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CharactersSheriff: Ms. BoyleMiss Polly: Mrs. BednarczykTownsfolk:

Maria Bohannon Sloane Cummings Isabelle CareyKatie Donner Fahad Fatlee Quentin FerranteAva Fortnam Bridget Gallagher Morgan GerstnerGriffin Goetz Cameron Jones Nolan JursCampbell Klein Fred Lester Reid Lewis

Rowan Myers Parker Mintz Devon PapugaRJ Pickels Aubrey Pignagrande

Carter RolandMikey Ryan Matthew Scott Declan SheehanJohnny Tumminelli Edward Wandtke

Emerson WandtkePhotographer: Ruby SmithStationmaster: Felicity KnappVisitors:

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Group 1: Justin Gauthier, Corinne Hinkle, Samson Jarmusz, Davey Peter

Group 2: Lexi Burns, Isabella Nolan, Easton Snyder, Pramod Subedi

Group 3 (3 Cowpokes): Deklin Monaghan, Baden Klueber, Yahnsen Wagner

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IntroductionEaston Good afternoon (evening), and

welcome to St. Louis School’s Christmas Pageant.

Cameron

Thank you for joining us. Sloane Please take a moment to make

sure that your new-fangled beep-a-ma-boppers…

Isabella

She means your “cell phones”…

Sloane …are on silent or are turned off. (PAUSE) Thank you.

Yahsen

We have heard the Nativity story many times, but today (tonight) we will hear it from a new perspective.

Rowan In the small western town of Incarnation, Christmas is

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celebrated with grit, giddy-up, and gusto!

Samson

It’s the year 1890, and the people who live there like to think of themselves as the most Christmas-y town in the West!

Emerson

The railroad has finally opened a station in town. Visitors will come from far and wide to see the Christmas celebration!

Fred Some townsfolk fret that all those outsiders will need something they can’t provide in their small town. Others see their visits as a great chance to spread the Good News of the birth of Jesus.

Edward

This afternoon (evening), round up some cowpokes, settle in with our townfolks, and get ready for a real Christmas

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adventure in the Wild West! We hope you enjoy the show!

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“Ready for Christmas” (Intro music plays)

Guess what, it’s here again, that most wonderful time of year when we all get saddled up for Christmas.Climb on your horse, let’s ride! Pull on your boots, it’s workin’ time. Let’s get this town ready for Christmas.Everyone ‘round here’s been waitin’ to see the decoratin’ we’ve spent all year creatin’ just for you!Now before you know it our town will be explodin’. Everyone from far and near, grab your hat and Christmas cheer. Let’s get this town ready for Christmas.

Ava Hey, y’all! Come on!Griffin This town ain’t gonna get itself

ready for Christmas!7

Katie Let’s get a move on!

Our favorite time of year is when red and green appear and we get all the fixin’s out for Christmas.Bring out the vittles, let’s eat! Workin’s better with somethin’ sweet. Let’s get this town ready for Christmas.We’re known throughout the west for doin’ up Christmas best. Y’all forget the rest and come on down. This is a sight to see, Christmas comin’ for you and me. Bring your neighbors, bring the kids, don’t leave any tree untrimmed.Let’s get his town ready for Christmas!Nolan Oh, howdy! Y’all just got here? Bridget Well, a lot of people been comin’

into Incarnation lately.Fred What’s Incarnation y’ask? It’s

the town we’re in right now!Reid I’d show you on a map, but we’re

not really on many maps.Carter It’s just a normal western town,

except for one thing…

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Fred Incarnation has always been crazy for Christmas!!!

Deck the halls y’all with boughs of holly.Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la YEE-HAW! Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la YEE-HAW!

We decorate with style, we’re fixin’ to go hog wild.Let’s get this town ready, we’ve more than sung our plenty!Let’s get this town ready for Christmas!Let’s get this town ready for Christmas!

Scene 1Sheriff Well howdy, y’all! I was born

and raised here in Incarnation, a town that celebrates Christmas better’n any town in the west!

Cameron (train whistle)Hear that?!? Train whistle.

Sheriff I suppose that’s why you’re here – to see the first train arrive at the new station!

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Matthew Well, here they come! Out first visitors!

Edward Took the railroads long enough to get to us! But whoever gets off that train, they’re ready to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!

STATION MASTER - Felicity

Announcing the arrival of the very first Christmas Express Special! Inbound from Kansas City, Wichita, and parts east. Arriving on track 1.Train arrives (sound effect)Justin, Samson, Corinne, Davey disembark and make their way on stage and are greeted by townspeople; a photographer captures the moment)

Davey What is that contraption you’ve got on your shoulder, ma’am?

Photographer – Ruby

This is called a “cam-er-a”. It captures images of things.

Corinne These take actual pictures of folk?

Photographer

Shore do! I’ve come to document your Christmas celebration.

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Justin Thank goodness for the train! Photographer

Hey, can I get a picture of y’all?(strike a dramatic pose)Say cheese!

Visitors Cheese!Townsperson

Sheriff… anything about what’s happ’nin today bother you?

Sheriff Why would it?Nolan I’m a little worried about some of

the elements comin’ in on the train.

Fahad They’re strangers.Carter They could be outlaws!Matthew They’re bandits!Sheriff Now just hold your horses! The

last thing we need is the townfolk getting all worked up about something that ain’t never gonna happen! There’s no desperados in Incarnation!

Morgan But what if these visitors don’t like how we celebrate Christmas?

Katie We’re such a small town, and they’re from some pretty big cities!

Sheriff There’s no time for worry! There’s too much goin’ on

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already! I gotta go to the station and meet our new school teacher, Miss Polly.

Aubrey She’s on the train?Parker Shore is!Maria I think I see her!Sheriff (Miss Polly enters and is greeted

by the sheriff and others)It shore is good to meet you in person, Miss Polly!

Miss Polly And it’s good to meet you too, Sheriff! I’ve heard so much about your wonderful Christmas celebrations here in Incarnation. So meaningful! So quaint! I’m so excited to see them in person!

Campbell You can’t be half as excited as we are to have you! Can I help you get your things?(picks up luggage and walks Miss Polly off stage)

Quentin Ya see! That’s what we were afraid of?

Devon Did you hear her?!? She said, “quaint”.

Sheriff That’s a great word! It means ‘charming’!

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Devon No – it means old-fashioned!Quentin Miss Polly is from the big city!

Wichita Falls! The big time! We’re small taters!

Mikey There’s nothing ‘small taters’ about Jesus being born! What we celebrate is a pretty big deal!

Sloane But… but… we have got to come up with an idear that will impress everyone this Christmas!

Isabelle An idear that will be amazing!RJ Like what?Declan S. I don’t know! Put yer minds

together! Griffin We gotta make this Christmas

the best one yet.Sloane I’m thinkin’… but nothin’s

happening!

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The Best One Yet

Solo:I’ve got it, it’s the best one yet, better than what we’ve seen before.I’ll do the town proud, it’ll bring out the crowd and have ‘em all beggin’ for more.The best idear is formin’ up here, and in just a minute you’ll be impressed with my forward thinkin’ to make this season the Christmas we’ll never forget.I’ve got it and it’s the best one yet!

Justin It’s got to be modern!Corinne

It’s got to be new!

Nolan Wait! (running up to the front of the stage)I’ve got it! (front and center)How about we do what we did back in 1888 and put candles all over all

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the Christmas trees?!?Reid That’s a terrible idea! Don’t you

remember what happened?SHERIFF

It burned down half the forest in Incarnation and we were cleaning wax up for weeks!

Everyone

(groans and goes back to thinking)

We’ve got it, it’s the best one yet, better than what we’ve seen before.We’ll do the town proud, it’ll bring out the crowd and have ‘em all beggin’ for more.The best idear is formin’ up here, and in just a minute you’ll be impressed with our forward thinkin’ to make this season the Christmas we’ll never forget.We’ve got it and it’s the best one yet!

Griffin It’s got to be something they’ve never seen before!

Johnny It’s got to be something they never forget!

Rowan Wait! (running up to the front of the stage)

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I’ve got it! (front and center)How about we have live animals in the manger?!?

Ava That’s a terrible idea! Think about what could happen!

SHERIFF

Cows and sheep in the church? Think of the smell! What a disaster!

Everyone

(groans and goes back to thinking)

Bridge: We gotta keep thinkin’ ‘bout Christmas bells ringing’, and angels wingin’ while shepherds are sheepin’.And purdy soon our genius is bound to come out – without a doubt!

We’ve got it, it’s the best one yet, better than what we’ve seen before.We’ll do the town proud, it’ll bring out the crowd and have ‘em all beggin’ for more.

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The best idear is formin’ up here, and in just a minute you’ll be impressed with our forward thinkin’ to make this season the Christmas we’ll never forget.We’ve got it and it’s the best one yet!We’ve got it and it’s the best one yet!

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Scene 2Carter (Runs up to Sloane with

Matthew)Don’t keep us in suspense!

Matthew What’s your idear?Sloane (Dramatically)

It’s the e-lectric light!Everyone Huh?Sloane We’ll create the Star of

Bethlehem with the e-lectric light!

Everyone (ooh and aah)Mikey (skeptical)

Just wonderin’ sheriff… we’ve always had such nice celebrations before.

Maria Just because we have visitors doesn’t mean we have to change things.

Morgan Can’t we just be ourselves?Parker (Interrupting)

These people are used to bigger things than we got!

Campbell But our town’s name… Incarnation… that means God

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becomin’ a man. I’d say that’s a plenty big idea.

Sheriff (interrupting)Thanks for your thoughts, but I done b’lieve we done decided.

STATION MASTER

Announcing the arrival of the second Christmas Express Special! Arriving on track 1. Train arrives (sound effect)Isabella, Easton, Lexi and Pramod disembark and make their way on stage

Photographer

Hey, can I get a picture of y’all?(strike a dramatic pose)Say cheese!

Visitors Cheese!Miss Polly (re-entering stage)

It’s all true what I’ve heard about Incarnation – you have the most wonderful Christmas decorations!

Everyone (“thank you, Miss Polly”, or “shucks”, or “golly”

Miss Polly I’d like to offer to loan you a very special piece for the Christmas Eve service. I’m having it shipped all the way from Dodge

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City!Everyone (“oooh” and “aaaah” and “I

wonder what it could be?!?”)Miss Polly It’s a very special manger, made

by my great-great-great grandfather. It has passed through the generations of my family and is very special to me.

Bridget Well it a’int no e-lectric star, I can tell you that right now!

Miss Polly This manger is over 200 years old, Sheriff. It’s the oldest nativity decoration in the west. And this year, it will be right here in Incarnation!

Isabella Very nice!Easton Very old. I still say you need

somethin’ modern.Pramod What we need at Christmas is

more of what people always need.

Lexi We need more hope, more love and more joy!

Miss Polly And that’s what I hope this manger will remind us of… we need more Jesus!(bustling off toward

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Kindergarten)Now I have to go… late to choir practice with Incarnation’s little angels!

(move to the side of Kindergarten)

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The Night That Heaven Came Down(Kindergarten Angels)

The night that heaven came down and God’s glory shone around, the angels proclaimed that a Savior was born.He was King of kings; he was Lord of lords.The world would change forever when the Savior was born.

REPEAT CHORUS

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold.

REPEAT CHORUS

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Scene 3(it is 2 weeks later. Miss Polly is ready to work with the 1st graders. Townsfolk are milling around.)Sheriff Well, Miss Polly has taken the

school teacher job and galloped! It’s like she has had years of experience!

STATION MASTER

Announcing the arrival of the third Christmas Express Special! Arriving on track 1.Train arrives (sound effect)Davey, Yahsen, Baden disembark but stay near the station.

Photographer

Hey, can I get a picture of y’all?(strike a dramatic pose)Say cheese!

Visitors Cheese!Miss Polly Excuse me everyone! We’d like

to have your attention!(everybody turns and quiets)As we all may know, Christmas is two weeks away. And this year

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is the 150th anniversary of Handel’s famous piece, the Messiah. The town’s shepherds have worked very hard on the “Hallelujah Chorus” from that remarkable work!

Everyone Let’s hear what you’ve got!

Hallelujah(1st grade Shepherds)

In the stillness, the earth asleep, stars light up the sky.Lonely shepherds, a flock of sheep, another silent night.Then as light explodes with amazing forces, good news comes blazing forth.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!I bring you good news, great joy, today your Savior is born.

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Hallelujah, HALLELUJAH!

Angel brilliance breaks the night, but do not be afraid.The shepherd’s hillside bathed in light, as night becomes like day.Glory to God in the highest ring form a heavenly chorus on angel wings!

Repeat Chorus

Scene 4(it is 1 weeks later. Townsfolk are milling around.)Aubrey Well, only two days left until

Christmas!Sheriff Incarnation’s celebration plans

are moving forward like a runaway train!

Fred Only thing we don’t have yet are the bulbs for the new “Star of Bethlehem” but the stationmaster says they’ll be

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here on time!Campbell Look how the visitors are

enjoying our town!Miss Polly They are moving from shop to

shop and listening to all the great music the townsfolk are singin’.

Morgan We shouldn’t be worried about lightbulbs!

Katie I’m more concerned that Miss Polly’s manger comes in on time!

STATION MASTER

Announcing a special delivery on track 1. Miss Polly’s manger has arrived!

Everyone (Cheers!; Cameron, Carter, Griffin, and Johnny move manger to middle of stage)

Photographer

Hey, can I get a picture of y’all?(strike a dramatic pose)Say cheese!

Townsfolk Cheese!

God With Us(All)

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Born today in the city of David, God with us, Emmanuel.Born our King, born our Savior, God with us, Emmanuel.Let the heavens rejoice, Christ is born – the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords.Let the earth rejoice, the Light of the World is God with us, Emmanuel.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, a little baby was born.While the star in the sky was shining bright, a little baby was born.REFRAIN

All glory be to God on high, a little baby was born.Sing his praise throughout the night, a little baby was born.

REFRAIN + 2 extra “God with us, Emmanuel”

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Scene 5(it is Christmas Eve; Sloane is sitting sadly to the side)Davey Well, it’s Christmas Eve!Justin Everyone’s excited for the

service to start!Sheriff Gee, Sloane… what’s wrong?Sloane My bulbs never came in. My

invention is not finished. My idear is a failure.

Sheriff Oh, I’m so sorry!Stationmaster

Announcing the arrival of the last Christmas special on track 1.

Isabelle Hey… Sloane… Arise! Shine! For your light bulbs have come!

Photographer

Let’s capture the moment! Say cheese!

Sheriff and Sloane

Cheese!

Sloane I can’t believe it! There’s no time to waste! (runs off stage to finish project; on the other side of the stage, a ruckus is heard; three unfamiliar visitors come in

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with some townspeople)Declan S. Sheriff… sheriff… we caught

these desperados comin’ off the train!

Sheriff Desperados?Johnny Yep, they’re bandits for sure!Sheriff They don’t look like bandits to

me!RJ Well these three cowpokes ain’t

from around these parts, that’s for sure!

Cowpoke 1

Well howdy!

Cowpoke 2

Are we in time?

Fer what?Cowpoke 3

No! To go to your Christmas celebration!

Cowpoke 1

We’re not in any rough n’ tumble gang, Sheriff!

Cowpoke 2

We just came from the East… you know… on the train. East Texas at least!

Cowpoke 3

We traversed afar wanting to see how Incarnation worships Jesus at Christmas.

Sheriff (to townsfolk)30

Y’all see this! You’re all hammers and tongs about strangers comin’ into our town. But don’t these three cowpokes remind you of anything in the Christmas story?!?

Everyone The wisemen!Miss Polly Yes, the wisemen. God showed

them how to find the Messiah, and they left what they were doing to follow the star and find Him.

Justin It looks like we have our own star now to light the way! Thanks!

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Your Light Has Come(All)

Wise men travel, saddled on their camels, ready for a long ride.No matter how far, follow that star, lighting up the night sky, leading to the true Light.

Your light has come shining in the darkness.Your light has come to all the world.Go tell everyone the star tonight is big and bright.Your light has come!

We carry through the desert three nice presents: gold frankincense, myrrh.

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What we bring is only fit for the king to celebrate the holy birth.Glory to all the earth.

REFRAIN x2

Scene 6Griffin Well the whole Christmas Eve

story is about to start!Devon Miss Polly’s manger is here AND

we have an e-lectric light star to shine the way!

Miss Polly Attention everyone! Attention! It gives me great pleasure to open our Christmas service and welcome guests who came in on the train for the very first time! I think this would be the perfect time to start the nativity pageant.(during this reading the nativity characters enter and take their places around the manger)

Easton The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary to tell her that she would

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have a baby. She was afraid, but the angel told her:

Kindergarten Angels

Fear not.

Rowan About the same time, Caesar told the people to return to their hometowns to be counted. Mary and Joseph travelled together to Bethlehem.

Emerson When the time came, Mary had her baby and named him Jesus. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him in the manger.

Pramod Near Bethlehem there were shepherds in the fields. Angels appeared and told them about Jesus being born. They praised him, saying:

Angels Glory to God in the highest!Edward The shepherds and wisemen

travelled to find Jesus and worship Him.

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“I Can See the Light”Nativity:

There’s a star in the darkness that’s shining so bright,There’s a glow in our fireplace warming the night;There are twinkling lights sparkling on our Christmas trees,But they can’t compare to the light that I see –

From one to another, from Jesus to meDown through the ages to this Christmas Eve;Love lit a candle on Bethlehem nightAnd I can see the light.

On that first Christmas back so long agoWhen they wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes;Though I wasn’t there still I know in my heart

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The light can still reach to us right where we are.

REFRAIN

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Scene 7Sheriff Well that’s the way it went the

year the railroad changed everything!

Samson Townsfolk and visitors together celebrating Christmas!

Davey Have you ever seen so many people in our town square before?!?

Aubrey I hope the train keeps bringing new people to Incarnation.

Isabella N. That way everyone can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!

Deklin M. This really has been the best one yet!

Lexi Let’s say goodnight to the last train into Incarnation tonight!

Baden We’ve got a whole lot of Good News to share!

Everyone Hallelujah!

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Reprise: “Ready for Christmas” Guess what, it’s here again, that most wonderful time of year when we all get saddled up for Christmas.Climb on your horse, let’s ride! Pull on your boots, it’s workin’ time. We got this town ready for Christmas.Everyone ‘round here’s been waitin’ to see the decoratin’ we’ve spent all year creatin’ just for you!Now before you know it our town will be explodin’. Everyone from far and near, grab your hat and Christmas cheer. Let’s get this town ready for Christmas.

Deck the halls y’all with boughs of holly.Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la YEE-HAW!Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la YEE-HAW!

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We decorate with style, we’re fixin’ to go hog wild.We got this town ready, we’ve more than sung our plenty!We got this town ready for Christmas!We got this town ready for Christmas!

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