Two for the Chancel
By Lowell Uda
Copyright Lowell Uda 2013
Table of Contents
The Easy Button
Four Drumsticks
Brief Bio of the Author
Where to find Lowell Uda On-line
Two for the Chancel
The Easy Button
GENRE: Reader’s Theater; Light Drama
TIME: Seven minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 2 M, and 2 F
THEME: How freedom to choose came into the world and what it means for us.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Genesis 3
CHURCH YEAR: General
SUGGESTED USE: Sermon Starter for Seeker Service, or Youth Service
SYNOPSIS: The serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and to share it with Adam. Their eyes are opened, and Eve plans some improvements to the Garden. The serpent brings an Easy Button to the couple, and they fight over it. But in order to cover themselves before God arrives, they also learn to divide the work, though they each want to possess the Easy Button.
CHARACTERS:
Narrator
Adam
Eve
Serpent
PROPS: A Staples Easy Button, that says, “That was easy,” when depressed. Or, make your own red button and have the actors say the words, "That was easy." A stool on which the Serpent will place the Easy Button. A basket of various kinds of fruit--the more exotic the better--at the foot of the stool.
COSTUMES: Ordinary street clothes.
SOUND: Pulpit mic for narrator; 2 standup mics, one for Adam and Eve and one for the serpent.
LIGHTING: No special lighting necessary.
SETTING: Garden of Eden
DIRECTOR’S TIPS: Eve should be played by a female, the Serpent by male. Actions described by the narrator may be mimed. Costumes may be added if desired.
* * *
NARRATOR: Adam and Eve are tilling and caring for the Garden of Eden, Adam with shovel, turning the soil here and there, and Eve, deadheading the flower bushes.
EVE: I must be dreaming, I’m so happy! Isn’t it beautiful, Adam. This bush just takes my breath away. Look at this beautiful flower. No, come and smell it!
ADAM: It’s not only beautiful. This place is good. We may eat of any tree in the garden, except that one over there, the one with the serpent in it. God has provided for us so well. All he wants us to do is to stay away from that tree, turn the earth a bit, and love the garden the way you do each flower, and we’ll be provided for.
NARRATOR: As Eve wanders closer to the tree in the center of the garden, the Serpent speaks to her.
SERPENT: Pssst! Happy dreamer...Eve, come over here. Check this tree out. Isn’t it beautiful?
EVE: (Eve crosses to Serpent’s mic.) Oh, I don’t know...God says not to touch that tree or eat of its fruit or I will die.
SERPENT: Look, I’m touching the tree, and I haven’t died. Pick one of these fruit and taste it. It’s delicious, the best you’ll ever eat. You won’t die.
EVE: I don’t know....
SERPENT: You won’t die. Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
EVE: Good and evil?
SERPENT: Yes! You will know the truth, what’s really going on, and you’ll be free to make choices! You won’t be a sleepwalker anymore!
EVE: Hmm, I’ve always wondered why God does not want us to eat of the tree at the center of the garden. I’ve always thought that tree was the most beautiful of all. If the fruit from all the other trees are good, how much better in nourishment is the fruit of this tree.
SERPENT: That’s right...truth, beauty, and goodness--what else can you want? Avail yourself of this fruit.
NARRATOR: The serpent picks a fruit and hands it to Eve. She bites into it.
EVE: This is so wonderful! Oh, I feel my eyes opening up. I have a vision of how this garden might be redone. Adam...Adam...come here and have a bite of this fruit. Where are you, Adam?
NARRATOR: Adam approaches Eve. (Adam crosses to Eve at Serpent’s mic.)
EVE: Here, Adam. You must have a bite of this fruit. Isn’t it good?
ADAM: It’s very good.
EVE: What do you think if we move some of these bushes over there. And cut down those trees so we have a view.
NARRATOR: The Serpent nods approvingly and leaves (Serpent leaves chancel to bring in the red Staples Easy Button) as Adam and Eve continue planning. But then they hear someone approaching.
ADAM: What’s that? (Adam crosses to couple’s mic.) Whose footsteps are those?
EVE: (Eve follows Adam to couple’s mic.) We’d better run and hide.
ADAM: God will be angry.
NARRATOR: Adam and Eve hide behind a bush.
EVE: It’s so stressful. The world is changing, Adam. I don’t feel so much a part of you anymore. And do you know that you’re naked.
ADAM: So are you.
EVE: Please don’t look at me. I’m going behind this other bush, and don’t you come near me until I can cover myself.
ADAM: How are you going to do that, cover yourself.
EVE: The leaves of this tree--I’ll sew them together.
NARRATOR: The Serpent returns, carrying the red Staples Easy Button and sets it down with great satisfaction on the stool.
SERPENT: Where did this red button come from? I found it on the other side of the garden.
ADAM: I never saw it before.
EVE: Me neither.
SERPENT: It says “easy” on it. It’s an Easy Button. I guess you press it and something happens. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad.
EVE: Let’s press it.
ADAM: No!
SERPENT: You’ve already eaten of the forbidden fruit. You might as well press it.
ADAM: You think so?
EVE: I think so.
SERPENT: Aren’t you curious? Would pressing the button bring about something good or something evil?
ADAM: I don’t know.
EVE: Press and we can find out!
NARRATOR: So Adam presses the button: THAT WAS EASY!
EVE: Hey, it’s my turn!
NARRATOR: Eve presses the button several times: THAT WAS EASY! THAT WAS EASY! THAT WAS EASY! The three look around to see if anything catastrophic has happened. No. So the Serpent picks up the button and begins to leave.
ADAM: Wait a minute! That’s our button!
NARRATOR: Adam grabs the button from the Serpent.
SERPENT: Well, let’s not fight over it, shall we?
EVE: I want it, Adam. I need it.
NARRATOR: Eve grabs button from Adam as the Serpent leaves. She begins pressing the button, delighting every time it speaks.
ADAM: (Disgusted) Well...we better get back to work. We’ve got to cover ourselves before God comes by. Get me some fig leaves.
EVE: Get you own.
ADAM: It’s not easy sewing these fig leaves together. Please get me some leaves...and some vines.
EVE: I’m busy playing with my Easy Button.
NARRATOR: Eve presses the button again.
ADAM: It’s not your Easy Button! It’s ours! I get my turn next!1
EVE: I have an idea. A good idea. If you give me all your turns at the Easy Button, then I’ll sew the leaves together.
ADAM: I don’t know about that!
EVE: Here, you get the fig leaves, and I’ll sew them together. And don’t touch my Easy Button!
NARRATOR: Adam picks up the button anyway and depresses it: THAT WAS EASY.
Four Drumsticks
GENRE: Reader’s Theater/Light Drama
TIME: Five minutes.
CAST BREAKDO
WN: 1 M adult, 1 F adult, 3 youth (2F and 1M)
THEME: Respecting God’s Creation while Honoring Mind and Community
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Genesis 1:25 and Matthew 22: 37 - 40
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: General
SUGGESTED USE: Sermon Starter for Seeker Service, or Youth Service; teaching that it’s all right to think and struggle with who we are as God’s people.
SYNOPSIS: At dinner time, Alice, 12, brings up what she’s learning in science class as the family tries to meet everyone’s demand for their favorite part of the chicken. The three children and the father each want a drumstick. There are, of course, only two.
CHARACTERS:
Alice, 12, loves school
Jessie, 9, a loves sports
Mary, 6, the baby of the family
Mom, a harried stay-at-home mom
Dad, a father who loves his family and wants them to have the right outlook
toward God and community
PROPS: None necessary.
COSTUMES: Ordinary street clothes.
SOUND: If possible, laveliers for Mom and Dad and the children.
LIGHTING: No special lighting necessary.
SETTING: Family dining room
DIRECTOR’S TIP: Have a youth be Mary. Mom, Dad, Alice, and Jessie may be adults.