The Shoemaker & his Guest

Narrator

Once upon a time,
in the city of Marseilles,
there lived an old shoemaker.
His neighbours loved him
and called him 'Father' Martin.

In fact, everyone loved him
and called him 'Father' Martin.
He was kind and made
the best shoes in all the land.

Young Lady

Father Martin, I need new shoes.

Father Martin

All right. How about these?

Young Lady

They're great!

Young Gentleman

You make the best shoes
in all the land, Father Martin.

Father Martin

Oh, thank you. Here you are!
And Merry Christmas!

Oh, I'm so tired...
I think I'll close the shop now
and read my Bible.

Ah yes! This is my favourite story.
Christmas night!
I wish I could give baby Jesus
a present too.
I would give him these
if he was born tonight.

Jesus

Martin! Martin!
You wanted to see me.

Father Martin

Jesus?

Jesus

Yes, Martin. It's me.
Tomorrow, I will pass
by your window.
If you see me and invite me in,
I will be a guest at your table.

Father Martin

My guest?
Jesus?
Where are you?

Song

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Narrator

On Christmas morning,
Father Martin woke up very happy.
He prepared a feast
for his special guest.

As he waited,
he looked outside his window.
He saw a poor street cleaner
who looked very cold.

Father Martin

What's that poor man doing
out there in the cold?

Good morning, sir!
Come in and have a hot cup of tea.

Poor Street Cleaner

Oh, thank you, sir!
It's very cold out there.

Father Martin

Yes, it is. Here you are.
Merry Christmas!

Poor Street Cleaner

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Goodbye. Thank you!

Father Martin

Goodbye now. Take care!

Father Martin

Now who is that?

Boy 1

Please, sir. Can you help us?

Girl

We're very hungry.

Boy 2

We have nowhere to go.

Father Martin

Come in! Come in!
There's a lot of food for you here.
Come, help yourselves!

Boy 1 + Boy 2 + Girl

Oh, thank you, sir!

Boy 2

That was delicious.

Girl

Yes, thank you.

Boy 1

Yes, you are very kind, sir.

Father Martin

Oh, don't worry about that!
I'm glad I could help.

Boy 1

Thank you again. We have to go now.

Father Martin

As you wish.
Merry Christmas,
and God be with you.

Boy 1 + Boy 2 + Girl

Merry Christmas! Goodbye!

Narrator

Father Martin went to the window
and looked outside again.
He was waiting for his guest.

He saw two tired travellers
who looked like they needed some help, too.

Traveller 1

Good evening.
Can we come in for a while?
We're very tired.

Traveller 2

Yes, and it's very cold today.

Father Martin

Of course you can! Come in.
Have a seat by the fire.
And here's some tea
to warm you up.

Traveller 1

Thank you, sir. You are very kind.

Traveller 2

We are fine now.
We have to go.
Thank you, once again.

Father Martin

As you wish, my friends.
Goodbye and Merry Christmas!

Traveller 1

Merry Christmas to you too,
Father Martin.

Narrator

The travellers left.
After a while,
there was another knock on the door.
Father Martin opened it
and saw a young mother, crying,
and her child.

Father Martin

Why are you crying, dear woman?

Young Mother

My child has no shoes.

Father Martin

Oh, no! We can't have that!
Come in, please.

Narrator

Father Martin went to the shelves
and took the pair of white shoes.

Father Martin

Try these on.

Young Mother

Oh, thank you, sir.
Thank you very much!

Small Child

Look, Mummy, look!
They fit perfectly!

Father Martin

That's it then. They're yours!

Young Mother

Thank you, sir! Thank you!

Father Martin

It's nothing really.
Have a Merry Christmas!

Song

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven
and nature sing.

Joy to the world!
The Saviour reigns.
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Narrator

Father Martin was very happy
he helped all these people.
But he was also sad,
because his guest hadn't come yet.
Suddenly, a strange light appeared.

Jesus

Don't be sad, Father Martin.
Didn't you see me?
I was your guest.

All guests

Didn't you see us?
We were your guests!

Father Martin

You! All of you?

Jesus

Martin,
when you help a poor woman,
or man or child,
you help me, Jesus!

Father Martin

I do?

Jesus

I needed food
and you gave it to me.
I needed drink
and you gave it to me.

You took me into your home
when you didn't know me.
Everything you did for these people,
you did for me.

Father Martin

I did?

Jesus

Yes, Martin.
And that is
the true meaning of Christmas.
Never forget it!

Father Martin

Oh, I won't!
And from now on,
I'll invite you into my home every day!

Song

God bless all good friends here,
A merry merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

God bless all good friends here,
A merry merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

God bless all good friends here,
A merry merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

God bless all good friends here,
A merry merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!