CAST
Putting First Narrator
TheHelen top of the list! God
Narrator:
It’s Helen’s day off, and after a thought-provoking sermon in yesterday’s meeting, she has decided that today is the day that she will start the new devotions book that she was given some months before, and spend some quality time with God. She will do it. She just has a few other things on her list to do first!
Helen:
OK, first thing on the list is the ironing. I can’t stand ironing! Right, if I put the telly on at the same time it will go quicker. (mimes turning the telly on and then mimes ironing)
Narrator:
(In a TV presenter-like voice) Stay connected with BT infinity. Be together BT.
Helen:
That reminds me of the BT adverts in the good old days. It wasn’t ‘Stay connected’ then, it was ‘It’s good to talk’.
God:
(mouths ‘It’s good to talk’ the same time that Helen says it.)
Helen:
No one ever talks to each other anymore. It’s always emails, text, Facebook… Oh, it’s Catchphrase! I love this – ‘Say what you see, say what you see’ (Irish accent) Oh, it’s a branch in the shape of a bridge and it’s got olives on. It’s, it’s… an olive branch!
God:
(mouths ‘An olive branch’ the same time that Helen says it.)
Helen:
Right, ironing done. Tick. Now I have enough time to do that devotions book before I go off to Zumba. Well, I do fancy a cup of tea…No, I think it would be better if I did the hoovering. I don’t want to rush my time with God.
(Mimes getting out the vacuum cleaner and mimes hoovering. Starts humming the songster song ‘Rest’ – If the song is unknown choose another one that talks about spending time in God’s presence.) I just can’t get that songster song from Sunday out of my head. (sings) ‘Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy his love. Trust his mighty power fills every hour of all your days.’ God:
(mouths ‘Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy his love. Trust his mighty power fills every hour of all your days.’ at the same time that Helen sings it.)
Helen:
I’d love to rest right now, but hey ho – off to Zumba. (Walks off stage and walks back on with leg warmers on. Does rapid crazy Zumba moves and exaggerates being out of breath)
Narrator:
(in Zumba teacher-like voice.) OK guys, the next routine is ‘Love me like you do’ by Ellie Golding (If song is unknown, choose one that talks about love). Come on, let’s really work it. Sing along if you know the words…
Helen:
(Sings whilst doing Zumba moves.) Love me like you do, la la, love me like you do. Love me like you do, la la, love me like you do. Touch me like you do, ta ta, touch me like you do. What are you waiting for?
God:
(mouths Love me like you do, la la, love me like you do. Love me like you do, la la, love me like you do. Touch me like you do, ta ta, touch me like you do. What are you waiting for’ (at the same time that Helen sings it.)
Helen:
What am I waiting for? I’m waiting for this routine to finish so that I can rush home and get showered before I nip to the shops. (Text message alert.) Oh, it’s Julie again. (Reads text). ‘Can we meet up to chat sometime soon?’
God:
(mouths ‘Can we meet up to chat sometime soon?’ at the same time as Helen says it.)
Helen:
Nothing big, just want to see how you are doing. I know you are very busy, but we don’t seem to have caught up in ages.
God:
(mouths ‘Nothing big, just want to see how you are doing. I know you are very busy, but we don’t seem to have caught up in ages.’ at the same time as Helen says it.)
Helen:
Oh Julie, I’d love to! I just don’t know how I can squeeze it in. Right, OK, home. (car action). Shower. (shower action) Now have I got time to go to the shops before I pick up the kids? Yep, if I go right now I’ll grab a sandwich en route. (Walks out and then walks back in with a Tesco - or similar - carrier bag.) OK kids – thirty minutes’ play before tea. (Picks up bag of food) Every little helps.
God:
(mouths ‘Every little helps.’ the same time that Helen says it.)
Helen:
I wish someone would help me a little.
God:
(shakes his head and smiles.)
Narrator:
(in childlike voice) Mum, I’m in bed. Will you come and read me a story?
Helen:
Coming…! What have you chosen? ‘Guess how much I love you’? One of my favourites! (skips to the last page) ‘Guess how much I love you? To the moon and back.’
God:
(mouths ‘Guess how much I love you? To the moon and back.’ at the same time that Helen says it.)
Helen:
(walks off and back on.) OK guys, don’t forget prayers, and then lights out. (Sits down.) Now for my devotions…
You know what, I’m too tired. I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate. God deserves better than that. I’ll do it tomorrow when I’m feeling fresher. I’ll put it at the top of my list! Narrator:
Even when Jesus was at his busiest, he made time to go and pray and be with his Father. After performing the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus took himself away from the crowds to spend time with his Father. He told others to do the same, and this is what we should do. No matter how busy we are, finding time to be with God should be at the top of our list as his disciples!
CAST
Letting Go Jean - Mum Paul - Dad Sacrifice Flick - Daughter 1(Based on Luke 14 and Luke 18) Lara - Daughter 2 Sam - Son Corps Officer
A row of chairs is set up on the stage. The family walk down the aisle and sit on the chairs – FLICK first, followed by PAUL, JEAN and SAM. Jean:
Now guys, let’s remember why we are here and try to be good. Remember…
All:
‘After all God has done for us, the least we can do is give him an hour of our undivided attention.’
Sam:
We know, Mum – you say the same thing every week. (LARA comes down the aisle.)
Lara:
Mum, can I sit at the back with my friends?
Jean:
No, Lara – you know how I feel. If you are committed to the singing company, you need to sit with them on a Sunday. It’s only an hour of your time. It really is the least you can do. Now off you trot. (LARA reluctantly walks back down the aisle.)
Jean:
Flick, put your phone away – and Sam, stop fidgeting with your spinning thing.
Sam:
Mum, it’s a fidget spinner, you are meant to fidget with it.
Jean:
Not in the Army you don’t. Nobody got to Heaven on the back of being a fidget. (FLICK leans across and whispers into her dad’s ear. He leans over to JEAN.)
Paul:
Flick’s friends are meeting in town and going to the cinema at 12 o’clock. It’s OK if she leaves the meeting early, isn’t it?
Jean:
No, it is not OK. We all know the family rules…
All:
‘After all God has done for us, the least we can do is give him an hour of our undivided attention.’
Officer:
Today’s Bible readings will be taken from Luke 18 and Luke 14, as we focus on what Jesus says about sacrifice. (FLICK audibly sighs and SAM noisily opens a sweet that he has found in his pocket.)
Paul:
(whispers) Hey, love, that’s what you always go on about. Have you written the sermon?
Flick:
We all know the punchline, so can I go?
Sam:
Yeah, if it was your sermon you would finish with…
All:
‘After all God has done for us, the least we can do for him is give him an hour of our undivided attention!’ (JEAN shoots them a look.)
Jean:
Well, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if a few people here paid more attention to what I say, but I’m sure that the Major will put it far more eloquently if you’d just listen!
Officer:
In Chapter 18 of Luke, the rich official has just asked Jesus what he needs to do in order to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God. We pick up The Message translation when Jesus says: ‘Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God’s kingdom? I’d say it is easier to thread a camel through a needle’s eye than get a rich person into God’s kingdom.’ ‘Then who has any chance at all?’ the others asked. ‘No chance at all,’ Jesus said, ‘if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.’ And if we turn to chapter 14, Jesus tells the large group of people with him: ‘Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters – yes, even one’s own self! – cannot be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple…
Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it goodbye, you can’t be my disciple. Salt is excellent. But if salt goes flat, it’s useless, good for nothing. Are you listening to this? Really listening?’ Flick:
Mum, are you listening? Really listening? (JEAN ignores her and looks straight ahead, clearly moved about what has been said.)
Officer:
So in both of these passages, Jesus doesn’t mince his words. He is firm, direct and to the point. You cannot be a disciple by just giving up what you want to give up. It’s not OK to make easy sacrifices and hold conditions with regards to the harder ones. Some of you struggle with the smaller sacrifices. You think being here for an hour a week is enough of a sacrifice; that doing that makes you a Christian or a disciple. Well, not in Jesus’ eyes. Jesus doesn’t say, ‘Give up an hour of your time and you can be a disciple.’ He repeatedly says to both the rich man and the crowd that you need to give up everything. Your plans? Your time? Yes! But much more than that. He says that you need to give up your loved ones and even yourself. I’m sure that most of you are sitting there horrified. How can I give up my loved ones? My children? After all, God gave you your children. Why would he want you give them up? Maybe for some, God does call them to be on their own, but on the whole Jesus is more likely to be saying that actually if you truly put God first, your relationship with your family will undoubtedly change. You may not have to give them up, but rather give up being in control of them and of your life. And guys… there is good news! Jesus says to the rich official: ‘No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.’ Let me repeat that to you:
‘No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.’ So I ask you this morning, will you trust God to help you make the sacrifice that he is asking of you? It may be small, it may be lifechanging; but trusting God and not trying to do it by yourself is the only way to do it. Let’s stand and sing our closing song, ‘Trusting, trusting’, with the band. (Jean remains sitting. She whispers to herself in a prayerful manner) Jean:
Opening Up
Oh Lord, I was so wrong. An hour of our undivided attention isn’t the least we can give you. You deserve so much more than an hour. You deserve our all.
Interactive, creative game based on Luke 19:1–10 For this you will need: A compère who will talk the game through
A big box wrapped up very nicely
A toilet roll to go in the big box
A medium-sized box wrapped in normal paper
A box of Maltesers to go in medium-sized box
A small plain box
A gift card for a meal for two to go in the smallest box
The compère shows the big box to the congregation, making a big thing about how nice the box is. They explain to the congregation that the game will be ‘Pass the box’. While the congregation sings a song played by the pianist (or CD), the box is passed around; and when the music suddenly stops, the person holding the box should come to the front. The compère then shows the medium box to the congregation, still making a thing about it, but not as much as with the first box. Once again the congregation will sing as the box is passed round, until the music stops and the person left holding the box will have to come to the front to join the other one. Finally the compère shows the small box to the congregation, without making a fuss about it. The congregation sings for the last time while the box is passed round, until the music abruptly stops and the person holding the box will come to the front to join the other two people. The three box owners stand at the front, and each of the boxes is opened and the gifts revealed. The compère can then explain that the big box may look attractive on the outside but this contains only the toilet roll. The middle box is a satisfactory gift (the Maltesers) – but the best gift of all is in the plainest package. The reason for the meal for two goes back to the story of Zacchaeus. Jesus could have chosen to eat with anybody, but he took time to seek out the person who, on the face of it, seemed the most undesirable, and choose him.
Jesus wasn’t attracted to things nicely wrapped on the outside. He was more bothered about what was on the inside. There’s a story Jesus told about a despised tax man and a Pharisee who both went to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee thought he was a good man in God’s eyes, but the tax man knew he was a sinner and prayed for forgiveness. Jesus said: ‘This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself’ (Luke 18:14 The Message)’.
CAST
Matt (a young man)
Getting Together
Prop holder
GroupFriends of friends
and Fellowship – the perfect combination Members of the congregation
MATT is lying on two chairs with a blanket over him. Prop holder
walks in with sign that says: ‘Sunday Morning – Take 1’. Prop holder then goes on hands and knees to form a bedside table and puts alarm clock on his back. Alarm clock goes off.
Prop holder:
Buzz, buzz! (or any other alarm noise)
Matt
(stretches and turns off the alarm): Ten more minutes. (He turns over and goes back to sleep) Alarm clock goes off again.
Prop holder:
Buzz, buzz! (or any other alarm noise) Matt turns alarm clock off.
Matt:
You know what? I can’t be bothered to go to the *Army today. I need to catch up on some sleep, have some ‘me’ time. I’m sure I’ll find out about anything I’ve missed on Facebook – and there’s always Songs of Praise if I want a good sing! **Hey, I could even do some cornet practice in my spare time – the bandmaster will be pleased. (He gives a big stage wink towards the bandmaster)
Matt turns over and tries to go back to sleep, but he can’t, and so tosses and turns for a little while. Matt:
Typical! The morning I can have a lie-in, and I can’t sleep. Well, it’s too late to go to the Army now. What shall I do?
Prop holder
gives Matt his trainers.
Matt:
Cool! I’ll go for a run. That will clear my head a bit. Matt puts on trainers and runs around the hall. He comes back huffing and puffing.
Matt:
Man, that felt good. I wonder how long I ran for?
Prop holder
hands him a phone.
Matt:
Wow! I’ve been gone for one and a half hours! It only felt like a couple of minutes. Oh – I’ve got a text from Jonny – the meeting must have finished. Matt reads text out loud. ‘Missed you this morning. Everything OK?’ Matt speaks slowly as he is texting ‘Just… fancied… a… day… off.’ Now, what shall I do next?
Prop holder
hands computer console and moves chair to face the front.
Matt:
FIFA – it’s been too long! Oh how I’ve missed you! Matt caresses the console. He sits on chair and starts to play
Prop holder
walks in with sign that says ‘1 Hour Later’.
Matt:
Man, Sundays really drag when you’ve got nothing to do.
Prop holder
holds out the phone again
Matt:
I know – I’ll check Facebook. Here’s the Army’s Facebook page and here’s a bit about the morning meeting. Apparently it was about the importance of meeting together and spending quality time in each other’s company just as the disciples did.
How ironic! The only time I don’t go, and the meeting is about the importance of being there! Oh, it’s Jonny again… Matt reads the text slowly. ‘That’s a shame. We are all going out for lunch. Tom’s feeling a bit down so we want to cheer him up. It was a great meeting. Shame you missed it. See you next week.’ Oh yeah… I’d forgotten about Tom. He looked a bit upset on Thursday at band. I’m proper gutted now! If only I’d got up this morning. This having some ‘me’ time isn’t all it’s cracked up to be! Oh well, I can’t turn back the clock now. Prop holder
holds a clock and ostentatiously turns back the time to 8.30 am.
Matt
puts the chairs back and climbs back into bed under the blanket.
Prop holder
holds up sign that says ‘SUNDAY MORNING TAKE 2’ He then kneels down again as a bedside table and puts the alarm clock on his back.
Prop holder:
Buzz, buzz! (or another alarm noise) Matt wakes up and this time turns the alarm off.
Matt: (sings)
‘Oh! What a beautiful morning.’ Matt gets up.
Prop holder
holds out toothbrush, then comb and then coat. Matt responds and uses each. Matt walks up the aisle and out of the Army hall whistling as he goes. Once at the back Matt turns around and walks back into the hall. As he walks in ***members of the congregation stand up and shake his hand saying…
Congregation:
‘Nice to see you, Matt!’ ‘How are you, Matt?’ etc
Matt
makes his way up to the front of the hall where his group of friends are waiting for him.
Friend 1:
Hey, Matt! You OK?
Friend 2:
Good to see you.
Friend 3:
We were thinking of going out for pizza at lunch. You up for that? All freeze.
Prop holder
holds up two signs. The first says: ‘Just as Jesus gathered his disciples together to grow in fellowship and to help them face what would lie ahead, so we should meet together to share in our journey.’ The second says: ‘Friends and fellowship are the perfect combination.’
* The word ‘Army’ can be switched for ‘church’ if needed ** The musical instrument and ‘bandmaster’ can be substituted for another activity relevant to the corps *** These members of the congregation need to be asked to do this in advance
Acting Out CAST Peter Monologue (John 13:1–17) – Peter
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Passover?’ Up until that day all I thought of was feasting, fellowship and wine. When everyone came together we ate, drank and enjoyed the company of friends, many of whom we hadn’t seen for some time. But this year was different. Instead of gathering with close family and distant relatives, we joined with Jesus and the other followers. As we came to the upper room, where we were to have our meal, and started to get comfortable, Jesus stopped us. He got up, took a servant’s apron, filled a bowl of water and knelt on the floor. He indicated for the first of us to go over to be washed. Everyone chuckled. You could see they were uneasy. This wasn’t a job for the Master. It wasn’t even a job for the youngest in the family – this was for servants! ‘This can’t be right,’ I thought. But one by one the others started to move forward. Quietly Jesus went about his business, removing their sandals and washing their feet. One or two of the others started chatting, no doubt trying to hide their embarrassment. I thought we should have protested, but Jesus was so involved in the task he hardly seemed to notice us. He took care and attention in his work. He found every speck of dirt and rinsed it away. He carefully dried each foot with his apron, making sure to be gentle and thorough. All the time his eyes were fixed on his task, and we sheepishly did as we felt we ought to. When it was my turn I couldn’t hold back. ‘What are you doing, Master?’ I asked. ‘Why should you wash my feet?’ Of all of us, he should be the first to be served. He should be seated at the head of the table. He should be explaining the Passover to us and leading us in the Psalms. Instead, here he was, kneeling at my feet. ‘You’re not going to wash my feet – not ever!’ I told him. But he stopped me, just with his gaze.
‘If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing,’ he responded. It seemed a bit cryptic, but I knew I wanted to be a part. I said, ‘Well, don’t just wash my feet then – wash my hands – my head! Make me a part of your plan, Jesus. Take me with you, I will follow.’ He looked up from the work he was doing: ‘If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene.’ Then, as he finished, ‘So now you’re clean.’ I went and sat at the table. Everyone was there now, and most sat quietly, awkwardly, waiting. When Jesus looked up he could see that we were confused. He said: ‘You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master’, and rightly so. Therefore if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it – and live a blessed life.’ Well, we all carried on and had our feast. Andrew and John quickly got back into the swing of things – eating and drinking and laughing. Others took longer to get back into the party mood. I must admit it took me a while. Others, like Judas, didn’t seem to cheer up at all. Either way, that moment affected us all. Only a few hours before, we had been arguing with each other over who was most important, and when we least expected it the Master showed us that really we are no more important than anyone else. If he could play servant to us, then surely we could have no delusions of grandeur. As he had told us, ‘Now you must wash each other’s feet.’
CAST
Trader 1Up Speaking Trader 2 What Do You Believe? Customer
Two traders are gossiping about Jesus trashing the Temple in a fit of rage; a customer who was actually there joins the conversation. The traders are setting up their stall. Trader 1:
All right, Jed?
Trader 2:
Yes, Sammy. How’s business going?
Trader 1:
Can’t complain. Hey, did you hear about Shifty and his posse getting kicked out of the Temple by that Jesus?
Trader 2:
No way! No one would mess with the Temple trading, and Shifty had done a deal with the Chief Priest. I think he was getting 15 per cent of his profits!
Trader 1:
Well, not any more. (conspiratorially) From what I heard from old Ned, who had seen Un-leavened Linda’s sister at the well, who had spoken directly to Shifty’s cousin Nagging Nina at the river – well, Shifty and his whole gang were doing a roaring trade. They’d even moved into the main Temple courtyard to sell their sheep, cattle, and doves for sacrifices. Shifty only stocks pigeons, though; he hardly feeds them and calls them doves! He’s making an absolute killing! Who can afford a lamb these days? He’d also set up a money-changing table so people could pay their Temple taxes right there and then, for a healthy profit… genius! It’s Passover time, so it was heaving in there.
Trader 2:
(sings whilst rubbing his hands) It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (Traders laugh together)
Customer:
Good morning! Do you happen to have any of those Philistine Fidget Fiddlers by any chance?
Trader 2:
Hang on, pal, we’re barely open, and I’m listening to a belting story here!
Trader 1:
So...all was going well until that Jesus stepped into what he called ‘His Father’s House’. Here’s where it escalated! (Dramatically acts out Jesus’ actions) They said that Jesus got some rope, turns it into a whip (maybe by magic), and then he drives out all the animals, whilst riding on a bull! He releases all the doves without even touching the cages, scatters the gold coins like it’s raining coins, and then lassos Shifty and his cronies and drags them out on to the street!
Customer:
Sorry, old chap, I couldn’t help but overhearing your story, and that’s not exactly what happened.
Traders 1 & 2: (shouting) How would you know?! Customer:
I was there.
Traders 1 & 2: (shouting) You were there?! Customer:
I went to pray…
Traders 1 & 2: (shouting) You went to pray?! Customer:
Please stop doing that.
Traders 1 & 2: (shouting) Please stop doing…?! (they look at each other) Customer:
So it is true that Jesus ran off that band of thieves, but he had every right to do so. If we’d had any courage we would have spoken up weeks ago. But Jesus will have put a serious target on his back; he has upset some very powerful people.
Trader 2:
He didn’t lasso them?
Customer:
I’m afraid not.
Trader 1:
(doing a bull-riding impression) He didn’t ride out on the animals?
Customer:
Er, no. (nervously, then growing in confidence) But he did do something amazing that hardly anyone is talking about. People are so interested in the fact that Jesus got angry, that they aren’t focusing on what happened next.
Trader 2:
Did he bring down lightning from heaven and smite the priests and teachers of law?! Swooosh…Booom! (makes lightning sound!)
Customer:
(chuckling) Not quite. Jesus welcomed back into the Temple the blind and the crippled, (in wonder) and he healed them! I witnessed this miracle with my own eyes! And before you knew it, the Temple was filled with children who were shouting praises: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ The Temple had been restored to its rightful state, by Jesus’ righteous anger. REVERENT PAUSE
Trader 1:
(Snaps out of it – mocking) Come on, mate – you must think we were born yesterday! All this miracle rubbish – until I see it with my own eyes…
Trader 2:
Yeah, next you’ll be telling us he really is the Son of God.
Customer:
(quietly) I believe he is.