Sunday School Mission: Possible

SCRIPT TITLE:

Sunday School Mission: Possible

AUTHORSHIP:

Teachers face the daunting challenge of relating to each of their students individually.

CHARACTERS:

Sunday school teacher (male or female)

Mission Commander (off-stage, live or via tape)

PROPS

Tape recorder

Manila envelope containing 8x10" photos of two grade school boys and two grade school girls

MEDIA:

The role of the Mission Commander can be performed live, with the actor off-stage using a

microphone. Or, record the script on an audio cassette to be played over sound system. The

performance should begin with a recording of the "Mission: Impossible" theme. (If you do not

have access to such a recording, ask a pianist to play it live or enlist someone to play it it on a

kazoo.)

SETTING:

A Sunday school teacher has just received an assignment from the Mission Commander.

DRAMA

Sunday school teacher takes a seat on the stage. He/she opens manilla envelope and starts the tape recorder. As the voice on the tape recorder narrates, the teacher holds up pictures of each learner.

MISSION COMMANDER: Greetings from headquarters, Agent Q. Please refer to the dossier on each of the following learners. (pause)

Learner A: Roger Ruffhaus, age 10, known for his ability to make crude noises using various body parts. Roger has been described by his mother as "very alert." Roger's former Sunday school teacher, now recuperating at the Shady Rest Mental Health facility, had other words to describe him. Roger was last seen planting explosive candy under a table in the fourth grade Sunday school room. (pause)

Learner B: Patsy Kennedy, alias P.K., is the nine-year-old daughter of the associate pastor. Patsy's m.o., Sunday school-wise, is to answer every question, often disclosing the end of the Bible story before the teacher has even pointed to the flannel graph board. Patsy's last family vacation was to the Holy Land, where she memorized the route that Moses and the children of Israel followed during their 40-year search for the promised land. Patsy has been known to double-check her Sunday school lesson with her father, who holds a Ph.D. in theology from Harvard. (pause)

Learner C: Jennifer Rodriguez, age 10. A shy and retiring child, Jennifer has spoken aloud in Sunday school only once in the last five years, when she involuntary exclaimed "OUCH!" after Roger Ruffhaus glued her braids to the craft table. Jennifer's written work displays a developing knowledge of the Bible and a desire to learn how to grow as a Christian. Jennifer was last seen hiding in the back seat of the family car in the church parking lot. (pause) Finally,

Learner D: Jesse "Jock" MacIntyre, age nine and a half. If sports aren't involved, Jesse wants nothing to do with it. An avid fan of whatever sport is being televised at the moment, Jesse has been known to break out in hives when forced to attend church on Super Bowl Sunday. Jesse's Sunday school art often depicts the 12 disciples playing touch football against the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel, with Moses and Jesus on the sidelines coaching. Jesse's pocket baseball computer is a weekly source of fascination and distraction during Sunday school story time. (pause)

Agent Q, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to build meaningful relationships with Roger, Patsy, Jennifer, and Jesse during the next 12 months. Act carefully. This recording, and your patience, will self-destruct in 15 seconds.