{"product_id":"2940152663754","title":"Christmas Play","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhy Gary Neal Hansen's \u003cem\u003eChristmas Play\u003c\/em\u003e?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYour church wants to put on a pageant this December. You want more than kids as shepherds in bathrobes and tinsel-winged angels. Sure, they're cute, but you want your congregation to know why the baby Jesus matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou want to show the real meaning of Christmas: the story of the coming of Christ into the world, Jesus born of Mary, the Son of God.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is easy to go wrong in a play about Christmas. In a heartbeat things can get too sweet, or too preachy, or downright tacky.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the best of intentions, plays can even take our attention away from Jesus. Focusing too hard on modern problems like materialism, they can almost forget to show the world-changing story of the coming of Christ. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo you fear that your play will aim too low. You fear missing the once-a-year opportunity to help people see and feel the story of how our salvation began to be revealed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGary Neal Hansen's \u003cem\u003eChristmas Play\u003c\/em\u003e tells the whole biblical story of the coming of Jesus in the Bible's own words. It weaves all the relevant Gospel passages into one seamless drama. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the story of the Light coming into a world of shadows -- the Light that darkness can never overcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGary Neal Hansen is the award-winning author of \u003cem\u003eKneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History's Best Teachers\u003c\/em\u003e (InterVarsity, 2012), and \u003cem\u003eLove Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk\u003c\/em\u003e (Climacus, 2015). He serves as Associate Professor of Church History at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProduction licensing and permission to reproduce scripts are handled through the author's website (details in front matter).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eADVANCE PRAISE FOR GARY NEAL HANSEN'S \u003cem\u003eCHRISTMAS PLAY\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"What you hold in your hand is powerful.  Hansen understands that the bells and whistles of Christmas often hide its true message, and so he allows the very words of scripture to irresistibly draw congregation and participants into the dramatic sweep of the story of God breaking into our world as the Christ-child.  In \u003cem\u003eChristmas Play\u003c\/em\u003e, the Living Word becomes embodied and proclaimed, creating a simple, yet powerfully joyful and serious production.  Hansen includes excellent stage directions and recommendations to ensure a deeply meaningful and significant Christmas experience.  You will find that \u003cem\u003eChristmas Play\u003c\/em\u003e is a tremendous way to let the wondrous story of Christ's birth transform lives through this unique proclamation of scripture.\"--Mark McIlraith, Ph.D., professional actor, currently Senior Pastor of Moorpark Presbyterian Church, Moorpark CA\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Gary Neal Hansen has handed us a gift. \u003cem\u003eChristmas Play\u003c\/em\u003e is easily staged for full production or can be offered as a reader's theater presentation with script in hand. People of all ages can both enjoy and participate in this refreshingly full-bodied telling of Christmas. Angels, shepherds, prophets, animals, and a holy family; all take the Christmas stage and proclaim the Good, Good News:  For unto us a son is born.\"--Lauren McFeaters, professional actress, currently Assoc. Pastor of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton NJ\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"As a current pastor, and a former actress, I can say with conviction that Gary Neal Hansen's play is a beautifully evocative rendering of the gospel birth narrative. I plan on using this play myself knowing that it will have great impact for congregations and that it will be simple enough for amateurs to perform well.\"--Lesley Abrams, professional actress, currently Pastor of St. John on the Desert Presbyterian Church, Tucson Arizona\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Climacus Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46464932282609,"sku":"2940152663754","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0674\/5433\/7265\/files\/2940152663754_p0.jpg?v=1765861363","url":"https:\/\/shop.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940152663754","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","version":"1.0","type":"link"}