Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................ 11 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 15 Mary's Happening - A presentation of the Biblical events leading to the birth of Christ as told in the following ten stories: 1 - Getting Ready (with illustration: Mary's Blessing) ................................................... 17 2- Dear Forever (with illustration: Gabriel and Mary) .................................................... 20 3 - My Delight (with illustration: Good night) .................................................................. 24 4 - What Happened at the Temple (with illustration: Elizabeth) ................................. 28 5 - Covered with Joy (with illustration: Donkey) .......................................................... 31 6 - Without Vision (with illustration: Joseph's Gift) ...................................................... 34 7 - Second Joseph (with illustration: Mary and Joseph) .............................................. 37 8 - First Time (with illustration: My Heart)...................................................................... 40 9 - That Star (with illustration: To Bethlehem) ................................................................ 43 10 - So Beautiful (with illustration: Night of Birth) .......................................................... 46 Proper Joseph - A play, or reading, based on Mary's Happening, including stage directions ................................................................................................. 49 (with music: Merry Christmas, Praise You, and Proper Joseph) (with illustration: Angel with Mary) Optional Act 1, Scene 1: For children performers with stage directions ...................... 72 Damsel (with illustration: Child Raised) ........................................................................... 75 Little Dove (with illustration: Old Man and Dove) ............................................................ 78 The Special One (with illustration: Boy at Temple) ......................................................... 82 God and Man (with illustration: In The Garden) ............................................................... 86 Barley Loaves (with illustration: 5 Loaves) .................................................................... 89 Fed on Faith - A play with children for Barley Loaves ................................................... 93 Christmas Story (with music: Fear Not, and with illustration: Mary and Baby) ........... 101 Heaven's Christmas Tree (with illustration: A Family Tree) ....................................... 105 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 109