|
"Salvation: A Gift from God", a Christmas skit
by Cheryl Rogers Author's Note: This skit may be shared freely for all non-commercial uses. It can be adapted to suit the needs of your church group. A foster home setting was chosen to include larger numbers of children of various backgrounds, but for smaller groups a traditional family setting also is suitable. Of course, the more children involved, the more parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, etc. etc. are likely to come. Blanks are left for the children's names, or names of your own choosing, to personalize the skit and avoid confusion. CAST: The setting is a private, Christian foster home where there are parents and at least three to six children of varying ages. Exact numbers may vary to suit your needs. If there are more children, or if any are too young to remember lines, they can help unwrap the presents and pick up the wrapping paper afterwards. The speaking parts are intended for children 7 and up, but there may be exceptions depending on the child's abilities. Parents can be played by adults or older teen-agers in regular clothes. The skit is set up so if there are three children, child 1 could easily assume the role of child 1 and 4, child 2 could take child 2 and 5, and child 3 could take 3 and 6. Parts 1 and 4 are best suited for the eldest children, 2 and 5 for children in the mid-range and 3 and 6 are more suited for the youngest children. Narrator: This play takes place in a foster home run by Mr. and Mrs. ______________________ on Christmas Day. Join us for the excitement. Scene: The lights shine on a fully decorated Christmas tree with LOTS of presents under it. They are stacked in layers beneath the tree as high as they can go. Yet more presents are leaning on a wall behind the tree. When possible, the scene includes a sofa and other typical living room furniture, such as a coffee table and additional chairs. Children enter wearing regular clothes, or pajamas and robes. They whisper excitedly to one another. Child #1 ____________________: (exclaiming in awe) Wow. Child #2 ____________________: (walks excitedly towards the tree and stops midway, gasping in surprise). Child #3: ____________________ (Runs to the tree and quickly grabs a present.) Let's open them up! Child #5: ____________________ Don't you think we should wait for mom and dad? Child #4: ____________________ (leaving the set.) "I'll go get them." The children seat themselves on the floor by the Christmas tree. Child #3: ____________________ (Looking at the tag of the present he/she still holds.) "Hey, this one ways 'life.' It doesn't have a name." Dad: (As he enters the living room scene with the mother and child #4.) That's because we all have the gift of life. Child #3: ____________________ (shaking the box) Is there something alive inside? Mom: No, there's nothing alive inside. We decided to do things a little differently this year. You'll understand later. Child #4: ____________________ (goes to the tree to hand out the presents) Hey, this one says 'love,' but it doesn't have a name, either. Child #6: ____________________ (grabbing a tag, happily) This one has my name on it! It says "athletic ability." Dad: That's because God made you good at sports. Child #6: ____________________ (shakes the box). Yeah, I like sports. Is there anything inside? (hopefully) Maybe a ball? (He/She sets the present aside wthout opening it.) Mom: (shakes her head "no') Child #1: ____________________ Hey, this one is heavier. There's got (emphasizes the word got) to be something inside. Child #2: ____________________ Whose name is on it? Child #3: ____________________ Is it mine? Child #1: ____________________ Hey, it's mine! (Ripping into the package, he/she pulled out a game set.) Cool, now we're talking. (Quickly, the children grab presents under the tree. The mother may quietly hand out gifts to those without speaking parts. Some have actual presents, some don't. The presents can vary depending on what you have on hand to wrap.) Child #5: ____________________ This one has my name on it. It says "health." Child #1: ____________________ I'm sure glad you're not coughing all night anymore. Child #5: ____________________ (playfully) Yeah, yeah. But who gave it to me, anyway? Child #3: ____________________ (grabbing an empty present and reading the tag) This one says I have artistic ability. Do you really think I'm talented, mom? Mom: Sure do. Can't wait to see you in the art show, honey. Child #3: ____________________ (smiling and obviously pleased) Thanks. Checking to be sure they have the right present, the children rip through the presents. Child #4: ____________________ Hey this one is for me, but it has my best friend's name on it! Mom: (quietly) Our friends are gifts from God, too. Mom and dad are given gifts too. They open them as the children open theirs and murmur their thanks. They have actual gifts. Each child also has one or more actual gifts, like books, clothes, candy. Child #2: ____________________ I LOVE nerds! Child #3: ____________________ Great! An art set! The children go through all the presents except for a small stack of presents at the back of the tree. They are all the same size. They are wrapped alike and there is one for each person in the room. The children don't seem to notice the small stack. Dad: Don't slack off before the job is done, now. There are a few more presents at the back of the tree. Child #5: ____________________ (reaches under the tree and begins pulling out the presents) This one's for mom. (Child hands the present to mom while the other children sit there and watch or look over their other gifts.) This one's for _______________________ Child #3's name. This one's for _____________ Child #1's name. Child #4: ____________________ (Joining in). (handing him present). Here, dad. (OMIT This one's mine LINE IF CHILD #1 IS PLAYING ROLE.) This one's mine (sets it aside). Child #5: ____________________ This one's mine. (Then he/she grabs the remaining gifts and hands them to Child #2, #6 and any others who do not yet have a gift.) Child #1: ____________________ It says salvation. Dad: Do you know what that means? Child #1: ____________________ Does it mean God wants us to be with him forever? Mom: Yes. We were made to be with God. Dad: But God doesn't force himself on us. He wants us to choose him. Mom: Salvation is a gift. (She emphasizes the word gift). Dad: The Bible tells us in the book of Romans that : "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Mom: God is love, you know. The Bible tells us that in 1 John 4:8. Child #3: ____________________ Well, God made us, so I suppose he likes us, at least. I know I kind of like my drawings, at least most of them. Child #4: ____________________ (turning to Child #3) I know he doesn't give up on us. Just like you would keep redoing your artwork until you like it, he keeps working on us. They taught us that at church. Child #5: ____________________ I learned that every good gift comes from our father in heaven. Boy, we sure did get a lot today, huh? Mom: Yes. We have a lot to be grateful for. Dad: Okay, so who wants to accept God's gift of salvation today? The kids respond in varying ways: raising their hands, saying I do, Me, over here, dad. Dad: (joyfully, with a smile) The Bible says: whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Children gather around the father and mother who put their arms around the children. They hug and hold onto one another. Narrator: (comes out to center stage, in front of the group of children) And so they pray. Join with them, if you want to accept the gift of salvation today, too. Dad: Repeat after me now. Oh father in heaven, Group: Oh father in heaven, Dad: we thank you for giving us the gift of eternal life through your son Jesus. Group: we thank you for giving us the gift of eternal life through your son Jesus. Dad: We call upon the name of the Lord today. We accept your precious gift of salvation. Group: We call upon the name of the Lord today. We accept your precious gift of salvation. Dad: Keep us close to you always. In Jesus' name. Amen. Group: Keep us close to you always. In Jesus' name. Amen. The group draws even closer together as the prayer ends. CURTAIN FALLS This skit is copyrighted 2006 by Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, Florida. She may be contacted at [email protected] Cheryl Rogers is a writer and singer/songwriter specializing in Scripture songs and Scripture-based columns, stories, and artwork. Free resources are posted at http://www.SongsfromtheWord.com Copyright by Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, Florida Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |