Dynamic Dramas
A powerful way to explore the thoughts and feeling people have about ministry, serving or getting invovled can be communicated with some Dynamic Dramas.
Am I Missing Something?
When amiable businessman and city council candidate Robert Dibbons is honored as the "Giver of the Week" by a local newspaper, everyone is thrilled! However, one employee soon begins to question her boss's sincerity. She recounts a painful memory of her father giving her leftover presents from work; items that cost him nothing monetarily or emotionally. In a frustrating conclusion, Mr. Dibbons fails to see the harm in something being "mutually beneficial." We know, however, that he volunteers to promote himself and gives only out of his excess.
Characters: 3 males, 2 females Written by Donna Lagerquist
Body Parts
In this light-hearted sketch, a hand, a foot, and a mouth learn the value of working together. The hand and food get tired of the mouth talking all the time, so they tie him up and gag him. Their relief is soon tempered, however, by the onset of fatigue and exhaustion. When the hand and foot want to eat a pizza at the end of their day, they realize they need the mouth to do it. That's also why they're so beat--without the mouth, they haven't eaten a thing all day. In the end, they untie the mouth and all agree to value each other and work together for the common good of the body.
Characters: 3 males, off stage narrator Written by Judson Poling
The Boy Who Never Got Dirty
A lighthearted tale of a boy named LeRoy Boskowitz. He never got dirty, took risks, or helped others because he was afraid of getting hurt. He remained this way into adulthood until his wife Stella got fed up and devised a plan which led LeRoy to experience the joy of serving others.
Characters: 1 male, 1 female Written by Various Authors
Call of the Wild Coming Soon...
Charlie's in for a shock when Marla comes home from church. She heard a message on taking a step of faith and letting God have complete charge of the direction of our lives. The night before she saw a special on needy people in Africa and now she's convinced God has called her there. Marla ignores that her personality and skills are completely out of sync with a ministry in Africa and that her own community is a more suitable mission field.
Characters: Written by Sharon Sherbondy
Clearing Things Up Coming Soon...
This comical sketch is a look at how the red tape of organization can get in the way of the true passion of ministry. Bob is nervous-his assistant is leaving the office for a minute as he tries to prepare for his boss' pending visit. She reminds him he'll have to answer his own phone and tries to reassure him. Of course as soon as she leaves, the phone starts ringing. In quick succession he gets three calls from people at his church-none of whom seem to know the other is calling. Each person needs something from him: information; a lunch appointment; and participation in a committee. As Bob humorously tries to avoid committing more of his time, he also exchanges emails with a seeker friend. Bob's ultimate choice to keep on his calendar the things that are most important gives this predominantly comical sketch a touching finish.
Characters: 5 males or females Written by Mark Demel
Counter Views Coming Soon...
A waitress at a small coffee shop makes life a little better for everyone she encounters. An especially obnoxious hairdresser-a regular-dumps a truck-load of problems during the few minutes she's there to grab lunch. But the waitress takes it in stride, doing what she can to support and encourage the other. Even when the hairdresser absentmindedly leaves without tipping her, she believes the best of her. The two women are a striking contrast-both doing jobs that are sometimes tiring, but one finding ways to serve people while the other complains and sees no possibilities for making a difference.
Characters: Written by Donna Lagerquist
Family Recipe Coming Soon...
A group of adult siblings are painting and redecorating their mom's apartment while she is on vacation. There is good-natured teasing and reminiscing, spurred on by reading an old journal kept by their mother. Her writings describe a number of events, both fun and more poignant which paint a wonderful picture of how families are supposed to work. Even her entry about bringing home a new mattress on the top of the old station wagon shows how the fun of family-what "makes life sweet"-is simply to "be together" and "help each other accomplish a task."
Characters: 1 male, 4 female Written by Donna Lagerquist
Full Service Stations and Other Myths
Jane has to deliver a company presentation on the importance and benefits of service. Instead, she reviews her frustrating experiences with a gas station attendant, an answering serve operator, a night watchman, and the police department. She is left pondering, "Whatever happened to the idea of one person serving another?"
Characters: 1 male, 1 female Written by Donna Lagerquist
LIfeline
An elderly man and woman work in a K-Mart together. We soon discover they and their spouses have been friends for years, and the four of them served in their local church. Now, however, Ed's wife has died and Doris' husband is in the hospital. A young woman and her daughter come into the store, and she recognizes Doris as her Vacation Bible School teacher. It turns out Doris and her husband and Ed and his wife made a big impression on her spiritually years ago, one that continues to have impact on her life today. As Doris and Ed take their coffee break, they both recognize the value of their service to others over the years, and the blessing of lifelong friendships.
Characters: 1 male, 2 females, 1 small child (no lines) Written by Donna Lagerquist
Mr. Hibbs Goes to the Zoo
This simple but effective mime tells the story of a man whose day off goes differently than he planned. While on his way to the zoo, Mr. Hibbs is confronted by many needy people: a young girl upset over her lost balloon, a woman who has just been robbed, and a hungry, homeless man. Mr. Hibbs stops and helps each person, buying a balloon for the girl, giving his coat to the woman, and lunch to the man. When Mr. Hibbs finally gets to the zoo, it is closed. He is upset, even angry. On his way home, however, he is reminded how meaningful his day has been when the kindness he had earlier demonstrated is returned to him.
Characters: 3 males, 1 females, 1 child Written by Various Authors
Parable of the Nuggests Coming Soon...
The parable of the Talents, hilariously told with a Wild Ol' West theme. Elias Dude runs the original Dude ranch. He leaves his ranch in the care of his three ranch hands Fess, Tex, and Archibald. Before he goes, he gives them each "nuggets" (Chicken McNuggets, that is!) to care for in his absence. When he returns, Fess and Tex have invested theirs and made more, but Archibald has done nothing. Elias gives Fess Archibald's one nugget, AND his daughter Suzannah's hand in marriage. As the characters all leave, they sing (to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies' theme):
Glad you listened to our story 'bout a man named Dude.
The moral is quite simple if you think and then conclude.
But just in case you're wondring, we'll tell ya 'fore we leave!
THE MORE THAT YOU RISK, THE MORE YOU WILL RECEIVE.
You all come back now, ya hear?
Characters: Written by Donna Lagerquist
Pastor General
Dave and Penny have an appointment with the pastor of the church they recently visited for the first time. He comes off somewhat firm at first, though he does impress them by remembering their names. They soon discover his military-like style is just the tip of the iceberg: he is a virtual dictator in his church. He "goes by the book"--which is the book he wrote. He has a church organizational chart--with him at the head in a big box and everybody else in a small box under him. When he forces his aging secretary to give him 20 push ups for forgetting to bring cream for the coffee, Dave and Penny flee. This is a broad satirical look at controlling-style leadership--which for some is painfully too close to reality!
Characters: 2 males, 2 females Written by Judson Poling
Pastor General: Resource Allocator Coming Soon...
Pastor Howitzer, a military-style commander, leads a staff meeting - and the church is in trouble. Fund-raising efforts have failed. People are leaving. Worse, the faithful few who remain are under-resourced. But Pastor Howitzer offers some creative - though inadequate - solutions. Instead of that new word processor, he produces a package of pens. Instead of a database, three by five cards. People need to just work harder, he barks. Just then his secretary Eunice comes in carrying a weed whacker that she just broke. Pastor Howitzer insists she do 20 push-ups. Turning to the rest of his staff he asks if there are any other resource needs. Everyone shakes his or her head no. Meeting adjourned! A broad, humorous look at the difficulties of resourcing church leaders and volunteers.
Characters: Written by Judson Poling
Somebody's Got to Do It
Somehow the word has been spread that in order to serve God and the church, you've got to suffer doing it or it doesn't count. That's why Paul is avoiding Reverend Roper's phone call. But to the surprise of Paul, and Shirley, his wife, he discovers a new word in serving: joy!
Characters: 1 male, 1 female Written by Sharon Sherbondy
Suit and Volly
Vivian, the bag lady, explains to her fellow homeless friend, Earl, that two people she names "Suit and Volly" are the servers today at the soup kitchen and that they make her angry. Suit always wears his suit and makes sure he lets everyone know he is a prominent lawyer who takes time to do community service. Volly prides herself on her dedication to join him, and once at the kitchen, Suit and Volly live up to their nick-names. Suit soon leaves to get back to the office, Volly goes off to volunteer somewhere else. Finally Earl serves Vivian her meal, for the right reasons with the right heart.
Characters: 2 males, 2 females Written by Donna Lagerquist
The Volunteer Coming Soon...
Parker stops into a church office. He is treated as just one more person who wants something done now, until he happens to mention the word "volunteer," then Ann sets off the alarm to alert everyone that there is a volunteer available. People converge on Parker from all directions, each assuming he's going to fill their "volunteer opportunity." When he is finally able to get a word in, he says he was just looking for directions to the blood drive where he was going to volunteer to give blood, but not now -- he already feels totally drained.
Characters: 3 male, 2 female Written by Donna Lagerquist
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