New Year's Eve Mouse

New Year’s Eve Mouse 2018

John 10:10, John 13:34-35

Cast:  1 person—adult or youth—who does not mind scurrying around on the stage.

Equipment:  Wireless microphone.  Costume optional. 

Church mouse enters—makes a bold entrance into the sanctuary—and is very much aware and expecting to see that there are people in the pews.  The mouse has something to say to those present and dives right into the monologue.

Hey guys!  I was hoping you would be here.  I know, I know, I’ve been out for a while, so I was hoping I would have a chance to explain.

[Wiping forehead]  Whew!  Fifteen bowl games in ten days.  That was some living, let me tell you!

Oh, I didn’t go to the games or even watch them, but I sure cleaned up on some pretzels, nachos, pizza, and chips and dip.  I didn’t know there was so much variety, but you find you a house or two with a big screen and snacks go a flying with just about every touchdown.

People yell “Boomer” and before someone says “Sooner” there’s a little smokie or a pig in a blanket hitting the floor.

Top that off with some Christmas parties.  Yeah, I know I should have been here, but meatballs and cheese balls and popcorn balls were a callin’.  Deck the halls with balls of popcorn, fa la la la la, you get the idea.

Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you may die.  Live it up, that’s what I say.  I never met a cheeseball I didn’t like.

I am already looking for a New Year’s Eve party with lots of drinking and by that, I mean lots of spilled snacks.  People stumbling all over the place.  I don’t even have to worry about being seen.  Having someone fall on me is another story but I can start eating as soon as someone says “Cheers.”

That’s the life.  Sometimes it’s good just to make everything all about me.  That’s some living.

[Long pause.  Thinker’s pose]

Well except for this empty feeling inside of me.  You would think with all that I have been eating that I would be full, very full.  But I’m not.  Something feels empty inside.

I think that I know, but I don’t really want to admit it, or maybe I do.  Maybe that’s why I’m here today.

For the past couple weeks or so, I haven’t done anything for anyone else.  It’s all been about me.  It seemed like fun at the time, but I just don’t feel full.

I have heard you guys talk about Jesus wanting us to have life and live it to the full.  He didn’t say eat it until you’re full.  I think I need to get back to this love one another stuff.

I think I had better get back to regarding others more highly than myself.

I think that I am starving to help somebody.  Is that a metaphor or just creative syntax?  Whatever it is, it’s how I feel.

I need to love my neighbors more than I need to stuff my face, and I’ve had some good stuffing over the past few weeks.  I just keep rambling on and on, and what I need to do is put some of these thoughts into action.

So, I wrap up here by saying:

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Oh, oh, oh, I don’t want to forget this one:  LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  Love one another.  That’s the ticket right there.  Love one another.

Exit.

The end.

Grumpiest Old Men - The Wise Men

Grumpiest Old Men

The Wise Men

Cast:  2 older men. These are longtime friends with much dryness to their banter.  Both are in robes (any sort).

Set:  Anywhere a bench or 2 chairs may be set as a park bench.  Action proceeds in dialogue.  Script or notes may be hidden in props (newspaper) if used.  One friend is already center stage with lights down.  Second friend enters as lights come up.

Lights up.

Putz

Bonehead

Hey!  What happened to Merry Christmas?

Merry Christmas, Bonehead.

Happy Holy Days, Putz.

Really, I’m just not in the ‘Tis the Season mood yet.

I get it.  Stress, gift lists, one gathering after another.

No. 

What?

I got a part in a Christmas play.

What?  The Grinch?

Funny.  I have been cast as a wise man.

Oh, it’s a comedy?

Oh, you’re funny.

You’re the one in the comedy.  I guess that explains the getup.

It’s a wardrobe not a getup.

What’s that on your backside?

[Stands up and looks]  What?

See, I made you get up.

You’re not funny.

A second ago you said that I was.

Well fine.  By the way, what’s with your getup?

I have a role in a Christmas play as well.

Really?

Yes, I’m a Maji.

Do you know what a Maji is?

Somebody like Obe Wan Kinobe or a big shot of sorts.  But one that doesn’t have to wear a suit and tie.

You’re a wise man.

Thank you.  That probably took a lot to admit.

No Bonehead!  You are a wise man in the play just like me.

I was counting on getting a lightsaber.

You’re probably getting Myrrh.

Why do you say that?

Because they are giving me the Frankincense and they are not trusting either one of us with the gold.

Do you think we are in the same Christmas play?

When is the play?

The Christmas story is tonight but the part with the Wise Men takes place later.

When did they tell you to show up for your part?

In about 2 years.

We are in the same play.

Do you think they are trying to tell us something?

Yes, We should audition for the Grinch in the other Christmas play.

Grinch wan Kenobi.  I might still get a lightsaber.

What are we going to do to get in the Christmas spirit?

How about we do the shortest Christmas play ever?

I don’t know about that.

Yes, you do.  Just follow my lead.

My insurance doesn’t cover that.

Come on.  Join in.

Both:  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Merry Christmas, Putz.

Happy Holy Days, Bonehead.

Exit

The end.

Thanksgiving Mouse 2018

Thanksgiving Mouse 2018

Psalm 100

Cast:  1 person—adult or youth—who does not mind scurrying around on the stage.

Equipment:  Wireless microphone.  Costume optional. 

Church mouse enters the sanctuary oblivious to the fact there are people in the pews.  The mouse is skipping and proclaiming Psalm 100 in its own personal worship service.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who….  [Jumps back, noticing congregation for the first time]

WHOA!  It’s you people again.  I should know by now that you guys are going to be here Sunday mornings.

But, as you are here and I’m on a roll, listen closely.

It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Man, doesn’t that sound cool.  We belong to God.  We are really his.  [Raises arms palms up to emphasize the question to follow]  How can you just sit there?

We should be shouting for joy to the Lord!

[Raising hands to the sky and letting lose with joy]

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

[Back to conversational tone]

Hey!  I know every year at this time I drag myself in here because I am stuffed from Halloween candy and can’t talk about anything but turkey sandwiches and dessert crumbs galore under every table.  Make no mistake, I’m still loving the holiday dining fare around here.

[Puts index finger to lips as if to whisper]

But I want to let you in on a little secret.  Thanksgiving isn’t really about food and football.  It’s about, now this is going to be a big concept for you, but if you church mouse can handle it, so can you…

Thanksgiving is about GIVING THANKS! Catch this part.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

C’mon guys.  When you are here you should be so full of thanksgiving it comes out of you pores. There’s a thought.  So thankful that you sweat thanksgiving.

What else is there to say?

[Raising index finger as if to note a point to follow]

How about:

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

That’s some good stuff.  It’s a psalm worth remembering.  You know, most of the time we spend together, I do all of the talking.  How about we say Psalm 100 together?  Let’s give this a try.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

  Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Wow!  I am so glad, so full of joy, and so thankful that I am your church mouse.  I am truly blessed.  You guys have a great Thanksgiving.

Exit.

The end.

Independence Day Mouse 2018

Independence Day Mouse

Proverbs 11:25-26, Luke 12:48, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

This is a continuation of the Church Mouse monologues.  The mouse may be in costume or sport ears to note its rodent status.  No props are needed.  Some luggage adds to this monologue.

Mouse barges in with much luggage—pull behinds and carry-ons.

Hey Guys!   I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Did you think that church cat got me?  No chance.

I couldn’t get in because you guys changed the locks on all the doors. [Long pause.]   Just kidding.  Locked doors never stopped me before and sure are not stopping me now.

Here’s the deal.  I went out to the airstrip, caught me a ride on an airplane, then got on another plane, and then—well you get the picture—I was all over the place.

I saw me some sights, ate me some foreign food, and got a whole new perspective on a lot of things.

Do you know that I ate better as a church mouse than some people eat in parts of the world?  That’s just Crazy.

Do you know that I live better here in America than most people in Bangladesh, Ghana, and even a lot of those countries that end in Stan? 

Do you know that in some places, people can’t just walk into a church without fear of being detained or jailed or sometimes killed?  That’s just hard to comprehend.

Do you know that not everybody in the world has 3 or 4 Bibles each?  Did you know that the people who have a Bible also have a hunger to read it?  I’m not picking on your guys, but I have seen a lot of dust on a lot of Bibles in this town.

Did you know that some people in the world don’t like you because you are Americans and others would give all they have to be an American?  One thing that I can say is that so many people in the world are interested on what’s happening in America.

I even stopped in a couple of war zones.  You know what the craziest thing was there?  Soldiers and Marines sharing their rations with kids.  That’s just what they do.  Hey, I learned something new there.  I learned why they call the Meal Ready to Eat—yes, the MRE—3 lies in 1.  It’s not a meal.  It’s not ready for anything.  And it’s not really edible by human standards.

But it’s not that bad.  The MRE peanut butter and cheese both trade well among the Marines. I liked them both.

Wow!  What a trip.  I didn’t bring back any souvenirs, but I brought something even better.  I brought wisdom.  Here it is.

We are blessed to live in this nation.

We are blessed to know liberty like no other place on earth.

We are blessed to live in this part of the greatest nation on earth, a place where we can still proclaim that Jesus is Lord!

We are so blessed that we can be a blessing to others.

I think that for all of my travels and everything that I have seen, that one thing really hits home.  God has blessed me so much to be your church mouse, and I want to bless others.

[Starts to walk off the stage…]

I do have one complaint.  It’s not really that big, well, it is to me.  Do you know that when you stowaway on an airplane, you don’t earn miles for that?

When you are a mouse, it doesn’t really matter what’s in your wallet.

It is almost time for you guys to celebrate that 4^th of July thing again.  This year, remember that you are blessed to be a blessing!  You—we—have so much and so much is expected from us.

-          Exit

Pentecost Mouse

Pentecost Mouse

Acts 1-2, John 14:18

This is a continuation of the Church Mouse Monologues.  The mouse may be in costume or sport ears to note its rodent status.  No props are needed.

Theme to Rocky playing in the background as mouse enters with a bounce in her step.  Music stops when mouse reaches center stage.

[Talking excitedly to self]  I am so ready to take on the world!  No, the kids didn’t spill their energy drinks again.  That was a buzz for sure, but this is something different.  I can just feel it.

It is as if the Spirit of God is alive in this place.  I feel like I could do anything.  Well, maybe not spelling and grammar, but you know…

[Looking around]  It’s like I’m really alive.  There’s life and there’s being alive, and I feel alive.

[Realizes that people are present]  Whoa!  You people again.  I should be used to this by now.  After, all I am the church mouse and you are the church people.

OK.  Let me just make a public service announcement on behalf of the resident rodent.  That would be me if you’re not keeping up.

ON BEHALF OF THE FOUR-LEGGED COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR NOT USING TRAPS AND POISON IN THIS FACILITY.  ALSO, THANK YOU FOR NOT VACUUMING THE CORNERS AFTER FELLOWSHIP MEALS AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS IN LEVITICUS, AMENDED FOR RODENTS. 

That ends my statement, but I am so glad you are here.  I want to talk about this Spirit of God business and you are just the people I need.

So what is it like to have the Spirit of God himself living inside of you?  I’m a mouse and I can feel God’s Spirit all over this place, but what is it like to have God’s own Spirit inside of you?

Don’t look at me like that!  You have thought about this, haven’t you?  Haven’t you?

I’ve been roaming under your pews enough to pick up a few things.  Jesus told his disciples that he would not orphan them, but the Spirit of God would come and be with them.

The Day of Pentecost was about the Holy Spirit coming upon those 12 disciples—bet you didn’t think that I knew that Matthias had already been chosen to replace Judas by this time, did you?  You don’t always see me but I’m here listening just about every Sunday, and I never miss a fellowship meal or a baby shower.

Pentecost is about the church launching into the world with good news and equipped by the Holy Spirit to help common people do uncommon things.

You get to bring news of life and life eternal to people and God’s Spirit is with you every step of the way.  You get to tell people how much God loves them and the Spirit of God is with you the whole time.

I don’t know how you do it, just sitting there so calmly in your pews.  The preacher hasn’t even tried to put you to sleep with his sermon yet. 

Please tell me that you are not people that lean on their own understanding.  I thought I knew you better than that.   Trust in the Lord and let his Spirit take the lead.  Trust me!  I am your church mouse!

Hey!  Do this for me.  When you sing the first song, let the Spirit take charge of your joyful sound and see what happens.  Surrender completely to God’s Spirit and see what happens!

God’s Spirit lives inside of you.  [Super exaggerated gestures]  How can you not be pumped about that? 

Gotta go.  The kids had doughnuts today and there is a sugar-fest waiting for me, but the Holy Spirit is waiting on you to let him take the lead in your life.

Exists with a spring in her step to the Theme to Rocky playing.  Music stops upon exit.

The end.

When did Jesus institute Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday

This short skit is obviously designed to be done on Ash Wednesday or in preparation for an Ash Wednesday service.  It requires only 2 people for a short, crisp conversation.

Any stage, set, classroom, or fellowship hall will suffice.  The action is in the question and answer conversation.

Hey, when did Jesus institute Ash Wednesday?

He didn’t.  It came into practice over a millennium after Jesus ascended into heaven.

So, Jesus didn’t do this or even start it.  It must be a bad thing.  Maybe we shouldn’t do it.

He didn’t drive to worship services either. 
Jesus took an Uber?
No.  He walked.  Maybe you should start walking.

I don’t see anything wrong with driving to church.  I am more likely to go if I drive, especially on a cold or rainy day.

And you might be more likely to truly celebrate Easter—Resurrection Sunday—if you take these 40 days of Lent that begin on Ash Wednesday and give up something that will liberate someone else from their chains—whatever those may be.

So, it’s not just an empty ritual?

It is as empty or fulfilling as you make it.  God speaking through the prophet Isaiah chastised his people for going through the motions while fasting.

You mean like saying you love God but living like everyone else in the world?

Exactly.

Sometimes, we Christians need reminders not to just blend into the world.

Yes, we do.

Something visible and unique like a personal billboard.

If you say so.

I’m just trying to apply some modern thinking to help me remember that I should prepare to celebrate Easter.  Just some little reminder to get me back on track.

How about some ashes on your head?

That could itch.

How about just on your forehead?

That could work.

Stick around.  That’s just what we have in store for you!

The end.