Drama

This Sunday’s Gospel Dramatised

/ Ian

Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well lends itself perfectly to a dramatic reading involving 3 or more voices (Narrator, Jesus, Woman and 2 bit-parts). You could also consider creative symbolism of a glass jug of clear water with a drinking glass, maybe some rope to indicate the well. Click the link for a pdf file of the reading.

Ian.

Woman-At-Well-Dramatised

Elijah flees, encounters God (Pentecost+4C) dramatised

/ Ian

Here is a dramatised version of the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures. By the way, you can copy the text of the NRSV (in the Oremus Bible Browser and reproduce it for non-profit purposes such as Sunday worship, provided you note (NRSV) as the source. Oremus is great for producing your own dramatised readings and other liturgical purposes.

Here is a Word Document file: 1Kings19.1-15Dramatised

or copy and paste the text below:

1 Kings 19:1-15 (dramatised)

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a message to Elijah:

“So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die:

“It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”

Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. (Pause) Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him,

“Get up and eat.”

He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said,

“Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”

He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

“Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said,

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

“Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.”

(NRSV)

Dramatised reading for Pentecost 3C

/ Ian

Here is a dramatised reading of Luke 7:36 – 8:3 with suggestions for performance for the third Sunday after Pentecost. Parts are for:

Narrator, Simon, Jesus, Guest, Woman

3afterPentecostDramatised

or just copy and paste this text:

Luke 7:36 – 8:3 dramatised

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself,

“If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him —that she is a sinner.”

Jesus spoke up:

“Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher,” speak.”

“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”

“I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.”

“You have judged rightly.”

[Jesus, turning toward the woman]

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

[to the woman] “Your sins are forgiven.”

But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves,

“Who is this who even forgives sins?”

[to the woman] “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Notes on performance:

To make this a multi-sensory experience, consider lighting some incense in the church during the gradual hymn, or other time, so that by the time of the Gospel reading there is a scent of the anointing ointment in the building.

A member (or members) of the congregation could call out the line “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (the whole congregation could echo it if prewarned).

It is appropriate to have a woman seated at the feet of Jesus and facing away from the congregation – long hair would be helpful! The woman could walk out of the church slowly while the reading is completed. It would be very dramatic for the woman to be the one to say “This is the Gospel of Christ” at the conclusion. (Narrator could lead in “Praise to Christ, the Word”.

NB: Make sure no-one reads out the bracketed directions!

All-age (and children’s) resources for Easter 4: Acts 9:36-43

/ Ian / 1 Comment

A series of puzzles etc on the story of Peter raising Tabitha (not so sure about all the “right answer” stuff). Could help occupy younger people during an adult sermon.

Eeh by gum II: Potted Jam have an amusing “Capernaum St” script for Peter and his wife related to the raising of Tabitha here

Walter Brueggemann provides some pithy material for a sermon or homily in “Blogging towards Sunday”

“Dorcas is the only woman in the NT who is called a disciple“. This fact could provide a springboard for a reflection on, and celebration of the ministry of women in the Anglican church, lay and ordained. Dorcas’ charitable work in sewing could suggest inviting members of the congregation to display their handcrafts.

Marty Haugen’s excellent modern hymn “Gather Us In” which includes the line we shall arise at the sound of our name would be very apt. It is also ideal as a lively opening hymn on any Sunday. It can be found in “Together In Song” (AHB II) number 474. N.B. The accompaniment requires a dextrous pianist/keyboard player. Here is an Australian congregation singing an extract. The text may be read here