The Time Travelers

This highly involved pageant presents the Nativity story including the tradtional characters with a bit of space travel and the help of the audience. Suggests several familiar carols along the way.

Preparation: minimum to maximum

Cast/Characters: adults/children/congregation
The time travelers (a group of 4 or 5 people, including a “professor” and a child), several townspeople, angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Jesus—preferably a real baby and later, a 1- or 2-year-old child, several family members (the inn would have been a room with the family living above the space where the animals were), and the Magi (there can be more than 3). If your numbers of people are limited, the same people can play several different characters. The congregation plays several parts.

Scenes: 5 (3pp)

Main Props: Time machine, costumes, signs

Preparation and Materials Needed: Decide on how simple or elaborate a pageant you want to have. Costumes can be simple cloth wrappings or robes. The professor will need some kind of machine with knobs/dials/buttons, etc., to be the “time machine.” Adapt the pageant to suit your physical layout, lighting situation, etc. It would give dramatic effect if lights could be dimmed and raised according to the suggestions given, and if a spotlight could be shone on the angels, but these are not essential. Imagination is the best special effect of all!

Participants in the pageant need not memorize very many lines. Scripts can be placed on music stands, for example, around which a group can gather and read their lines. Joseph needs to have a small portion of bread to share with the travelers. Place a bench in the chancel for Mary and Joseph.

The congregation plays a major role in this drama. Direct the congregation through holding up prompt signs and using encouraging gestures. These are noted in capital letters in the drama. The script indicates clearly when the signs are needed. Make the following prompt signs:

• YES, WE’LL GO.
• HEE HAW, HEE HAW.
• BAAA, BAAA.
• GRONK, GRONK.
• YES, WE’RE READY.
• YES, WE’LL COME.

Scene One: Journey to Bethlehem
(The time travelers enter and stand at the front of the congregation. One of them, the professor, is holding the time machine and
is very excited.)
Professor: I have finally perfected my lifelong dream! And this is the day of its first big test! This is my soon-to-befamous time traveling machine! Will you join me on a journey? (The others nod and say yes.)
Group: (speaking to the congregation) Will you join us? (The group encourages a yes.)
Congregation: (prompt sign is held up) YES, WE’LL GO!
Professor: Okay, then. Where shall we go?
Child: I want to go to Bethlehem. I want to see where Jesus was born. (Everyone speaks agreement. To the congregation:) Will you come with us to Bethlehem?
Congregation: (prompt sign is held up) YES, WE’LL GO!
Professor: Then get ready! I’ll rev up the machine. (Fiddle with whatever knobs/dials/buttons you have on the machine. The organist/pianist could make some nonmelodic sounds here.) Okay, close your eyes, everybody. (At this point, the townspeople quietly enter and take positions all around the church.) I’ll give it directions: Bethlehem, the time of Jesus’ birth. Keep your eyes closed! We’re on our way! Just a moment longer... We’re here! Open your eyes! (The townspeople move about in every direction, greeting people in the congregation.)