in the city, willing to sacrifice whatever he thinks is necessary to do so. Jenny - Brads wife. Dee - Brads mom. Kim - Brads older sister; still lives close to Dee. Dan Brads friend from childhood; still lives in the hometown, member of the choir. Leon choir member, older than Dan and Brad, who helps build stable and dispenses a little wisdom to Brad. Faith A single mom with an amazing faith in God to meet her needs day by day. Jake Faiths son. Pastor Bob/Choir Directorcan be the same person Various choir members.

Script
SCENE 1 (Accompanist and choir member enter. They are discussing the choir program that is only a week away.) ACCOMPANIST: I cant believe the Nativity Program is just a week away. We have so much left to do. CHOIR MEMBER: But weve been working hard. Itll be great! ACCOMPANIST: Well, Im going to warm up a little bit. CHOIR MEMBER: Okay. (Accompanist plays a few scales, then starts playing Joy to the World. Choir Member takes seat and other choir members enter from various doors in groups of 2-3, gathering in choir loft for rehearsal. Finally, Dan [wearing jeans and orange T-shirt] and Joe enter down center aisle as Accompanist begins a second verse. It quickly becomes apparent that these are the choir clowns.) DAN & JOE: (singing) Joy to the choir, for we have come! (Choir members respond by smiling, pointing, shaking their heads, groaning, etc.)

PAULINE: What are we supposed to wear for this Christmas performance? DAN: I vote for jeans and orange T-shirts. (Choir members react again.) DAN: Hey, I think thats a great idea. JOAN: Dont worry, Pauline. We're wearing Bible time costumes, and we have plenty in the costume closet. Well get you one after rehearsal. PAULINE: Okay, but well have to make it quick. I really need to get home this evening. My son Johnny and his family are coming in tomorrow. Ive got the house cleaned, but Id like to bake a pie. LINDA: Hmm. You know, my mom and dad will be here day after tomorrow, and Ive just been too busy to clean. Hey, how about you and I go to Bakers Square after rehearsal and then you come to my house this evening and help me clean! PAULINE: Hmmm, interesting offer. Let me consider it. (No time elapses.) No, thanks. JEAN: It sounds like were importing an audience of out-of-town family for this Christmas program. Hey, Dee, is Brad coming home this year? DEE: I made a special call to invite him this year since he and Jenny havent been home for Christmas since they moved to Chicago. I havent heard his answer yet. You know, he worries about taking time off from his job. So I dont know. DAN: I have my cell phone here. Lets call him and find out. (Choir responds enthusiastically. Yeah! Hey, well talk him into it. He needs to come see his Mama! Dee just shakes her head.) DEE: I know hed love to love to talk to you. You were always such good friends as kids. (As Dan punches in numbers on his cell phone, lights and sound come up on Brad and Jennys condo. Brad is watching a football game. The phone rings. Brad uses the remote. Sound down on game. Brad answers phone.) BRAD: Hello? DAN: Hi, Brad. This is your old buddy Dan. BRAD: Dan! Hey, what a surprise. (Jenny comes to door of room, listening to Brads part of the conversation.) DAN: Hey, Im at choir rehearsal, and we thought wed just call and say hi. (Dan holds phone away from his ear and everyone says hi, Brad.) BRAD: (laughing) Hi to everyone and Merry Christmas! DAN: Yeah, to you, too. Heres someone else who wants to talk to you. (Dan hands phone to Dee. She puts it to her ear upside down. Dan shows her the right way to hold it.) DEE: Hi, Brad. Its Mom. BRAD: Hi, Mom. Whats going on? (Jenny leaves to get portable phone.) DEE: Well, we were just talking about people who were coming into town for Christmas, and everyone was wondering if youre going to make it home this year. BRAD: Well, Mom, we are thinking about it. (Jenny returns.) BRAD: Oh, Jenny just got on the extension. DEE: Hi, Jenny.

CHOIR: Hi, Jenny! JENNY: (laughing) Hi, Mom. Hi, everybody! We have been talking very seriously about coming home, Mom. BRAD: But we havent really made a decision yet. (One choir member starts and others join in singing first line of Ill Be Home for Christmas. They finish the song humming under the phone conversation.) JENNY: It sounds like youve got some backup to try to talk us into coming. DEE: Actually, this was all their idea. I really had nothing to do with it. JENNY: They sound like a really fun group. I miss choir. I wish I could sing with you all. DEE: Hey, you could. Ill send you a practice tape. If you come home, youll have 9 hours on the road to learn the songs. Oh, here comes the director. Id better go. BRAD: Well, were thinking about it, Mom. Well let you know soon. DEE: I hope so. Christmas is only a week away. Ill tell you, the last two Christmases have been very quiet with just your sister and me. Anyway, I love you. BRAD: We love you, too, Mom. Talk to you soon. Bye. JENNY: Bye, Mom. (Lights down on Brad and Jenny. Director enters.) WRIGHT: Okay. Good to see you all here on time. Weve got lots of work to do. Lets start with Thats the Good News. Of course, you should all have it from memory by now, so lets hear you sing it the way you will for the performance. CHOIR: THATS THE GOOD NEWS (by David T. Clydesdale from the musical Thats the Good News, Word Music 2000) SCENE 2 (Lights up on Brad and Jenny. They are just hanging up the phones.) BRAD: That was a surprise. JENNY: Yeah. (Pause.) Brad, we really do need to let your mom know whether or not were coming for Christmas. Its really not right to keep her hanging like this. BRAD: Yeah, I know. I just hate to disappoint her again. JENNY: That sounds like youve decided were absolutely not going. BRAD: Its just so far to go for just one day. And Id have to take off Christmas Eve for us to drive down there. I just dont know how Tom would react to that. (Jenny nods, gets up and starts to leave as though resigning herself to this decision. Then she stops and turns back.) JENNY: Your boss is human. He will understand that you would like to visit your family for Christmas. As a matter of fact, he went on and on to me at the office party about what a great find you were for the company, what a great manager you are. I think it might be okay to ask him for a few days off so we could actually spend some time with your mom and sister this year. BRAD: Maybe youre right. But why dont we wait til spring to go. If we go now, you know Im going to get sucked into taking part in whatever the church is doing for Christmas. JENNY: It wouldnt hurt you, you know. (Brad groans slightly.) We

were so active in church in our younger years. BRAD: Yeah, I guess we were. But I think weve moved on in life. Besides, we dont have any time for adding anything to our lives right now. JENNY: I dont know. I guess maybe Im feeling my age BRAD: Youre 22! JENNY: I know. But I guess Ive been feeling like there might be more important things than a good job, a nice house and a nice car. And I think its time we both admit that family is important. Lets go see your mom. Its not that far. And Kim, too. Wouldnt you like to see your sister? BRAD: Oh, yeah, my big sis, the Tormentor. (seriously) Yeah, I really would like to see her. (Sighs, giving in.) Okay. Ill talk to Tom tomorrow. Can I catch the last quarter of the Bears game now? JENNY: (Hugs him.) Absolutely. (Brad uses remote, sound up on football game. Jenny walks to back of stage, takes a deep breath, puts a hand to her stomach, looking up. Lights down.) CHOIR OR QUARTET: NOT THAT FAR FROM BETHLEHEM (by Lowell Alexander et al., arr. Marty Hamby, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, 1999). SCENE 3 (Lights up on Dees kitchen. Brad and Jenny are seated at the table. Dee serves plates of waffles to them.) BRAD: Oh, Mom, waffles. (Inhales aroma. Jenny is smiling and buttering.) DEE: You lived here for 20 years. I ought to know what your comfort foods are. JENNY: Wow, the syrup is even warmed. DEE: You two sound like its been way too long since you ate waffles. JENNY: A waffle iron is the one thing we didnt get for a wedding present. (Kim enters, takes off jacket, throws car keys on table.) KIM: Morning everybody. (Everyone says hi to Kim.) KIM: (To Dee as she eyes waffles.) Mmm, you got an extra one for me? DEE: Always. (Hands Kim a plate and cup of coffee. They all sit.) KIM: Im so glad you guys are home. And Mom says youre going to sing in the choir. JENNY: Well, at least I am. We havent talked Brad into it yet. BRAD: Im here to relax and enjoy. Someone has to be the audience. KIM: Thats the job of those of us who cant carry a tune in a bucket. If youre not going to sing, at least you can help in other ways. BRAD: (suspiciously) Other ways like what? KIM: Last I knew, you were pretty good with a hammer. I know a

couple of guys are getting together today to finish up the stable for the nativity program. I thought youd be the perfect person to lend them a hand. BRAD: (Waving his fork back and forth at Kim) Uh-uh. I remember you sucked me into helping you build a snow fort once. Then you wouldnt let me in it. Instead, you used it as a base of terror operations against me. KIM: That was 15 years ago! BRAD: I guess some things never change. I put up shelves in your room for you. I built the float for your senior homecoming parade. I installed new cabinets in your kitchen. Ive paid my dues, and Im not letting you suck me into projects while Im here. KIM: Thats too bad. Dan is going to be very disappointed. BRAD: Dan Jones? KIM: Of course. What other Dan would I be talking about? I asked him to stop by and pick you up. DAN: (from offstage, knocking as on door) Hello! KIM: As a matter of fact, I think thats him now. (Dan enters. Greetings exchanged all around. Brad stands to shake his hand.) DAN: Hey, Brad, thanks for helping us out. Leons meeting us at the church. (Brad glares at Kim, she smiles sweetly/innocently at him.) BRAD: (Sarcastically) Sure, Id be glad to help, Dan. But I know both of these girls are absolute handy maams. I think we should get them to help, too. JENNY: Oh, no. Kim and I have a lot of last-minute Christmas shopping to do. KIM: Tell you what. Well come by first thing in the morning and do the final inspection. We are great inspectors. DAN: Yeah, if we work all day, we should be done today. Lets get going. BRAD: Let me get my jacket. KIM, JENNY & DEE: (Waving and grinning) Bye! (Brad and Dan leave. The women exchange looks and snickers. Lights down) SCENE 4 (Sound of power drill is cue for lights up. The three men are working on the stable.) LEON: Brad, its good to have you home. And thanks for helping us out today. BRAD: I wouldnt miss it. DAN: Lets get this brace on here. (They add a piece of wood to the stable. Between the next few lines, they pretend to add a few screws and/or hammer a bit.) LEON: So Brad, how is life in the big city?

BRAD: Great. We love it there. We both have great jobs. DAN: Are you actually living in the city? BRAD: We started out living in a suburb, but a few months ago we moved into a condo in the city. We both got really tired of the commute. (Little boy [Jake] enters. He hangs back, maybe peeking around a bench or tree to watch the men work.) LEON: Lets see, youve been there, what, two years now? BRAD: Two years plus a little, yeah. LEON: No kids yet, huh? BRAD; No. (Pause. Then he adds casually:) Actually, weve decided not to have kids. Were just both so busy and, well, we both agree this isnt a great world to bring kids up in. LEON: Mmm. And have you found a good church there? BRAD: We just really havent had time to look for a church. DAN: Man. I have a hard time imagining you not involved in a church. BRAD: Yeah, I know. I was pretty involved as a kid and a teenager, huh? I guess Ive just kind of gravitated toward other things in life. (Leon has brought water bottles. He offers the others water and the three stop work for a break.) DAN: I guess weve taken slightly different paths in that regard. The older I get, the more my faith is critical to my life. LEON: You know, Brad, Ive found that if you belong to the Lord, he wont let you get too far away from him before he does something to get your attention, to draw you back to him. A wake-up call, so to speak. You watch for him. He works in mysterious ways. DAN: (Has noticed Jake.) Hey, we have an audience. LEON: Hi. Whats your name? (Little boy runs away.) LEON (to Dan): I dont recognize him, and I thought I knew everybody in this town from 1 to 100. Do you know who he is? DAN: I noticed a woman with a little boy at McDonalds this morning. I think thats the same kid. She had a suitcase with her, so I thought they were just getting breakfast waiting for the train. LEON: Oh, well. Back to work. (They get up as lights go down.) CHOIR: WE ALL NEED JESUS. (by David T. Clydesdale & Steve Wilkinson from the musical Thats the Good News, 2000, Word Music) SCENE 5 (Faith enters with Jake. She is holding his hand and also carrying a bag and a backpack. They approach the stable.) FAITH: Look, Jake! This would be a great place to spend the night. Itll be like camping. JAKE: I watched some men build this today. FAITH: I bet they wont mind if we stay here just for one night. Look, its in front of Gods house, and I know He wont mind. I wouldnt be

surprised if He had those men build it just so wed have a wonderful place to sleep tonight. That would be just like God, wouldnt it? JAKE: Yeah! FAITH: It looks like it might rain a little, but well be nice and dry here. (They enter the stable and Faith pulls a blanket out of her luggage and spreads it out. She pulls out a teddy bear and gives it to Jake.) FAITH: Come here. Whadya say we say our prayers and hit the sack? JAKE: Okay. (They kneel side by side.) FAITH: Dear God, thank you so much for making Jake feel better. Thank you for the kind people at the hospital who helped make his fever go down. God, thank you for making sure we had plenty of food to eat today and now a great place to sleep tonight. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. JAKE: Amen. FAITH: Okay, you snuggle down here and Ill sing you to sleep. (Jake lies down, hugging bear. Faith sings chorus of Hes Been Good by David Baroni, Integrity Music 1999). As accompaniment continues softly, she lies down by Jake and lights gradually go down. Music ends. Long pause. Lights come up very gradually, signifying the sun rising. When it is completely light, Kim, Dee and Jenny enter.) JENNY: You know, I really think he enjoyed working on it no matter how much he complained about it. KIM: Thats just like Brad. He always gripes about the work, but he always gets a lot of satisfaction in the things he builds. I cant wait to see how it turned out. DEE: I know. Me, too. (They approach the stable from the right. They dont notice Faith and Jake.) KIM: Oh, look at the roof. That turned out really nice. (Faith and Jake begin to stir and sit up.) JENNY: It did. The whole stable seems good and (They notice Faith and Jake.) KIM: (In a halting voice at first) Hi. FAITH: Hi. (Kim, Dee and Jenny exchange looks when they realize Faith and Jake have slept here. There is an embarrassed silence.) KIM: Im sorry. We didnt mean to disturb you. FAITH: (Beginning to gather up blanket.) No, no, thats okay. I hope we didnt disturb anything by staying here. It just seemed that God had provided this place for us to stay last night. (She stops, looks at Kim and smiles.) Day by day, its just amazing the way He provides, isnt it? JAKE: Mom, I have to go to the bathroom! FAITH: Oh, Jake. Youll have to wait a little bit until I can get this stuff together.

(She begins to stuff blanket into bag.) DEE: Well, this is our church (pointing). Im sure the secretary is already here and it would be fine for him to use the restroom. If its okay with you, Id be glad to show him where it is. FAITH: (Looks unsure.) Well JAKE: Mom! FAITH: Well, if you wouldnt mind. DEE: Not one bit. FAITH: Jake, go with the nice lady, okay? DEE: (As she takes Jakes hand) My name is Dee, and this is my daughter Kim and my daughter-in-law Jenny. FAITH: Im Faith, and youve met Jake. (Hellos and nice to meet yous are exchanged all around.) DEE: (to Jake as they walk offstage) All the kids around here call me Aunt Dee. You can too if you want to. FAITH: Thank you so much. People in this town have been so kind to us. (She starts packing again. Kim moves over to left of stage to help her. Jenny remains on the right watching.) KIM: How long have you been here? FAITH: Since day before yesterday. Actually, we were headed for Chicago on the train. Im scheduled to start a job training program there the week after Christmas. But Jake started running a high fever on the train, and we got off here to get help. JENNY: Thats terrible. FAITH: No, not really. The staff at your hospital were wonderful. They took him in right away, and he responded really well to the IV and just a lot of TLC from some wonderful nurses. But of course, the bill was way more than I had. I gave them everything I had. (She smiles.) Then a group of them passed the plate among themselves and insisted we take it. We stayed in a motel that night, and we have money for meals for a few days, but not enough to get us on to Chicago. But Im trusting God. He has a plan for us, and He will work things out. (When theyve got everything packed, Kim and Faith move to sit on hay bale at front of stable. Jenny moves closer to them, but remains standing.) KIM: Wow, your faith is really strong. Your name really suits you. FAITH: It hasnt always been that way. I didnt even meet the Lord until I was expecting Jake. Im not married, and I was thinking about having an abortion. I was really in turmoil, and I went to a clinic to talk to someone about it. It turned out to be an anti-abortion clinic. A counselor there introduced me to Jesus, and things have never been the same for me. I was given a beautiful son, and Hes provided every step of the way.

JENNY: (With a lump in her throat and a choke in her voice) What an unbelievable story. (Kim and Faith both look at Jenny.) KIM: Jenny, are you okay? JENNY: (coughing) Just something in my throat. Do you have a tissue? KIM: Sure. (She pulls out a pack and gives them to Jenny, who moves to bench.) KIM: Dont you have any family? It looks like you and Jake are all alone. FAITH: Well, when I decided to keep my son, my parents kicked me out. I really dont have any earthly family. But Jake and I have been living in Memphis and doing well. Then I got this opportunity in Chicago, and thats where we were headed. KIM: It seems to me the opportunity you have right now is to spend Christmas with us. FAITH: Oh, no, we couldnt intrude on your family like that. KIM: You wouldnt be. We have the same heavenly father, so youre part of our family, too. Besides, my mother would never let someone leave knowing theyre in need. You just plan on staying, at least through Christmas. Then well see about helping you and Jake get on your way. We dont have any little children in our family right now. Itll be nice to have Jake around on Christmas Day. (Jenny stands from the bench and turns her back to Kim and Faith as she wipes her eye. Kim notices this as Dee reenters alone.) FAITH: Wheres Jake? DEE: The secretary had brought fresh donuts and coffee for the staff. I left Jake getting to know Pastor Bob while I came back for you. You look like you could use a little breakfast, too. And then well talk about you coming home with us for Christmas. KIM: What did I tell you? FAITH: Thank youall of you. DEE: (Picking up a bag) Come on. Pastor Bob is anxious to meet you. (They start walking away.) When I left, he and Jake were having a deep theological discussion about Noah. FAITH: Why am I not surprised? (Kim goes to Jenny. They sit on bench.) KIM: Jenny, whats wrong? Are you okay? JENNY: Oh, Kim. Ive got to tell you something. Ive got to tell somebody. I found out two weeks ago that Im pregnant. KIM: Oh, Jenny, thats wonderful! (She hugs Jenny.) Thats wonderful news! JENNY: Im so glad you think so. But you know how Brad feels. Im so scared to tell him. And then here is this girl with her little boy. Listening to her story, it just felt like a tornado stirring up inside me. How can she be so calm when she has nothing, when her future and

her childs future is so uncertain? KIM: Jenny, I know this wasnt what you and Brad had planned. But God has a way of changing our plans sometimes, and it can feel very scary. I think Faith has learned that she can trust God even through the scary times. Just trust Him. (Pause.) And tell Brad. Okay? JENNY: I know. Ive got to find a way to do that soon. KIM: Jenny, would you like to pray about this? JENNY: That would be great. Thanks, Kim. (They hug, then bow heads together. Lights dim. Soft solo instrument [we used a baritone recorder] plays a verse of Hes Been Good, then SAT trio sings a verse, then soft solo instrument tag. Lights down.) SCENE 6: (Comic relief. Music starts and choir enters again as though for rehearsal. Soloist is the last to enter, obviously moping and carrying a box with fruitcake inside.) CHOIR MEMBER: Whats wrong, Jim? You look really down. (Choir sings and acts out Fruitcake, by Kirk Talley & Geron Davis, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, 1999.) SCENE 7 (Lights up on scene at Dees house where Dee, Kim, Brad, Jenny, Faith and Jake are opening presents. Brad and Jake are playing with a model car on the floor.) FAITH: (Lifting a sweater out of box) Oh, its beautiful. Thank you. JENNY: (Lifting gift out of box, laughing) A waffle iron. Thank you, Dee. BRAD: Mmmm, yeah, thanks, Mom. DEE: Youre welcome. Its just so nice to have you here for Christmas. All of you. Its just wonderful to have a full house. KIM: (aside to Faith) I think Santa might bring at least one present for Jake to open tomorrow morning. Im afraid Ol St. Nick ignores us adults who open presents on Christmas Eve because we like to sleep in on Christmas Day. FAITH: Thank you. DEE: I guess we better get this mess cleaned up and get ready for the Nativity program. Faith, yours and Jakes costumes are hanging in the laundry room. We should thank you for stepping in to help us out. Who knew our Mary would come down with the flu yesterday? KIM: God, maybe. (To Jake) Ready to become a shepherd, Jake? JAKE: Yeah! (Kim takes him by the hand, ad libbing as they leave, All right! Lets go get that costume on, etc. All leave except Brad and Jenny.) BRAD: Shouldnt you be getting ready? JENNY: I have one more present for you. I wanted to wait til we were alone to give it to you. (They sit together on loveseat. She gives him a box. He opens it and pulls out a T-shirt. He is looking at the back and only the audience

can see that it says Worlds Greatest Dad on the front.) BRAD: A T-shirt? JENNY: Turn it around. (He does.) BRAD: Worlds Greatest Dad? Jenny, what are you trying to tell me? JENNY: I think you know. Ive been trying to tell you for a couple of weeks. BRAD: (leaning back and putting hands on forehead.) Wow. (He leans forward and takes Jennys hand.) Jenny, we agreed we werent going to do this. How did this happen? JENNY: You, me, the doctor, everyone is wondering that. BRAD: This T-shirt tells me you want to go through with it. JENNY: Go through with it? BRAD: (haltingly) I meanhave itthe baby. (Jenny looks distraught, but doesnt respond. Brad stands and begins pacing.) BRAD: I mean, we talked about all of this. I thought we agreed we wouldnt bring children into this god-forsaken world. Look at Faith and Jake. Its so sad. What has that kid got to look forward to? Dont you think he would have been better off if he had never been born? JENNY: No, I dont think so. BRAD: (Seems not to have noticed that Jenny answered.) Even if we decided to have kids, this is a terrible time. I mean, we are on the brink of war! And the economy stinks. Were doing okay right now, but what will happen if you have to give up your job for months, if not years? Do you have any idea how expensive diapers are? Not to mention day care, clothes, school supplies, college! (Brad stops pacing, facing away from where Jenny is sitting. She stands and goes to him, touching his shoulder.) JENNY: I know we talked about all this, Brad. I guess because its Christmas Ive been thinking about things I dont think we considered before. BRAD: (turning to her) Like what? JENNY: Well, like the fact that I dont think our world is any worse than the world that God brought His own Son into. Except they werent on the brink of war. It was worse for them because they had foreign soldiers on every street corner. And like the fact that God sent Jesus to be born to a poor homeless couple. Apparently God didnt think Pampers or college were all that necessary for bringing up a child. At least our child would have a roof over his head. Or her head. Thats more than Jesus had when he was born. (Brad looks away, deep in troubled thought.) JENNY: Brad, Im sorry. I know this was probably a terrible time to tell you. I finally decided there wasnt a good time and I just had to do it. BRAD: (gently) Well, I dont think were going to decide anything here and now. Well talk more later, maybe even after we get back home. I

guess you better go get ready or youll miss this program after you made me listen to the songs for nine straight hours. (Long hug, then Jenny exits.) BRAD: Oh, God. Why cant life ever be easy? A baby. (He picks up a picture of himself and Kim as children and looks at it a long time. He picks up the T-shirt, pondering.) BRAD: Nine months from now I could be a father. I could have a son or a daughter. (looking up) Oh, God. (Lights down.) SCENE 8 (Choir is in costume and around stable. Faith is Mary. Jake is a shepherd. Brad and Kim are watching from the bench along with a few other spectators.) CHOIR: CAROL MEDLEY (We sang Celebrate Medley from the musical Thats the Good News by Clydesdale & Moore, Word Music 2000) PASTOR BOB: (to audience) I want to thank you all for coming to our Christmas Eve Nativity Program this year. I hope youve enjoyed meeting all of the characters who were present the night Jesus was born. You know, God used different ways to get the attention of each of these. He sent Gabriel to tell Mary what was about to happen. Joseph had a dream. A heavenly host of angels made the birth announcement to the shepherds. For the wise men, there was a star. God gave each of them just what was needed to draw them all to this extraordinary event. But He didnt make it easy for them. Each person had to sacrifice, struggle and persevere to be there. Mary and Joseph had to struggle to make this trip at such an inconvenient time--although Im not sure theres ever a convenient time to pay your taxes. Mary and Joseph suffered such hardship when they couldnt find a place for Jesus to be born. The shepherds had to drop what they were doing, risk their livelihood by leaving the sheep to seek out the newborn savior. The wise men didnt even really know where they were going and had no guarantee they would ever find the infant king. Their trip covered a great distance and may have taken years. But I think they would all agree that to find the Christ no struggle was too hard, no sacrifice was too great, no distance was too far. Besides, there was one more person there that night who had sacrificed more and traveled farther than anyone else to be there: Jesus himself. What did he sacrifice? How far did he travel? Scripture answers those questions in Phil 2:6-8: 6 [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and

became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! What did Jesus sacrifice? He left behind life with his Father in Heaven with all its splendor. He came all the way to here (gesturing to stable) not only to be born as a helpless baby, but to grow to be a man, the perfect man who was ableand willingto pay the price for your sin on the cross. Its my prayer tonight that just as Jesus decided it wasnt too far to come for you that youll decide that whatever the cost, the struggle or distance that its not too much, its not too hard, its not too far to come to Jesus tonight. QUARTET OR CHOIR: HE STILL CAME (by Donna Douglas & Pam Thum, arr. O.D. Hall Jr., Word Music 1990). At the Holy, Holy, Holy section, quartet turns to face manger. Wise men and shepherds kneel in worship. PASTOR BOB PRAYS. PASTOR BOB: (to people at the bench) Thank you for coming. Good night. (Choir starts to break up. Choir gradually exit and line up to re-enter for finale.) ( Pastor Bob is talking to choir members and audience members when Brad approaches.) PASTOR BOB: Hey, Brad! Its great to have you home. Thanks for coming tonight! BRAD: Thanks. It was a great program. Pastor Bob, I know its Christmas Eve and you probably dont have any time right now. Were supposed to head back home the day after Christmas, butwell, I really need to talk. If you had some time the day after Christmas, Id be willing to stay an extra day (Jenny walks up while Brad is saying this.) PASTOR BOB: Sounds important. Look, I need to speak to some of the guests here tonight, but I can meet you back at my office in about 10 minutes. BRAD: That would be awesome. (Looks at Jenny.) Maybe well both meet you there. (Brad and Jenny exit, holding hands.) PASTOR ADDRESSES CONGREGATION, GIVES INVITATION, EXPLAINS RESPONSE CARDS. PASTOR GIVES FINAL COMMENTS, INVITATION TO FELLOWSHIP TIME. CHOIR RE-ENTERS AND SINGS REPRISE OF THATS THE GOOD NEWS. ................................................. Copyright Ruth and Wright Eavenson, all rights reserved. This script may be used with payment, provided that no charge is made for admission to the performance. In return for free use, the authors would like to be told of any performance. They may be contacted at InaRuthE@aol.com