Sunday Morning Impact

SCRIPT TITLE
Sunday Morning Impact

AUTHOR
Copyright 2002 by Juli Tedham and Nina Wallestad. All rights reserved.

CHARACTERS
Susan, the Sunday school coordinator, and Bob, a new teacher

COSTUMES
Modern-day casual

PROPS
Clipboard, Bible, brown paper bag

SETTING
A church Sunday school room

SUMMARY
Teaching Sunday school impacts the future of your church.

BIBLE BASIS
1 Corinthians 12

THEME
Recruitment for Sunday school teachers

KEY VERSE
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

DRAMA

NOTE: Staging should suggest that action takes place inside a Sunday school room, with a class full of children directly in front of actors. One way of accomplishing this is for the actors to gesture toward members of the audience who are seated front and center when referring to the children.

BOB is cowering stage right. He’s hyperventilating, and taking deep breaths into a brown paper bag. SUSAN enters from the right and crosses to BOB.

SUSAN:     Bob? Are you okay? You look a little green.

BOB:     (hiding paper bag) I’m f-f-fine. Ready for my first week teaching Sunday school. (more breathing into bag)

SUSAN:     (laughing) Oh, Bob. It’s okay. (looks from him to the "children" and back) They’re only four- and five-year olds! You’ve been through this before. You have three teenage children.

BOB:     But, Linda never left me alone with them until they were 12. (more breathing into bag)

SUSAN:     (laughing, then serious) You’re kidding, right?

BOB:     Pleeease! Can you find someone else to fill in? I don’t think I can go in there!

SUSAN:     When I first started a few years ago, I was like you. (pause) Well, not quite that bad, but I was a little hesitant.

BOB:     Really?

SUSAN:     The kids are really eager to learn, and this is so rewarding. They’re the future of our church! Fifty years from now, they’ll be bringing their kids to visit you at the nursing home – if you survive this morning, that is!

BOB:     (sarcastically) Oh, well, that changes everything. (breathes in bag)

SUSAN:     Seriously you can do this. (She gives him a gentle push toward the "children" while he resists, shaking his head, “No.”) It’s just one hour. Did I mention that this job is really rewarding?

BOB:     (still resisting) Yeah. I’m sure it is, but I just couldn’t….

SUSAN:     (grabbing bag away from him) Oh, sure you can. Besides, the lesson practically teaches itself. (in a louder voice, to the “children”) Kids, Mr. Bob is going to be your teacher. (looks at BOB to take over) Go ahead. They don’t bite... (turns and begins to exit, speaking not directly to BOB) …at least not that I know of. I’ll be back at the end of class. (exits)

BOB:     Okay. (taking charge, looking at “children”) Umm. Let’s see. Why don’t we go over the Bible verse for today?

BOB opens his Bible and freezes in mid-sentence for a count of five. Unfreezing, he closes his Bible with a snap, which is SUSAN’s cue to re-enter, staggering across stage, breathing into the paper bag.

BOB:     Susan! What happened?

SUSAN:     (breathlessly) I… was.. with the… fifth and sixth graders! (she pauses for effect, then gives him a push and a laugh) Gotcha! It wasn’t so bad now, was it?

BOB:     That was great! It was a little wild at first, but once we started with the Bible verse, they were all ears. I had no idea I could have such an impact on these kids! Between the music, the drama, and small group, the time just flew by. I didn’t know there were so many adults involved every Sunday morning!

SUSAN:     Well, not enough. We’re still out-numbered.

BOB:     (surprising himself) I… I actually liked it! (starts to breathe funny)

SUSAN:     I’ve got your bag right here.

BOB:     I don’t need it. Save it for the next guy.

They begin to exit.

SUSAN:     I knew you could do it! And, with a little therapy… I mean, training, you’ll do even better! (pause) Uh, Bob? You must have really enjoyed craft time.

BOB:     Yeah! How did you know?

SUSAN:     (gesturing toward his face) You’ve got a little glitter thing going on here.

CONCLUSION
NOTE: Conclusion is to be spoken from pulpit by pastor; customize to fit your situation.

Each week more than [insert number] volunteers minister to more than [insert number] children at [insert church name]. Volunteers are needed to lead small groups, perform dramas, lead singing, teach crafts, or simply greet children and their parents. It’s a rewarding ministry with long-term impact on the life and ministry of our church. To volunteer, complete the information card in your worship folder and place it in the offering plate.