Unto Us a Child Is Born

294: Unto Us a Child Is Born

Preview:

Airdate

December 24, 1994

Last Aired

Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

22: The Changing Times
An Odyssey Christmas
A Christmas Odyssey
Unto Us a Child is Born (sampler album)
Ultimate Christmas Collection

Cassette No.

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Length

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Theme

Jesus' birth
Fear

Genre

Christmas
KYDS Radio

Scripture

Luke 2

Written By

Paul McCusker

Directed By

Paul McCusker

Produced By

Unknown

Executive Producer

Chuck Bolte

Post-Production

Mark Drury

Engineer

Unknown

Music By

John Campbell

Songs By

Unknown

Inventions Used

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Rating

Current user rating: 88% (32 votes)

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Family Store

A Code of Honor

Unto Us a Child Is Born

Soaplessly Devoted

Summary

Jimmy Barclay directs a live Christmas Story radio show. Catastrophe and hilarity ensue. In the middle of the program, Mary really goes into labor, so George and Donna rush her off to the hospital to give birth to Stewart Reed Barclay. Meanwhile, Eugene and Katrina can't decide what to get each other for Christmas, ending with Eugene realizing he is in love with her.

Plot

It’s Christmastime in Odyssey. This year, Jimmy Barclay has gotten ambitious with the annual Christmas production. Jimmy wants to perform the biblical account of Jesus’ birth, live on the radio. He coerces his family and the gang at Whit’s End to help. As a new Christian, Katrina is especially enthusiastic about the whole thing.

The rehearsals come off mostly without a hitch, except for whenever there is a stop or a break. Then George runs off to call the church; Mary has to lie down because she’s pregnant; Donna takes off to go shopping; and Connie, Jason, and Jack run out to the front counter to wait on customers. Only Eugene and Katrina stay at their posts. Eugene runs the board and Katrina handles the sound effects. But soon Eugene takes off, too. He’s anxious because Katrina has bought him a Christmas gift, and he hasn’t gotten one for her. So, at Connie’s suggestion, Eugene buys Katrina what he feels is an appropriate present.

The night of the broadcast rolls around. Everything is running smoothly, until Mary Barclay goes into labor, and George and Donna have to rush her to the hospital. Fortunately, Eugene and Katrina are there to fill in the roles of Joseph and Mary. During the final scene of the broadcast, Eugene’s feelings for Katrina blossom and grow. After the program, the two exchange gifts. They’re pleased and amused to see they’ve bought each other the same thing, a Bible. Meanwhile, at the hospital, the Barclays coo over the newest addition to their family: a baby boy named Stewart Reed. “For unto us a Child is born...”

Discussion Questions

1. What is the purpose behind gift-giving? Should Eugene have bought Katrina a gift merely because she had bought him one? Why or why not?
2. Why was Katrina so excited about participating in the Christmas production?
3. How do you celebrate Christmas at your church?

Major Events

• This episode marks the birth of the third Barclay child, Stewart Reed.

Cast

Characters	Actors
Aaron (b)	Bob Smithouser
Benjamin (Shepherd)	Mark Drury
Caleb (Shepherd)	Marshal Younger
Donna Barclay	Azure Janosky
Eugene Meltsner	Will Ryan
George Barclay	Chuck Bolte
Jack Allen	Alan Young
Jason Whittaker	Townsend Coleman
Jimmy Barclay	David Griffin
Katrina Shanks-Meltsner	Pamela Hayden
Mary Barclay	Carol Bilger

Notes

• When Jimmy tells Eugene to play a commercial, "whatever is in there", the "commercial" that is played is the scene with the shepherds and angel that was played for Jack and Jason at the beginning.
• This is the only Christmas episode that is always rerun in its original broadcast order, rather than in December.

Quotes

Donna Barclay: No way! I am not playing a bratty, self-centered character.
Jimmy Barclay: Why not? You were born for it.

---

Jason Whittaker: ..And Mary slept. While in the hills above them, shepherds were greeted by a host of heavenly angels.
Jimmy Barclay: (Jimmy pushes button and "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In" starts playing) No, no wrong tape!
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