A Scots Nativitie bi Donald Smith SCRIPTAID series No: 5 The Netherbow Arts Centre 43 High· Street Edinburgh EH1 1SR 1994 This play is available for use in worship without charge (please feel free to photocopy) For any other use of the script please apply to The Netherbow, 43 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1 SR IN THE BEGINNIN A SCOTS NATIVITIE PROLOGUE Wurship Leader In the beginnin Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the licht Licht the dark canna smoor Leader Licht is Life Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the life Life that breathes in flesh an yird Leader Life an wurd Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the wurd that cam tae human kind ONE (Mary is sitting on a stool reading and humming to herself. An elderly stranger enters, dressed in travelling clothes). Stranger Can I come ben? Mary (rising) Ye’r walcome, stranger. Will ye sit doon? Stranger (sitting) Wi thanks, lassie. Mary Hiv ye traivell’t faur? Stranger A lang road. Mary Ye’ll tak a bowl o’ broth then? (she pours him a bowl) Stranger (taking the soup) You'r verra kind. (eating) Hae ye heard the sayin that them at gies is blessit? Mary (laughing) For they will hae blessins in return. If ainly it war true! Stranger Has life been haurd on ye? Mary Na. I'm tae be mairriet soon. Stranger Tae Joseph. Mary Hoo div ye ken that? Stranger Guid news traivels a lang road. (The stranger finishes his soup and, rising, gives back the bowl) An noo I’v cum tae gie ye a blessin. Mary Whit dae ye mean? Stranger You will bear a son. Mary Tae Joseph? Stranger Na, o the Halie Spirit. Mary (rising) Whit ar ye ettlin at? Stranger Dinna be feart. God is wi ye, Mary. Your bairn will be oor deliverer. Mary But hoo can this be? Stranger God’s weys are no oor weys, lassie. His promises winna fail. Fare ye weill. (He exits. She turns, picks up her book, looks at it, looks after the stranger then goes down onto her knees while the congregation/choir says/sings.) Mary (as worship leader) Tell oot God’s michty acts! Congregation/choir Tell oot God's michty acts Wha stoops tae lift the gentle hie Wha gies his kingdom tae the poor An fills the hungry wi guid things. Mary (as worship leader) The Lord is wi us. Congregation/Choir The Lord is wi us, Mary; Tae you he gies a bairn, Tae us a savin hope. Mary (as worship leader) My soul glorifies the Lord My hert is blythe in God my Sauviour (Mary exits. Herod enters, talking as he comes to his chamberlain,) TWO Herod The wise men, ye say. An whaur hae they sprung frae? No aroond here I wadna suppose. Chamberlain Na, your Majesty. They’r frae the faur North, the Hielans. Herod That's a gey unceevilized kintra up there. Ar they Teuchters? Chamberlain They seem weel educate, your Majesty, an richlie dressed. Herod Weil, ye’d better show them in then. (The Chamberlain ushers in the Wise Men) Come awa in then. Ye’r walcome tae the Coort o King Herod, Seer Your Majesty, we have travelled from the far North, Herod Aye, Aye I ken. But whit fur? Seer For many generations we have studied the ancient scriptures and their prophecies, Herod Oh aye. Seanachaidh The ancient writings say, “But you, Bethlehem, in the Land of Judah, are by no means the least in Judah for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people.” Herod There’s ainly wan ruler here. I’m the Herd o’ Israel. Seer Of course your Majesty, nobody's disputing your ... Herod I sud hope no, for the consequences micht be a wee thing serious. Bard Nonetheless, your Majesty, an unusual star has appeared in the night sky. Seanachaidh And we have followed it here to your kingdom. Seer In Bethlehem of Judah the star will rise to shine in every corner of the earth. Herod Weill, weill, an wha exacklie did ye say ye were? Seer I am the Seer, reading the lessons of the past and peering into the future. Seanachaidh I am the Seanachaidh, keeping alive the memory of past generations and the genealogies of our kings. Bard I am the Bard, praising the heroes and lamenting those who have gone down to darkness. Herod An that maks three wise men. A bairn born tae be king, ye say. Weill, dinna let me detain ye frae sic important business. On tae Bethlehem wi ye, but mind when ye find this bairn tae send me wurd sae that I too can come tae ... aye, tae pey ma respecks. Ye’ll mind that noo? Seer Of course, your Majesty, we will send you word. Herod Verra weill, guid day tae ye. (Herod exits, followed by the chamberlain. The Wise Men turn to the congregation.) Seer (as worship leader) We have seen a star shining in the sky. Congregation/choir We have seen a star and wish to follow, but we have many loads to bear, and many paths to travel. Seanachaidh Lighten our journey Bard Straighten our path Seer (as worship leader) We have seen a star shining in the sky (The Wise Men exit down aisles to the back. The shepherds enter from the side to huddle round their fire.) THREE John It’s sharp the nicht. Elsie Look hoo bricht the stars ar. Karen Millions o’ them. Like someone cast a hantle o’ gowd dust across the sky. Stewart Thon big star’s still there tho. Clear as kin be. Karen It seems to be hingin ower the toon. Linda I dinna ken hoo yous yins can staund there starin intae the lift. The broth’s ready noo. Come in roond the fire or ye’ll freeze. Stewart It’s a bitter nicht!. I hope this disnae mean a cauld winter. John We’v scarce eneuch tae see us throwe it agin this year. What wi Herod’s lot an the Romans, an even thae priests at the Temple, speirin their offerins. Stewart We’ll be killin the flock afore the winter’s oot jist tae stay breathin. Auld Bob (muttering) Ye cannae. Linda What’s that, auld yin? Auld Bob Ye cannae kill the beass. They're your ain flock. John Whit's that supposed tae signifie? Karen It’s obvious, is it no. Wioot the yows, nae lambs. Wioot the lambs, nae future. We'll hae tae warstle throwe some wey. Elsie Here, whaur’s Shuggie? Stewart I sent him up tae the fank. The wolves’ll be oot the nicht. Elsie He shuid hae bin back bi noo. John You ken Shuggie. He’s a brainless chiel at the best o’ times. Karen Quaet! Listen! (barking) Linda Whit is it? Stewart It’s Hamish. Something’s no richt. Elsie He’s comin nearer. He’s rinnin. Goad help us. Whit’s happened? (Shuggie bursts in down the aisle, out of breath. Excited barking). John Whit is it Shuggie? Shuggie I seen ... ... ... I heard ... Stewart Tak your time, man. Whit happened? Shuggie I saw an angel! John Ye whit! Shuggie An angel ? abune the fauld. Aa gowden i the lift. John Ye silly eejit. You’v bin asleep up there, hiv ye no? (cuffing him) Ye’d hae frozen tae death. Karen Lat him alane, John. Hear him oot. Shuggie He pointed tae the star shinin abune Bethlehem. Elsie There is a star. Shuggie He said ... ... he said a sauviour wud be born there the nicht. Stewart But that’s the clash in the toon. A bairn will be born til the Hoose o’ Dauvit an chuck oot Herod an the Romans. Shuggie Naw, a Prince ... Stewart There ye ar then, a Prince. Shuggie ... o’ Peace. John Dinna be daft. Dauvit’s line died oot lang syne or else they’r crofters noo, like us. The laddie’s been listenin tae ower mony clishmaclavers at the mercat. Auld Bob (muttering) That's the hale drift. Karen Whit ar you sayin, Bob? Auld Bob Dauvid wis a shepherd laddie himsel, afore he wis ivver a king. Elsie He’s richt. We maun gang tae Bethlehem the nicht. Linda An find this bairn? Karen John an auld Bob can bide wi the sheep. John That’ll dae me fine. Stewart What’s Hamish barking at noo? Shuggie Look, the lift! I telt you. Elsie It’s bleezen. Karen Aa gowden. Auld Bob It’s Shuggie’s angels! John Weil, whit ar you bidin on? Quick, tae Bethlehem! (The shepherds move off in excitement to the side, leaving auld Bob) Bob (as worship leader) We hae seen the glory. Congregation/choir We hae seen the glorie in heichest heiven An peace on yird Guidwill tae them that seeks the guid. Bob (as worship leader) Tidins o great joy Congregation/choir Tidins o great joy we bring Today in Dauvit’s toon A sauviour's born An he is namit Christ the Lord. Ye’ll find the bairnie rowed in swaddlin claiths An Iyin in a troch. (Bob stands to one side and watches as Mary enters carrying the baby. She moves to the manger, followed by Joseph. She shows Joseph the baby and lays him in the manger. The shepherds gather round. A short hymn or carol is sung; cf CH4 297) Guid news frae heiven we came to tell The best nouvellis that e’er befell To you thir tidins true we bring and we will of them say and sing Chorus This day to you is born ane childe o Mary meek and Virgin mild That blessit bairn benign and kind Sall you rejoice baith hairt an mind. Ye sall find him but mark or wring Full simple in ane crib lying Sae lyis he whilk all has wrocht and all this warld made o naucht. Chorus FOUR (The Wise Men enter from the back of the church) The Seer Come, bring your gifts. The Bard The Lord is here Death and dark are chased away. Congregation/choir Daith an daurk ar chased awa We wandered in the nicht But here is Licht an Life an Luve Come bring your gifts an wurship. (The Wise Men bring their gifts and then encourage others to come from the congregation to bring their gifts. While this happens O Come all ye Faithful is sung. Finally the opening litany is repeated.) EPILOGUE Worship Leader In the beginnin Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the licht Licht the dark canna smoor Leader Licht is Life Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the life Life that breathes in flesh an yird Leader Life an wurd Congregation/choir In the beginnin is the wurd that cam tae human kind Worship Leader Amen