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61098 THE GREATEST GIFT
by Rachel C. Hoyer
GENRE: Drama
TIME: 4 minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 1M, 1F, 4 children
THEME: Community; Sharing God's Blessings; Generosity
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Christmas Eve
SUGGESTED USE: Christmas Eve serviceCHARACTERS:
4 ANGELS—Members of the children's choir or four children dressed as angels
PAUL—Age 30–40; married to Shelley
SHELLEY-—Age 30–40; married to PaulSYNOPSIS: Paul and Shelley demonstrate the gift of kindness by inviting a suffering couple to Christmas dinner.
PROPS: Chairs and perhaps a table to suggest a family room
COSTUMES: Angel costumes for children's choir; casual dress for Paul and Shelley
SOUND: Wireless mics for Paul and Shelley; choir mics for angels
LIGHTING: Ability to fade
SETTING: Bare stage
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Luke 2:13–20; John 1:1–5; Acts 13:47
DIRECTOR'S TIP: Lighting is always a powerful dramatic tool to use on stage. The script here calls for the angels to be upstage left, for lights to fade on them after they have spoken, and for the lights to rise again as they speak at the end of the piece. As a rehearsal tool or in performance, consider having the angels stand behind a translucent piece of material (in theatre terms this would be called a "sheer," meaning a curtain that appears opaque until you shine light on it), which can then form the wall of Paul and Shelley's house. Play with bringing up the light earlier than mentioned in the script to indicate that the angelic hosts are trying to influence Paul and Shelley to spread the gifts that the Lord has bestowed upon them. These exercises should help inform your actors as they rehearse, and you may decide to keep these dramatic elements in your final presentation.
Lights up on a choir of ANGELS upstage left.
ANGEL 2 : "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,"
ALL ANGELS: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."
ANGEL 3: "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,"
ANGEL 4: "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
ANGEL 2: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Lights fade on ANGELS and come up on PAUL and SHELLEY, relaxing after a huge Christmas dinner.
PAUL: That was wonderful, honey. I don't think I'll eat again until next Thursday.
SHELLEY: There are still three kinds of pie cooling.
PAUL: Oh, well. If there's pie…(He starts to get up to head for the kitchen.)
SHELLEY: They're too hot to eat now—they just came out of the oven. Give your poor stomach a break.
PAUL: Okay.
They both sigh in satisfaction. PAUL picks up a magazine and begins to read.
SHELLEY: It's a shame the Sorensons didn't come. I have enough food left over to feed an army.
PAUL: Yeah. I'm surprised they didn't show. With Dave getting laid off and everything, I thought sure they'd want some company for Christmas.
SHELLEY: I know. I can't imagine what they're going through. How long did Dave work for Cisco?
PAUL: Fourteen years, I think. Something like that.
SHELLEY: Wow. Poor Jennifer. I mean she was so excited to be able to stay home with the kids. And now she's…what did you say she's doing?
PAUL: I thought you said she was a temporary cashier at Kohl's.
SHELLEY: I didn't say that…
PAUL: Oh. I think Karen told me that at church last week. She said Jennifer wouldn't mind sticking with it but they only needed help for the holiday rush.
SHELLEY: Well, what about Dave's job search? How's that going?
Paul: Not so well. Jerry told me that with the holidays and the recession and everything, nobody's even interviewing right now.SHELLEY: Wow. I feel so bad for Dave and Jennifer…and the kids. What kind of a Christmas could they possibly be having with Dave out of work? And Jennifer having to deal with holiday shoppers.
PAUL: Yeah. Tough times.
SHELLEY: I just wonder why they didn't want to come over. (Pause) Did Dave say anything to make you think they might not come?
PAUL: Why would Dave say anything to me? I thought you had the whole thing ironed out with Jennifer.
SHELLEY: What? I didn't talk to Jennifer. When on earth would I have had time to do that? I've been crazy since Thanksgiving-shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of you!
PAUL: Hold the phone. Do you mean to tell me you never actually talked to Jennifer?
SHELLEY: I didn't see any need to since you were talking to Dave.
PAUL: I didn't talk to Dave. Since he got laid off, I just haven't felt comfortable talking to him. I don't know what to say. And since Karen and Jerry know all the details, I've just been getting updates from them…
SHELLEY: You're kidding me. (Pause) So we never actually invited them to come over today?
PAUL: Well, if you didn't talk to Jennifer, then…well…no. I guess we didn't.
SHELLEY: I don't believe this. I'm calling them right now.
PAUL: Shelley! You can't call them now. It's Christmas Day! What are you going to say, "We just stuffed ourselves; come eat our leftovers"?
SHELLEY: No. I'll think of something.
PAUL: (As SHELLEY picks up the phone and dials) Great. This has embarrassing written all over it.
SHELLEY: (On the phone) Jennifer? (Pause) Oh, hi, Laura. Is your mom home? This is Mrs. Jackson. Oh! Merry Christmas to you, too, dear. (Pause) Jennifer, this is Shelley Jackson. I'm so sorry to bother you on Christmas Day. (Pause) Say, Paul and I were just sitting here and, well, we were wondering if you guys have any company today? (Pause) No? Well, I went a little overboard and made three pies and it's just the two of us this year. Would you guys like to come over…maybe play some games, eat some pie, talk a bit…(Pause) You would? That's great! How about 5:00? (Pause) Great. We'll see you then. Bye. (She hangs up.)
Lights fade on PAUL and SHELLEY and come back up on ANGELS.
ANGEL 1: "When the shepherds had seen the baby, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
ANGEL 2: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."
ANGEL 3: "In him was life, and that life was the light of men."
ANGEL 4: And that light is ours tonight.
ANGEL 2: For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
ANGEL 3: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Lights out.
Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.Copyright © 2002 by Rachel C. Hoyer