Narrator 2: A spider is busy spinning a web in the doorway of an inn. The innkeeper’s daughter is sweeping the floor. She sees the spider and says:

Innkeeper’s daughter:Ugh! A spider! Shoo, you ugly creature! (She chases the spider away with her broom.)

Narrator 3: She knocks down the web and the spider scuttles away.
(Exit the innkeeper’s daughter.)

Spider: I wonder if I really am ugly? No one seems to like my beautiful webs, or me.

Choral speaking group:See the spider on the wall, he seems to have no friends at all.

Narrator 4: Soon afterwards, along comes the innkeeper’s wife with her broom. She sees the spider and says:

Innkeeper’s wife:Oh, look at all these cobwebs! I can’t stand spiders with their horrible hairy bodies and legs. Go away! Shoo! (She waves her broom as the spider scuttles to the other side of the stage.)

Spider: Nobody wants me. I will spin a web in the stable. At least I can be useful and keep the flies off the animals.

Choral speaking group: See the spider on the wall, he seems to have no friends at all.

Narrator 4: In the night some strangers come.

(Enter Innkeeper with lamp, followed by Mary and Joseph.)

Innkeeper:Here you are. It’s not much but it’s the best I can do. At least you’ll be warm and dry. You can put your baby in here.

(He fetches the crib with the doll hidden in it. Joseph gets the stool for Mary from the side of the stage. Allow time for this.)

Choral speaking group:In come the strangers from the cold night air. When the morning came, a little child was there.

(Mary picks up ‘baby Jesus’.)

Narrator 5: The little spider hears sounds from below in the stable. He looks down and there he sees the man, the woman and a small baby. Some angels appear.

(Enter a group of angels; they stand in a semi-circle behind Mary and Joseph. Their entrance could be accompanied by a carol or other suitable music.)

Narrator 6: Then some shepherds come and present the baby with a little lamb.

(Music played here will give time for the actions.)

Narrator 7: Next come three kings. One gives the baby gold, the second gives him frankincense, the third gives him myrrh.

(Allow time for the kings to present their gifts. Once again music will help as the tableau forms centre stage.)

Narrator 8: The baby begins to cry. (Sound effects offstage.) Mother Mary tries to comfort him. The baby is feeling cold.

Narrator 9: This is the little spider’s chance. He collects his beautiful web, soft as silk and warm as wool. (Spider picks up shawl) and gives it to Mary.

Spider: Please take my web to keep the baby warm.

Narrator 10: Mary takes the shawl and wraps it around baby Jesus, who stops crying. Then Mary says:

Mary: Thank you, little spider, for your beautiful gift. But tell me, why do you look so sad?

Spider: I am sad because everyone thinks I am ugly and nobody wants me.

Mary: You’re not ugly to me or to anyone else here because you have done a beautiful thing. I think you are the most hansom creature and just the way God wanted you to be. You are kind and you are brave.

Narrator 12: At Christmas we hang long threads of gold and silver on our Christmas trees. Perhaps they remind us of the little spider and his gifts to the baby Jesus.

Choral speaking group:
When you see a spider high upon the wall
Remember how he wove a thread above the cattle stall.
This gift he gave to Jesus to keep away the cold.
That brave little spider whose story now is told.
A gift of love at Christmas is the very best to give.
Spreading love to one another is the way we ought to live.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!