DON’T FORGET THE BABY

December 11, 2005

Meet today's cast...
Fr. Charlie: Quite a wit, pastor of our flock	BOO: A "sheepish" sheep who is very nervous, easily worried, and bashful.	POKEY: A peaceful donkey, very slow-talking, non-judgmental.
HOWIE: A "Cool/Hip" Cow	CAMILLE: Female camel who is like Clyde and rather snobby acting.	CLYDE: Male camel who thinks he is self-important and superior to the other animals.

FR. CHARLIE: Good morning boys and girls. Today the candle of JOY has been lit and I’m happy that my animal friends from Puppetville are coming to see me today!

(Out comes Pokey and Boo, Howie, Camille, and Clyde)

POKEY: Hi Fr. Charlie! How are ya doin? We’re just gettin back from seein’ a movie at Bubba’s house.

BOO: Yeh! It was aaaawesome! It was called, “Home Alone”! Have you seen it, Fr. Charlie?

FR. CHARLIE: Yes, I have, BOO…Isn’t it about the family who…

CAMILLE: WHO FORGOT THE LITTLE BOY! How could that happen!

HOWIE: Oh, Camille, calm your pretty little head! It was only a movie.

BOO: Yeh, Camille, and at the end everyone realized he was missing so they all rushed back to him, right Pokey?

POKEY: That’s right, little Boo. Say, Fr. Charlie, that pink candle sure does look purty over there.

FR. CHARLIE: It sure does, Pokey. That’s the candle of JOY!

HOWIE: Yep, tis the season to be jolly! The kids in Puppetville told me they’re preparing their lists to give Santa. Bubba even taught me a song..ya wanna hear it?

CLYDE: Oh, no, Bubba taught you a song…maybe we shouldn’t listen!

HOWIE: Sure ya should, Clyde! Ready! (sings)
Santa flies through the air with the greatest of ease
He’s the jolly fat man in the Red B.V.D.’s!

FR. CHARLIE: Oh my goodness, Howie! That sounds like something Bubba would come up with, but I hope while he’s preparing his Christmas list, he doesn’t forget to prepare for someone else.

BOO: You mean baby Jesus, Fr. Charlie?

FR. CHARLIE: That’s right, Boo!

HOWIE: But what about the presents?

CAMILLE: Christmas gifts are wonderful, but we need to remember God’s gift to us.

POKEY: Ehhh, yup………DON’T FORGET THE BABY!

CLYDE: You’re so right, Camille. Sometimes Christmas seems to be more about shopping and rushing around than about Jesus.

HOWIE: I’ll say..some people don’t look very happy. They look like that green dude, the Grinch!

BOO: Yeh, Howie, and for a season of joy a lot of people act mean and grumpy!

HOWIE: Yeh, and people call us BEASTS!

POKEY: Ummmm….DON’T FORGET THE BABY!

CAMILLE: Gee, Fr. Charlie…How can we help everyone remember Jesus?

FR. CHARLIE: Well, Camille, maybe we can help by taking them back in time to the stable.

HOWIE: Back to the stable! Hey, you got a time machine somewhere, Fr. Charlie?

FR. CHARLIE: No Howie, but we have our imaginations. Ok, everybody, (points to everyone in church) My animal friends and I are going to take you back in time. Ready? Pokey, pretend you are the donkey carrying Mary.

(At this point as each puppet speaks, the others will be completely still--so that everyone is only looking at the puppet speaking)

POKEY: Clip-clop, clip, clop…Boy, this road is so long! Whoops, I just stepped on a big rock. I hope Mary didn’t get bounced around too much because she’s having a baby! Joseph has been walking beside me the whole way and the sun is so hot! The sweat is rolling down his face. Hey, he just looked at Mary, smiled, and nodded. Woah, he’s telling me we need to walk faster because Mary needs to get to Bethlehem and rest.

FR. CHARLIE: Knock-knock-knock—Joseph cannot find a place to stay except for a stable. Joseph helps Mary very carefully get down from the donkey. Slowly they walk to the stable …. Joseph opens the creeking door and they walk in.

HOWIE: Good Golly, Miss Molly, who’s coming into my house? Hey, it’s a man, a lady and a 4 legged critter! Boy, they look tired! Sshh they’re talking. What? They’re staying here? But it’s dark, kind of dirty, and smells like animals! Now the man is making a bed out of straw for the lady. WOW! She’s gonna have a baby!...Hey, what’s that bright light?

CAMILLE: Clyde, it’s so bright out tonight. I wonder what’s going on. Well, since we’re carrying wise men, maybe we should ask them. WOW! It’s getting brighter. The Wisemen are pointing to the sky. Why would they be doing …..Clyde, look, look!

CLYDE: Camille, will you look at that! It’s a STAR! The Wisemen are getting excited. Guess what? They’re saying we’re going to follow that star to find the new King! Get ready to saddle up, Camille, we’re going on a very special journey.

FR. CHARLIE: There are shepherds on a hillside. It’s time to rest their sheep. Can you hear the shepherds? They’re singing and telling stories. Hmmm…the sheep are restless. Suddenly, out of nowhere, there’s a strange bright light!

BOO: Look at the angels! I’m shakin’, I don’t want to move, but I gotta hear what they’re sayin’. The angel is telling us not to be afraid, a Savior, Christ the Lord has been born! YIPPEE! Hey, the shepherds are herding us together and telling us we have to leave quickly so we can find the baby and then go and tell everyone the good news!

FR. CHARLIE: Can you feel the excitement? Something wonderful is about to happen. Everyone is rushing to follow the star. The Shepherds are running up and down the hills with their sheep. “Hurry, we must find the baby!” The Wise Men are crossing the hills and sandy deserts…”We must see this special child and bring him these gifts!” LOOK!
“ There’s the star….over that stable. HE MUST BE HERE!” (Pause,makes knocking sound) Knock! Knock!.....THE END!

HOWIE: Yo! The end? The end!!! You left out the most exciting part, Fr. Charlie!
(all animals mutter, don’t understand)

POKEY: YOU FORGOT THE BABY!

FR. CHARLIE: No, I haven’t forgotten the baby.

CAMILLE: Well, then, who’s going to tell the rest of the story?

FR. CHARLIE: (points to each puppet) You are…you are…you are….etc. (then he points to everyone) AND YOU ARE!

CAMILLE: We are? How?

FR. CHARLIE: Well, Advent still has two more weeks. It’s up to you to continue the story. (Makes a knocking sound) Knock-Knock do you want to enter the stable?

CLYDE: YES! I could imagine being Joseph?

CAMILLE: and I could imagine being Mary.

BOO: I could be a Shepherd looking at Jesus.

HOWIE: Yo, I’ll be a WISEMAN!

POKEY: Fr. Charlie…………DON’T FORGET THE BABY!

FR. CHARLIE: No, Pokey…..don’t all of you forget the baby!

FR. CHARLIE: Remember the Advent candles…hope, peace, and joy…Where can you find those? Are they in God’s gift in the stable? With all the craziness of the season, can you find time together and take yourselves back to the stable? I wonder what God would be saying…

PUPPET PULPIT PHRASE: DON’T FORGET THE BABY!!!

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