This topic is collecting your great ideas for a fun "from the animals point of view" take on the story of Jesus' Birth.
Friendly Beasts
We created a "Friendly Beasts" set of lessons for our Advent rotation this year.
- We had a music class to sing "The Friendly Beasts" as well as other carols/hymns.
- For drama, with the younger readers, we used the script "And the Animals Talked" by Michael Humphrey from https://www.dramatix.org.nz/ar.../animals_talked.html.
The main point is that even the humblest animals worshiped Jesus at his birth. - I found some great stuff at Animal Planet (Search their site for) Creatures of the Nativity. They have pages of background information for the significance of why each animal is portrayed at the manger in Renaissance Artwork. Example: The donkey and the ox, were the lowest form of livestock. They worshiped right next to the 3 kings = highest next to lowest). Also the donkey and ox were symbols of Egyptian gods, worshiping the True King! It goes on and on… peacock = everlasting life. Just need to get the artwork off the web and show it!
- Our director has a friend who makes balloon animals. She told the story of the Friendly Beasts making balloon animals!
Then we have a 3-week rotation w/ drama, music and movie.
- Drama: The older kids are using the "Great Manger Mystery" script at dramatix. by Justyn Walker.
- Movie: We are using a movie told from the point of view of the donkey and ox called "The Story of Christmas", 1994, animated, 47 mins.
- Music: The kids will be singing the Friendly Beasts acting out the animals. They will also sing other traditional songs about Christmas, the manger, and animals.
M Melodie -- member
If the Animals Could've Talked
Last year, my kids put on a production that was traditional with a spin. Our congregation was more of the traditional mindset and they loved it (especially some of our older members).
The production was a combination of a simple scripted play called, "if the animals could've talked" and congregational singing of hymns to fit the part of the story which the animals were talking about.
Melodie
Editor Neil's Note:
There are several possible "Animals Could Have Talked" skits that Melodie may be referring to. Here are several links to free ones online:
You'll find some scripts at Dramatix https://www.dramatix.org.nz/
Example: "And the Animals Talk" https://www.dramatix.org.nz/ar.../animals_talked.html
There are other homemade" versions online that can be found by searching for various versions of the title "if the animals could've talked Christmas script."
Having read a few of them, this Editor would recommend you EDIT IN a little more meaning and humor, rather than leave things at "merely cute."
For example: You could play around more with how the animals would talk AND add content:
Cow: Please owl, mooove off the manger for the baby to lay there.
Owl: Who?
Cow: The baby
Owl: Who?
Cow: The baby please moooooove over and make room for Jesus!
Owl: Well you don't have to have a cow about it. I'm moooving. Who's this Jesus baby anyway and what's the big deal about him?
Bird: Yeah, Polly wants to know why we need to get our feathers in a ruffle about this human?
Duck: Polly want a quacker?
Bird: Sure Duck, Polly wants to know, even if it comes from a quacker like you.
Duck: It's because the world isn't all it's quacked up to be. People have made a mess of it and need a sign of forgiveness from God.
Owl: Who?
Duck: God, that's who.
Owl: Oh.
Bird: And how will this bird, I mean, baby do all that?