Unwelcome Silence [Church welcome]

A church welcome to lead into a sermon about God sometimes being silent and not answering prayers

Good morning everyone!!! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
I can’t hear you, Good morning everyone! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
Nice. And Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
I can’t here you, Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
Silence.

I have something awkward I want to get out of the way before we go any further in the service.
It’s the issue of awkward silence. Is there anyone here who gets really uncomfortable in moments of awkward silence? (PAUSE……………………………………………………………………………)

Shepherd’s Warming [Christmas script]

A two-act drama, for 3 guys, to be run at the beginning and end of a Christmas program, church service or concert. The first act being just before Jesus was born and the second act somewhat mirroring the first act but in modem times.

ACT I

[Shepherds are dressed in stereotypical costume, no glasses or watches, with sandals and mid height wooden staffs. Hands-free microphones. Flickering ‘fan forced’ fire front centre of available stage place. Positions mentioned are from actor’s POV facing audience]

[Background sheep noises play quietly from sound desk audio. Stars on roof. Musicians darkened. Two shepherds stand behind fire, facing audience. Joe (stage right), Bart (Centre). A third Shepherd, Tom, walks in from stage left speaking the last few steps of his arrival]

TOM: Well, that’s the sheep locked up for the night.
I tell ya, there’s nothing like driving the sheep up that valley.

BART: Yeah, it’s a nice run. Here, I’ll take your rod.
[takes wooden rod and puts it off to left of stage, and returns during the next line]

TOM: Did you see the way I got the sheep over those rocks close to the creek? Wow-Wee I thought we’d end up IN the creek for a moment there.

JOE: Yeah, mate. No one can drive a sheep like you!

Line Up [Morning worship activity]

You need a space where everyone present can line up.
Give each person a pen and piece of paper to keep their own scores.

When people line up in the order asked, they score 1 point if they are the person on either end of the line, then, moving in, people get one extra point for every place closer to the middle they are - with the people in the center getting the most points.

Duelling Connections [mime script]

A play for three, on the concept of everyone begin wired differently and connecting to God in different ways, or, how different worship styles meets the needs of different people.
Use a Dueling Banjos background track edited to your choreography, or even better - played live for your choreography!

--

[Person one has a triangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.
Person two has a rectangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.
Person three has a cylinder attached to a string, attached to their waist.
The shapes can all be made of different materials, like a can for the cylinder and cardboard for the triangle.]

Music starts.

Each person shows their shape to the audience in turn.

A box is put on a high table or stool, and the audience sees one side with three triangle shaped holes facing them. (the other two sides with holes are hiding on the bottom and on the back)

Background Noise [script]

A play for three, introducing the topic of God seemingly being pictured as a 'bad guy' in the old testament.

--

[Mum Dad and Daughter sit around table with papers.]

Dad: So, lets quickly review the minutes of the last meeting:
•    It was agreed that I put a scheduled reminder in my phone so I put the correct rubbish bins out each week.
•    We need to stop playing our tubas after 10pm, as per the neighbour’s request.
•    And we never quite figured out who’s leaving the toilet seat up.

Rebecca: Dad, you’re the only guy in the house!

Dad: No, Toby is a guy to.

Rebecca: Since when do guinea pigs use a toilet?

Rule of Love [script]

A play for two, suggesting Jesus ruled with love - and that's a better idea then domination and revenge.
Has a science fiction theme and a fun list of song titles used as dialogue toward the end.

NOTE: This is a standalone script but also has the same characters as a preceding "Bible Heroes 2.oh" si-fi script that explores how the Bible heroes were only powerful because they had God's power behind them. 

--

X-on: Commander Zorg, I have those planet destroyer blueprints you asked for. 

Zorg: [very sad] Just stick them over there.

X-on: Sir? What’s up? You look terrible - and not in an ‘evil villain’ kind of way.

Zorg: Everybody hates me

X-on: Sir, that’s not true!... Not everybody knows you!

Spread the Word - [4-act script]

A 4-act serial drama for young kids - with a farm theme, and Jesus parables, and encouraging kids to share Jesus with their friends.

CAST:

Walter: - Doubter, directionally challenged, likes to point at what he sees.

Alex: - Open minded, joker, LOVES cats.

Chris: - Lead character, an enthusiastic sharing Christian.

Libby:  - Sweet, inquisitive, helpful. Has Wooden box of lettuce.

Eliza: - Strong skeptic from upbringing, but comes around. Has basket of big carrots

A Bird puppeteer: dressed in white (light colours) with black raven ‘puppet’
(cardboard cut-out with flappy wings, if not a puppet)