Palm Sunday Pageant (online)

This pageant script is adapted from the children’s book, Little Colt’s Palm Sunday by Michelle Medlock Adams. The donkey is often an underrated animal in the bible. This pageant lets the donkey shine in the Palm Sunday story and connects the story to the nativity story as well.

Announcement

We had fun creating a video announcement to invite participants to sign up for the online pageant. We were able to video some donkeys and then add voice over.

Pageant script

Characters: Narrator, Mama Donkey, Little Colt, Owner, Disciples

Minor Characters: Mrs. Cow, Mary, Great Great Grandpa Donkey, Jesus, Crowd (Palm Wavers)


NARRATOR       

The young colt snuggled in the hay. He fidgeted about.

MAMA DONKEY   

Please go to sleep

NARRATOR       

And then she kissed his snout.

MAMA DONKEY    

[makes a kissy face to camera]

LITTLE COLT   

But, Mama (whispers)

I’m just not sleepy now.

MAMA DONKEY   

Shh, shh, be quiet

You’ll wake up Mrs. Cow.

MRS. COW       

[annoyingly moos]

LITTLE COLT   

Will you tell me a story, Mom? I promise I’ll be still. 

MAMA DONKEY   

Okay, for you, my son, I will.

While donkeys live quite humble lives,

Sometimes we do great things.

In fact, your great-great-grandfather

Once helped the King of Kings.

LITTLE COLT   

He did! But how?

NARRATOR       

His eyes became quite wide.

MAMA DONKEY   

He carried Mary

And Jesus was inside.

MARY

[Mary rides a donkey]

LITTLE COLT   

Inside? What do you mean?

MAMA DONKEY   

Let me explain.

See, Mary was with child. 

Your great-great-grandpa carried them.

MARY

[Mary strokes her pregnant belly.]

GRANDPA       

Oof, my aching back (in a grandpa tone)

MAMA DONKEY   

With every step, he knew

That someday Mary’s baby boy

Would have great things to do.

And he was absolutely right,

That Jesus does great miracles.

He’s raised men from the dead!”

MARY & BABY JESUS

[Mary holding baby Jesus.]


(sing) Joy to the World 


LITTLE COLT   

Oh Mama!

I want to meet this man!

MAMA DONKEY   

Maybe, someday you can.

But now you need to go to sleep.

You promised, little one.

LITTLE COLT   

Okay, Mama

But sleeping is not fun!

NARRATOR       

The morning sun awakened them.

It gently warmed the hay.

MAMA DONKEY   

Come on, Son

We’ve got to work today.

NARRATOR       

Then suddenly, their owner came

And led them into town.

He tied them up and softly spoke:

OWNER       

I won’t be long. Don’t frown.

LITTLE COLT   

I’ve never been to town

Why do you think we’re here?

MAMA DONKEY   

I’m not sure

NARRATOR       

But soon, it would be clear.

Just then, two men untied the colt.

The colt began to bray.

BRAYING DONKEYS

[Donkeys are hee hawing.]

LITTLE COLT   

Help, Mama!

They’re leading me away!

NARRATOR       

But, strangely, Mama wasn’t scared.

Somehow, the donkey knew

That Little Colt would be all right.

He had a job to do.

OWNER       

Excuse me, sirs,

Don’t lead my colt away.

DISCIPLES   

The Lord needs him today.

We promise to return your colt.

OWNER       

Okay, do well, my little friend.

NARRATOR       

The little colt walked with the men,

Unsure of everything.

And then he met Jesus the Christ – 

The King of every king!

LITTLE COLT   

So, this is he,

I feel like I should bow.

If only Mom were here with me,

Then she could teach me how.

JESUS

[Jesus is waving to the camera.]

NARRATOR       

Jesus the Christ stroked little colt.

He had a gentle touch.

JESUS

[Jesus pets the little colt.]

LITTLE COLT   

He’s pleased with me!

I like him very much.


(sing) Friendly Beast [adapted]

Jesus, our brother, kind and good

was humbly born in a stable rude

and the friendly beasts around him stood

Jesus, our brother, kind and good

*

“I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown

“I” carried his mother uphill and down

I carried her safely to Bethlehem town

“I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown

*

“I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown

I carried my Savior uphill and down

I carried him through Jerusalem town.

“I” said the donkey, shaggy and brown

*

Jesus, our brother, our good friend

A broken world set out to mend

He taught of love that never will end

Jesus, our brother, our good friend


NARRATOR       

And then the men took off their coats

And pulled the colt real near.

They placed their coats upon his back,

DISCIPLES   

Jesus, sit here.

NARRATOR       

While little colt was glad to help,

He had a big concern:

He’d never given any rides.

He hoped that he could learn.

The Lord God climbed atop the colt.

The colt stood firm and still.

Though he was young, he understood

The need to do God’s will.

Then, suddenly, a crowd appeared.

They praised the Lord and said:

CROWD       

Hosanna in the highest!

NARRATOR       

Then each man bowed his head.

The people tore off palm branches.

Some waved them in the air.

Still others placed them in the road,

And little colt stepped there.

The palms felt soft beneath his hooves,

Much softer than the road.

LITTLE COLT   

These branches feel quite cool

And I bear a sacred load.

NARRATOR       

The crowd cheered wildly with great joy.

The colt was filled with pride.

He knew that he’d been born for this –

To give Jesus a ride.

As they continued into town,

The whole world seemed to cheer.

And Mother donkey’s heart was full.

She held each moment dear.


(sing) Ride On King Jesus

[As the song is sung, Jesus is riding on the donkey and waving to the crowd.]


NARRATOR

Then Jesus climbed down off the colt.

His work had just begun. 

But little colt had finished his;

His mission now was done.

As little colt watched Jesus leave,

His heart beat strong and fast.

LITTLE COLT   

That ride was great! 

If only it could last.

NARRATOR       

His insides were all fuzzy-warm.

He’d never felt this way.

He couldn’t wait to tell his friends

About his special day.

He wondered if Great-Great-Grandpa

Had felt the same inside.

LITTLE COLT   

Nothing compares

To giving God a ride.

NARRATOR       

Just then, the owner saw his colt.

MAMA DONKEY   

Come home now, little one.

NARRATOR       

So, little colt began toward home.

His new life had begun.


To foreshadow the upcoming events of Holy Week,

our organist played Joy to the World and slowly transitioned to a minor key.


Fast forward to 13:00 to see the Palm Sunday Pageant

One thought on “Palm Sunday Pageant (online)

  1. Is there any possiblilty of getting the work you dod for the entire pagaent? You have given the script, but having the music would be amazing as well.
    We take our Palm Sunday to the Park and have a Picnic. I’m looking for somethign different to get the message of Jesus out there and this seems like a great way to involve the littles of our church.
    Any Thanks!

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