The Birth Of Jesus Announced

Suggestions:
Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
3 readers -- teen-aged girl, adult woman, adult man

Key:
1 = woman storyteller
2 = Gabriel
3 = Mary

1: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town
in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was
Mary.

2: And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord
is with you."

1: But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort
of greeting this might be.

2: The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.

(2:) He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most
High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his
ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end."

3: Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a
virgin?"

2: The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.

(2:) And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said
to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God."

3: Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be
with me according to your word."

1: Then the angel departed from her.