21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Worship Resources for Christmas Eve, Year C

"A Child is Born"
Readers' Scripture Skit from Luke 2:1-14 (NRSV)
Note: May also be used for Christmas Day
Scribe=S; Reporter=R; Questioner=Q; Commentator=C (a woman)

S: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. [Joseph] went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. (Luke 2:1-3, 5)

Q: I wonder how many children were registered in those days of the Roman decree, if the Roman government was interested in knowing about children?

R: Joseph and Mary left Nazareth and went to Bethlehem. They were expecting a child.

C: She was pregnant! Pregnancy is a journey in and of itself!

Q: I wonder what the mortality rate was for Jewish children? Was it two to three times greater than that for children of Roman parents?

R: The mortality rate for African American children is 13.6. That means that for every 1,000 live births, 13.6 babies die. That's higher than any rate in the industrialized world.

C: Mary was pregnant and riding on a donkey. No wonder she went into labor!

S: And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

C: Giving birth in a stable ain't no joke! Then putting your brand-new baby in the place where the animals eat!

R: There are many women in the world who still give birth out in the fields where they are working. Black women did it during slavery. Many babies are born outside of an "ark of safety" because their families have no insurance.

Q: I wonder how many babies are born wrapped in poverty, in disease, surrounded by hostile forces like racism and classism that will not let them in? Have you ever wondered why people from certain countries are welcomed in America while others, like Haitians, are not? Why it is so hard for an African or even a Jamaican to immigrate to the U.S.?

C: No room! Humph! No room! Mary wrapped that baby tight so that he would feel safe and know that he was loved!

S: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before then, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:8-11)

R: The shepherds were in the hills outside of the city of David, the hill country of Judea.

C: The hills outside of a city are tough places! Just ask the children in the hills outside of Rio de Janiero! Children toting water and sharing public toilets. Sometimes the hills are in the city: high-rise projects, more like mountains with broken elevators, sniper fire, dirty hallways. There are hills, obstacles for children everywhere!

Q: But the angel said that there was good news! What was it?

R: The Messiah was anointed to save the people.

S: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those God favors!" (Luke 2: 13-14)

C: All of a sudden there were lots of other angels, praising God and talking about peace for those whom God favors.

Q: Whom does God favor? Who deserves peace? Who deserves well-being? Who deserves health? What child is this who has been anointed to bring peace to the world and save the people?

R: In Sudan, children are trained for war. In Palestine and Saudi Arabia, children are recruited to be suicide bombers. In the streets of any American city, children are encouraged to join gangs. In Asia and Mexico, children work in sweatshops for pennies; and their families still cannot feed them.

C: Talk about violence!

All: Save us, Lord!

C: We need a Savior! I thank God for Jesus!

Q: I wonder what would happen if we welcomed all the children, if we shouted messages of praise and approval to them everyday?

R: The brain responds positively to praise.

C: So let's praise God. And let us show favor to one another.

R: Favor is mercy, totally unearned grace.

Q: On this Christmas Eve (Day), let us favor one another with signs of peace. Just hug somebody on the neck. Won't you tell somebody how beautiful he or she is and how glad you are that it is Christmas?

(Allow congregation to greet one another with holy kisses and hugs, saying Merry Christmas. After a few moments let all the people say . . .)

People: Amen!

About the Author: The Rev. Marilyn E. Thornton is the Lead Editor for African American Resources at the United Methodist Publishing House and the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Worship Arts at South End UMC in Nashville, Tennessee.