Monday, December 12, 2011

Maggie Came from the East

Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-12


A skit introducing the Wise Men.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. - Matthew 2:11Cast:
GRANNY GRACE – a sweet old storyteller who doesn't always get the facts straight
MISS REBECCA – the teacher who sets her straight

(MISS REBECCA is on stage when GRANNY enters.)

GRANNY: Good morning, dears.

MISS REBECCA: Good morning, Granny. Do you have a story for us today?

GRANNY: Of course, young lady. Granny always has a story.

MISS REBECCA: What story do you have for us today?

GRANNY: Well, with Christmas coming up, I thought I’d tell you the story of the Wise Men Matthew 2.

MISS REBECCA: That sounds like a great idea.

GRANNY: Splendid! After Jesus was born, Wise Men came from the East following a star. Being astronomers and astrologers, they knew the star was a sign that a great king had been born. They headed west toward Judah. Since they were looking for a king, they went to the palace of King Herod. Imagine his surprise to hear there was a baby king when he and his wife had no baby. The scholars told them to look for the Christ child in Bethlehem. Herod told the Wise Men to return with the location of the child, so he could worship Him, too. Really, though, he was afraid of losing power, so he wanted to kill the baby king. They found the baby, and they gave him precious gifts and worshipped him. Being warned in a dream about Herod, they went home by a different route. When Herod found out, he was not a happy camper.

MISS REBECCA: That's all very interesting, Granny.

GRANNY: But that's not the most interesting part.

MISS REBECCA: Really?

GRANNY: Oh my lands, no. It seems that the Wise Men were all named Maggie.

MISS REBECCA: (dubious) Maggie?

GRANNY: Yes, dear. I know it’s a girl’s name today, but it must have been a man’s name back then.

MISS REBECCA: Granny...

GRANNY: In fact, it must have been a very popular man’s name, because they were ALL named Maggie.

MISS REBECCA: I don't think...

GRANNY: It must have been very confusing for them. Whose camel is this? It’s Maggie’s. It’s not my camel. No, I meant Maggie. Who has my myrrh? Maggie has it. Not me, check with Maggie. What is myrrh anyway. I don’t know, ask Maggie.

MISS REBECCA: Granny Grace!

GRANNY: Yes, dear?

MISS REBECCA: M-A-G-I is pronounced Magi not Maggie.

GRANNY: Are you quite sure, dearie?

MISS REBECCA: Yes, it’s pronounced Magi. It’s the plural of Magus.

GRANNY: Well, that's completely different. It's still a lovely story, no matter what their names were.

MISS REBECCA: Yes, it is.

GRANNY: And we should be like those wise men. We should bring our finest gifts to Jesus and worship Him.

MISS REBECCA: You are very right. Thank you for sharing the story of the Wise Men with us today, Granny.


GRANNY: My pleasure. And remember, children: wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you swim and read your Bible every day. Bye, dears. (exits)

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Big Hats

Scripture Reference: Matthew 1:1-17

A skit introducing Jesus' genealogy.
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. - Matthew 1:16
Cast:
GRANNY GRACE – a sweet old storyteller who doesn't always get the facts straight
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets her straight

(MR. MIKE is on stage when GRANNY enters.)

GRANNY: Good morning, dears.

MR. MIKE: Good morning, Granny. Do you have a story for us today?

GRANNY: Of course, young man. Granny always has a story.

MR. MIKE: What story do you have for us today?

GRANNY: Well, with Christmas coming up, I thought we'd talk about Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1.

MR. MIKE: That sounds like a great idea.

GRANNY: Splendid! Jesus' ancestors are a colorful bunch of characters: kings & queens, shepherds & farmers, prophets & even a giant killer. But don't think it's all a group of goodie two-shoes. Oh my lands, no. There were some real miscreants and ne'er-do-wells. Many of the kings were very naughty. Rehoboam, Abijah, Jeehoram, Ahaz, Manassah, Amon, and Jeconiah were all disobedient boys.

MR. MIKE: That's all very interesting, Granny.

GRANNY: But that's not the most interesting part.

MR. MIKE: Really?

GRANNY: Oh my lands, yes. It seems that all of Jesus' ancestors wore big hats.

MR. MIKE: (dubious) Big hats?

GRANNY: Yes, dear. In fact, that's what my old Sunday school teacher used to call this part of the book of Matthew: the big hats. I'd imagine Ruth wearing a big broad-rimmed hat with an enormous jaunty feather in it. I'm sure Boaz thought it was quite fetching.

MR. MIKE: Granny...

GRANNY: And David in a 10-gallon cowboy hat facing down the giant Goliath in a showdown.

MR. MIKE: I don't think...

GRANNY: And Abraham wearing a large festive sombrero to keep the sun out of his eyes while traveling in the desert.

MR. MIKE: Granny Grace!

GRANNY: Yes, dear?

MR. MIKE: It's not "big hat;" it's "begat."

GRANNY: Are you quite sure, dearie?

MR. MIKE: I'm not sure of a lot of things, but I'm sure about this. "To beget" means to create or to father. The begats is a list of who is the father of whom.

GRANNY: Well, that's completely different. It's still a lovely story, even without the hats.

MR. MIKE: Yes, it is.

GRANNY: And His ancestors show that it was not His pedigree that made Him special. His ancestors include liars and murderers and sinners of all sorts. But Jesus came for all of us, and we too are liars and murderers and sinners of all sorts.

MR. MIKE: Which shows just how much he loves us.

GRANNY: Well put, young man.

MR. MIKE: Thank you for sharing the story of Jesus' ancestors with us today, Granny.

GRANNY: My pleasure. And remember, children: Eat your vegetables and read your Bible every day. Bye, dears. (exits)