Read an Excerpt
Brief Dramas for Worship
Twelve Ready-to-Use Scripts
By Karen Farish Miller, Brenda Motley Newman Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2005 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-6038-9
CHAPTER 1
The Bethlehem Child: Children in Poverty
By Brenda Motley Newman
(Four short monologues that portray the voices of children caught in the cycle of poverty and violence.)
Stage Setting: A large box is placed at the front of the sanctuary. Use microphones for all of the speakers, especially for children and youth. Use the altar table or set up a separate table filled with childhood items. Include items that span from early childhood into the teen years, such as building blocks, stuffed animals, books, balls, a trophy or two, a portable CD player, etc.
Props: Large (refrigerator or dryer) box, bookbags, books, composition books, old robes, blankets, small table with work tools, a piece of cloth, childhood items placed on a central table.
Costume: Speakers wear worn-looking jeans and casual (even torn) shirts.
Presentation: The following speakers take turns using the box: a teenage girl, a teenage boy, two preteen female speakers, and a young boy (not a speaking part) for the four presentations. The reading parts may be presented by one to four readers (preferably older teens or adults).
Presentation time: Fifteen minutes.
Scripts
The Bethlehem Child Theme: (Print this in the bulletin or announce the theme verbally.)
The Bethlehem child is every child born into poverty and violence. It is every child whose life is full of hardship. It is every child who does not receive the basics of food, clothing, and shelter. It is every child who longs for a secure home and who longs for good news. At this season of Advent, we remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, into poverty and violence. Throughout the generations, Bethlehem has been filled with all of the reasons God needed to send Jesus into the world—poverty, oppression, abuse, rejection, hatred, and violence. Today, millions long for a secure home, and we all cherish good news.
Monologue 1: A Teen from Bethlehem: No More Bus Rides
(Reader states the title as the presenter gets into place. A teenage girl places a bookbag beside her in the box. She pulls a book out of her bag, with the script hidden in the book.)
Teenage Girl: I am supposed to be on the school bus right now, but I can't make myself get on. I don't think Mama will find me here under the back porch. I don't know if you heard the news the other day. Another suicide bomber blew up a bus carrying Israeli school children and commuters in Jerusalem. That was my bus. I wasn't on it that day because I was sick. My best friend died that day. Why was she killed? She never hurt anyone. She was nice to everyone. She was almost the smartest student in the school. (Open a book or shift position some.)
Mama didn't make me go to school for two weeks. We cried a lot and went to the services for those who were killed. But now Mama and Papa say we have to go. Why? I don't want to go to school without my best friend. I don't think I can ever ride the bus again. Why should I go to school anyway? If I don't die on the school bus, I'll get blown up while shopping one day, or when I get my first job, or when I am out with friends at a nightclub. My cousin died last year at a nightclub. It was her first trip; she was celebrating her twenty-first birthday. My uncle died two years ago. He was on a bus too. (Pause a moment.) I don't think Mama will find me here. I think I'll read for a while.
Reader(Older teen.): The world continues to be devastated by violence and poverty. There are youth, such as those who live in Afghanistan, Bosnia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Northern Ireland, and on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, who have known little else but violence. They have personally witnessed the death of too many people. Children who grow up in violence live with fear, depression, and very low expectations for the future.
Youth around the globe have not only witnessed acts of violence but also have become soldiers. Jane Springer, in the book Listen to Us: The World's Working Children, dedicates a section to children who work in the military. She notes that children are often kidnapped and forced to become soldiers or join the armies at young ages because their families have been killed, and it is a way to survive. Springer concludes, "If they manage to survive, former child soldiers are often traumatized by the violence they have seen. They may experience nightmares, insomnia (inability to go to sleep), headaches and crying. Other children with brutal war experience become so used to violence that they lose any inhibitions about it and continue to commit violent acts."
There are other equally brutal forms of child labor around the world. Innocence is also stolen from children in the form of child slavery, trafficking, prostitution, and pornography. The Anti-Slavery Society notes that there are an "estimated 200 million child laborers in the world. This is today's world of nine-year-old coal miners and eight-year-old prostitutes and of little girls who work in twelve-hour shifts in sweatshops."
How can the children of the world become compassionate, productive adults when they have known little else but abuse, slavery, and war? How can they dream when they see few jobs waiting for them and danger at every turn?
Monologue 2: Hiding from Danger: Poverty in the United States
(Reader states the title as the presenters get into place. An older girl (ten or eleven) and a younger boy are in a large box together, rocking back and forth gently. They are surrounded by old robes and blankets, with the script hidden in a blanket. The girl speaks.)
I think the gunfire has stopped now. But I ain't sure, so we'll stay in the closet a few more minutes. Mama told us every time the shooting starts to crawl quickly from our beds and hide in the closet. If the shooting is outside, we hide in the hallways where there ain't no windows, but if the shooting is in our building, we hide in the closet.
I don't like hiding in the closet because it upsets Jimmie and then his asthma starts. Sometimes I forget to bring his inhaler in the closet with us. I try to remember, but sometimes I forget. But at least the closet is warmer than the hall. We can pull Mama's clothes down around us to keep us warm. I wish there hadn't been no shooting tonight, 'cause now I'm cold and hungry, and I won't get back to sleep. Mama said there wouldn't be no food till lunch. She told us to warm up on coffee and stay under the blankets till she got home. (Pause.) We'll stay in the closet a little longer, just in case the gunfire hasn't stopped.
Monologue 3: Sarah: Longing for a Home
(Reader states the title as the presenter gets into place. A young teenage girl is in the box when the presentation begins. Hide the script on the front of the bookbag.)
(Gather up books and place them in a bookbag.) I have to hurry up, so I can eat at the shelter and wash up before school. I haven't seen Mama now for two days. She's been gone before. Sometimes she finds work, and we get to stay in a motel. Those are the best times. Then I get to take a hot shower and watch all the television I want. I wonder what it would be like to have a shower and watch TV every night? (Fold up an old blanket.) I have to gather all of my stuff now. I hide it in a corner at the shelter. This box may be gone tonight. I think the garbage collectors pick boxes up. (Pause and put bookbag on shoulder and blanket under arms.)
My teacher talked about homeless people in class last week. She doesn't know I am homeless. She talked about why people are homeless and how sad it is that homeless children often don't go to college. The hardest things for me are not knowing where I will sleep tonight and not knowing when I will see Mama again. (Start walking away from the box.) I have to hurry up because I don't want to be late for school. I don't want to get into trouble because then the school might find out about me. I hope there isn't a long line at the shelter today.
Reader(Older teen or adult.): These are stories of children growing up in poverty in the United States. There continues to be dire poverty across our nation, leaving children in unsafe homes or homeless. In 2000, 11.3% of the population or 3.1 million people lived in poverty. Forty percent of persons living in poverty today are children. Some of these children are being raised in substandard housing with little heat in the winter and infestations of roaches and rats in the summer. They play in streets where violence confronts them in the form of gunfire, drugs, and sexual abuse. In addition to those who live in unsafe neighborhoods, there are the homeless. It is difficult to gather statistics on the homeless because they are often hidden or stay on the move, trying tokeep their families together without intervention from the Department of Social Services. The National Coalition for the Homeless notes while there are several national estimates of homelessness, the best approximation is from an Urban Institute study, which states that about 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year.
Monologue 4: Christmas in Bethlehem?
(Reader states the title as the presenter gets into place. A teenage boy, thirteen or fourteen, is seated at a small workbench with some tools beside the box. The script is hidden among the tools.)
We haven't decorated this year. My family is Christian. Mom made coffee and cookies, but none of our relatives could come because of the curfew. We know there won't be any gifts. Dad hasn't worked in over eight months. I'm older now, but I feel bad for my little sisters. I've been trying to carve them something, but I'm not very good at carving.
(Hold up a tool or piece of wood that has been carved on.) It's been a way to pass the time though. We haven't had many school days. Sometimes, when the curfew is lifted, we will have school for half a day.
Our teacher asked us last week, "Is there still Christmas in this town where Christmas began?" (Pause. Set down tools or wood and become more reflective.) I haven't been able to answer her yet. I think she said to write an essay. I guess I'm not very responsible about my homework. It seems like we never turn it in, so I just don't bother with it much.
Is there still Christmas? All I see around me is sadness. The girl next door was killed. Another lady lost her husband. Everybody is poor and afraid. I don't know. Does Christmas come in the middle of wars? It doesn't seem right to me—a God of love in a world of hate. I wonder if God bothers with us any more. Maybe God gave up on us.
I wouldn't say this to Mama or Papa. They pray every day. We have had so many funerals. They say all we have is God. Maybe Mama and Papa are right. When Jesus was born, the world was full of hatred. That's why God sent Jesus. Oh, Jesus, we need you now.
Reader(Older teen or adult.): Read Luke 2:1-20.
* * *
Worship
Worship Bulletin
First Sunday of Advent
Prelude
Bringing Light to the Church
Lighting of the Advent Candles (Invite children or youth to light the candles each week. Choose siblings, Sunday school classes, or friends.)
Child 1: Read Isaiah 60:2-3
Child 2(Older child.): We light this candle as a symbol of Jesus as our Hope. May the lost children of the world know God's living hope. May we bring hope into the lives of God's children this Christmas through offerings and a renewed willingness to reach out to help.
Child 3: Light the first Advent candle.
Opening Hymns: #211 "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"*** #428 "For the Healing of the Nations"***
Words of Introduction and Welcome: (Explain The Bethlehem Child theme.)
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 2:1-5 (This lesson is from Year A of the lectionary. The lessons for the First Sunday of Advent, Years A, B, or C are all appropriate.)
Church Family Concerns
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:36-44 (The lessons for Years A, B, or C are all appropriate.)
Anthem: #2213 "Healer of Our Every Ill"** (Alternate suggestion: #431 "Let There Be Peace on Earth"***)
Monologue Presentations: (All four readings if used as one service.) "The Bethlehem Child: Children in Poverty"
Responsive Litany: (Youth or young adult.)
Leader: I am frightened and cold.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I am thirsty, hungry, and weak.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I am an orphan, invisible and alone.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I am mistreated, neglected, and overlooked.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I am rejected, tossed aside, forgotten.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I am afraid to go home.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Leader: I have no home to go to.
People: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Alternate Suggestion for the Responsive Litany: (Invite four older children or youth to read. Have the readers read from different points in the worship area.)
Reader 1: I am frightened and cold.
Reader 2: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 3: I am thirsty, hungry, and weak.
Reader 4: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 1: I am an orphan, invisible and alone.
Reader 2: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 3: I am mistreated, neglected, and overlooked.
Reader 4: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 1: I am rejected, tossed aside, forgotten.
Reader 2: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 3: I am afraid to go home.
Reader 4: I am a child of Bethlehem.
Reader 1: I have no home to go to.
All: We are children of Bethlehem.
Offering: Include a special offering for children in poverty.
Children's Choir (or combined choir or the congregation): #2193 "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying" **
Doxology: #94***
Closing Hymn: #206 "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"***
Benediction: "Lord, we are all your children. Come into the brokenness of our world and bless us with your light."
* * *
Weeks 2, 3, and 4
Lighting the Advent Candles
Lighting of the Advent Candles (Week 2): (Have the acolyte light the first Advent candle when the altar candles are lit.)
Reader 1: Read Mark 1:4.
Reader 2: We light this candle as a symbol of Jesus as our Way. Many children need a way out of poverty and abuse. May God's Word lead us to help the children of the world. (Light the second Advent candle.)
• Lighting of the Advent Candles (Week 3): (Have the acolyte light the first two Advent candles when the altar candles are lit.)
Reader 1: Read Isaiah 35:10.
Reader 2: We light this candle as a symbol of Jesus our Joy. May the lost children of the world know God's joy. May we bring joy into the lives of God's children this Christmas. (Light the third Advent candle.)
• Lighting of the Advent Candles (Week 4): (Have the acolyte light the first three Advent candles when the altar candles are lit.)
Reader 1: Read Isaiah 9:6-7.
Reader 2: We light this candle as a symbol of the Prince of Peace. May the lost children of the world know God's peace. May we bring peace into the lives of God's children this Christmas. (Light the fourth Advent candle.)
Prayers and Other Presentations highlighting The Bethlehem Child theme during the Advent Season:
Suggestion 1:
Lord, we pray today for the children of the world.
We pray for those born into poverty.
We pray for those who have been casualties of war.
We pray for those who continue to be scarred by the violence that surrounds them.
Lord, we pray today for the children of the world.
We pray for those who are homeless.
We pray for those who seldom feel safe in their homes.
We pray for the abused and neglected and for those who are tossed aside and rejected.
Lord, we pray today for the children of the world.
We pray for those who are sick and disabled.
We pray for those who are lonely and long for friendship.
We pray for those who have lost a parent.
Lord, we pray today for the children of the world. Amen.
Suggestion 2:
Video:
Children's Defense Fund, "Prayer for Children." Adapted from Ina J. Hughes and narrated by Marian Wright Edelman. Running Time is 2 minutes and 48 seconds. Order: 25 E. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; 202-628-8787.
Suggestion 3:
Marian Wright Edelman's "A Twenty-First Century Prayer for Children." In Hold My Hands: Prayers for Building a Movement to Leave No Child Behind (Washington, D.C.: Children's Defense Fund, 2001), 32.
Blessing for Children and Youth
Reader 1: Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:34)
"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)
"So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14)
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Brief Dramas for Worship by Karen Farish Miller, Brenda Motley Newman. Copyright © 2005 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
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