Scripts

Christian Persecution (click on the link to watch it: 1st part, 2nd part, choreography)
(Copyright: Bangalore Audiovisuals)

Dark hall

People:                 Wise man                                                  1             

                                          Devils                                                          5

                                          Stephen                                                     1

                                          Paul                                                             1

                                          Crowd                                                         10

                                          Non-Christians                                        2

                                          Choreographers                                     6+8+8+8

                                          Commander                                             1

                                          Soldiers                                                      2

                                         

Props:                         Blood packets

                                          Sponge (flower arrangement) painted grey

                                          Stones

                                          Masks for devils – 5 nos

Costume:                 WiseMan: quarter pants (Robinson Crusoe), a half filled sac tied at the end of a stick, cowboy cap

                                          Black t-shirt with hood and black pants for choreographers and devils – 30 nos

Lights:                   Six par cans on stage (2white, 2 red, 2 green), one/two blue/red at d aisle, one yellow on d side corner     

Audio:                         Dialogues/ music background/Screams of man and two kids, Fire/Stone pelting

(WiseMan walking on a stick enters from behind the stage)

WiseMan: The world has advanced so much. We have conquered even moon and the planets. The world goes on. We are busy running to make our ends meet. We have no time to think. What if the world stops without us doing our part? We are running the whole show. The world is in our hands.

(Slowly moves out of the stage)

(Few devils enter stage)

Devil1:                            I don’t know what these people are up to.

Devil2:                            It seems like our kingdom is under attack.

Devil 3:                           We need to do something about it before we are wiped off.

(Devil 4 comes running on to the stage)

Devil 4:                           Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…

(All devils starts running and hiding, peeping from their positions)

Devil 4:                           Hey, why are you running away? Let me finish what I need to say.

Main Devil:                   Why did you call out that name? It took the breath off my heart.

Devil 4:                           I just wanted to say it’s His name out there. More and more people are getting to know about Him. Somehow we could get a stronghold in the western countries, but here in India things are going worse.

Devil1:                            Yes, we need to have a master plan to counter it.

Main Devil:                   Ah! I don’t have patience. We need to do something as soon as possible.

Devil 2:                           Shall we use others against them? We’ll thrash them, we’ll burn them alive, we’ll wipe them off the map.

Main Devil:                   See, we had been trying that since the beginning. But these creatures are getting even stronger because of that.

Devil1:                            I have an idea. Why shall we not use none other than Christians itself?

Main Devil:                   What?

Devil1:                            Yes. Give me a chance. I’ll prove it to you.

Main Devil:                   Okay. I’ll give you a chance. If that doesn’t happen you’ll no more get a chance to hunt for souls.

(They slowly walks off, when WiseMan walks in)

WiseMan:                     So they set off to execute their plans. See, his plan was ultimate. That is sweeping across our lives. Christians, so they call themselves. They go to church, they confess, they preach, but their lives? Yes, that’s what make the difference.

(Song: Cross of Gold… Aggressive choreography with people wearing big crosses of gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My6CupL2SOI

Where do you stand

What is your statement

What is it you're trying to say

What's in your hand

What's in your basement

What's in the cards you don't play

Are you holding the key

Or are you intending

To pick the lock of heaven's gate

It's confusing to me

The message you're sending

And I don't know if I can relate

Chorus:

What's your line

Tell me why you wear your cross of gold

State of mind

Or does it find a way into your soul

Is it a flame

Is it a passion

A symbol of love living in you

Or is it a game

Religion in fashion

Some kind of phase you're going thru

We all travel the extremes

From cellar to rafter

Looking for a place in the sun

So I'm trying to see

What you're headed after

But I don't know where you're coming from

Chorus Bridge: (spoken)

For some it's simply something to wear around your neck

Just a chain

Jewelry

Is it decoration?

Is it an icon

Or proclomation?

An icon of what?

What?

For some it's simply something to wear around your neck

Just a chain

It means a lot more than that to me

Chorus

(People with golden cross around neck doing nasty things, goes and pray, do it again. People of other religion, appreciate prayers, but turn away when they see the deeds…)

Non Christian:             Is this Christianity all about? We are better than them. Why should we listen to these idiots?

WiseMan:                     The cross, the symbol of salvation, they mock at it now. It has turned a fashion, a status symbol. How much might it hurt the one who laid His life on it to save these people? Persecutions, persecutions, persecutions, you have heard about it a lot. But have you ever gone through it?  No, you live in comforts. It’s not others who persecute Christians. It’s you yourselves who are doing it. You wear the cross, bear the name of Christ, but how do you live? You are Christians by their blood. Not life, but can’t you spare some time, money and energy to proclaim the Word of God? I don’t know. I don’t know. Will you do it? Will you do it? Will you do it?..... The cross, a symbol, a fashion, chain, jewelry, Icon, proclamation….

(He keeps repeating to the audience and slowly looks out of the audience and walks away through the exit.)

 (Suddenly Stephen is thrown from behind/side of the audience. He’s kicked and dragged through the aisle. He’s thrashed and brought to the centre)

Saul:                                Stephen… I’ve heard a lot about you. What do you think about yourself? What a pity? See the situation you are in. I’ll give you a chance now. You can choose either the name of Jesus or your life. What do you choose?

Stephen:                       There’s no life without Jesus. By choosing Jesus l get life too. You may kill me, but not my soul. It belongs to Him alone.

Saul:                                Your life is at my hands now. Don’t be foolish

Stephen:                       My soul rejoices in Him. You have no control over it. He has purchased it with His blood and life.

Saul:                                How dare you? Don’t you know the consequence? You and your Jesus, go to hell with Him.

Stephen:                       Believe in Him and you shall be saved.

Saul:                                Enough. I don’t want to hear it anymore.  May you perish with your words that there shall be no more mouth that utters His name. Let this be a lesson to all those who dare say that name. They shall face their destiny this way. I order that he be stoned to death.

(Group starts pelting stones at Stephen, few original)

Stephen:                       'Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.' (Then he knelt down and said aloud), 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.'

(Stephen dies)

Saul (to audience):    Argh… Any of you who speak His name shall meet the fate of this man.

(Saul exits the stage)

(WiseMan walks in, cries out loud, goes and falls on the dead body. Gets up on knees, hits on the chest and cries for some time. He then slowly gets up crying out loud, turns to the audience. Then the expression changes) Lights goes off on stage. Goes and drags Stephen out of the stage)

WiseMan:                     What an irony? Strange are the ways of Lord. This man who boasted of killing thousands for just saying the name of Jesus now goes on preaching about Him.

(Saul been thrown on to the audience from behind. He’s been kicked, thrashed and dragged through the aisle and brought to the front)

 (Group of people walking in murmuring)

Lady1 (from one side):Isn’t it Saul, the man who set off to wipe away all the Christians in Demascus?

Lady2:                             Yes. It’s the very Saul who killed many.

Lady3 (from one side):What happened to him?

Lady4:                             He says he encountered Jesus personally. Now he is going to face the fate of those whom he slaughtered.

Soldier1:                        Sir, here’s the one who took permission from you to kill the bloody Christians. But we have caught him preaching about Christ at the city gates.

Commander:               Saul, is it right what these people say?

Saul:                                Yes. Believe. I will baptize you. Come and experience the love and power of my Lord Jesus Christ, the only son of God the Father.

Commander:               Have you gone mad? Or are you drunk.

Saul:                                There was a time when I was out of my senses, but now I am not.

Commander:               Saul, don’t you know what you are going to face?

Saul:                                I know what I am doing. There’s nothing that can stop me from preaching about Jesus.

Commander:               You deserve no mercy. You too join those idiots. (To the crowd) Kill him.

(Crowd starts thrashing him and throws him on to the stage. They stone him)

Saul slowly crawls to exit.

Wise man:                     They thought he’s dead. But he escaped. He says it’s Jesus who saved him. He says who shall separate them from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” He’s really gone mad. Otherwise how can he do it again after going through the ordeal of death?

Saul:                                Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                                          Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

                                          Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

                                          Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

(People come and catch him again. Beats him and drags him on to stage. Ties his hands and hangs him upside down and hits with sticks. And finally he’s released and taken to jail – off stage)

Wise man:                     He worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times he received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times he was beaten with rods, once was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked, he spent a night and a day in the open sea, He was in danger from bandits, from his own countrymen, from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. He labored and toiled and often went without sleep; He knew hunger and thirst and often had to go without food; He’d been in cold and naked.

Saul:                                I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

(Soldiers pounce on him and take him to the stage. Pulls a guillotine and beheads Saul)

All of a sudden a group of people wearing saffron headbands with saffron flags, holding sticks and weapons runs through the center on to the stage or from the stage to the side door. Passes a petrol can to the exit. Orange light with the help of cloth flickers like fire with the background sound of fire. Screams of a man and two kids.

                                          All of them run and exit.

                                          Few people covering their faces brings a stretcher to the stage. Gladys Staines walks in with sadness on face. One person opens the cloth revealing a heap of two charred bodies.

(Gladys Staines walks on to the stage)

News reporter:           Are you planning to go back to Australia. What do you have to say?

Gladys Staines:           I forgive them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyone walks off with the stretcher.

Wise man:                     Persecution, persecution, persecution… Christianity was always made stronger by persecutions. It’s built on the blood of many a martyrs. Even today we face it, but more than the threats to life it’s our lifestyle that is playing its part. We live in a world of comfort. It’s technology, career, the worldly things and stuff that is being used by the dark forces to keep us away from proclaiming the good news. Are you ready to come out of your comfort zones and proclaim the Word of God? Else you are also being persecuted by the plans of evil forces. Stand up and fight against yourself. The enemy is not from outside, but within you. Trust in the Lord and take courage. Be bold enough to live and to proclaim the good news.

The Photographer Skit

(Photographer walks in looking around. Suddenly pauses for a second, tries to focus on an object, then moves ahead unsatisfied. Notices something at another direction, pauses and tries to capture something. Then he moves ahead….)

There lived a renowned photographer who had an amazing talent of capturing the greatest moments to be cherished by mankind forever; a globe trotter, well traversed far across the globe. He travelled well beyond time and imagination. Once he happened to travel 2000 years back in time to a place called Bethlehem.

Photographer:   Ah! What a marvelous sight. Through out my life I've never ever came across such an amazing sight. Though it's a stinking manger, it looks like a royal family in there. The baby, oh, I feel an extraordinary attraction. He looks like a prince. It brings in me a peaceful feeling.  It warms the very soul amidst the bone-chilling cold winter. I wonder how cruel God can be to abandon them. If I capture this moment I can become the most renowned photographer through the ends of the earth. Through the generations they will remember me for this.

Photographer focuses his camera on to the family. He suddenly stops listening to the song Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Photographer:   Hey, this song sounds so familiar.

Suddenly two angels appears.

Angel1:             Hey, you mortal man, what are you doing?

Photographer:   I’m trying to capture the most heart whelming scene I have ever come across in my life.

Angel1:             Oh! That’s a great thing. It will be good if there is a proof for generations to come so that they will know the truth and praise God for his wonderful works.

Photographer:   (Turning towards the audience) These angels look so beautiful. I think if they too can join my photograph will look more attractive. (Turning towards angels) Hey, why don’t you join this family? You too will be known for ever.

Angel1:             No, no. It’s okay. You carry on. We don’t want to be in that.

Angel2:             C’mon. We were the one who gave the good news. What is wrong if we are in it? Come and join.

Photographer is about to take the snap. Suddenly…

Angel2:             Wait, wait. I have few of my friends. Can you please include them also.

Photographer:   Why not.  It will look better if there are more of them. But, please don’t waste time.

Angle2 goes out to bring in other angels.

Few angels enters along with Angel2.

Photographer:   Why did it take so much of time? (Nose of cattle heard at the background)

Hey, hey, hey, who are they? What are they doing here?

Angel2:             On the way I met these shepherds. And I told them about what is happening. They insisted that they too want to join.

Photographer:   Oh dirty fellows. Why did you bring them? I wanted my picture to be as wonderful as it can be. These creatures will spoil the whole scene.

Angel1:             Let them also join. After all they were the first to know the good news, right?

Photographer:   (With an unpleasant face). Ahhh… Okay, let them also join. (Turns to the audience and says sarcastically) I know what to do with them. I’ll delete them from the photo. Ha ha ha….

Photographer arranges everyone, making sure that the shepherds are at the sides. Suddenly the song begins of the kings’ entrance.

Photographer:   This song, I think I’ve heard this somewhere. (Suddenly notices the kings). Hey, who are you? You people look so rich and famous.

King1:               We are the three wise men from far east. We were on our way back to the Herod’s palace when an angel appeared and said not to go that way.

Angel3:             (In style and with pride).  That was me who told that.

King2:               When we were taking another way we saw few angels pass by and heard them speak about what’s happening here. We thought that since we have come so far we should also be there in this. So we decided to come back here.

Photographer:   Oh, is that so? (Turning to audience) They look so handsome. If they are also in the picture it’d be nice. (Turning to the kings) Okay, okay. You too join them.

Photographer rearranges the entire scene, again making sure that the shepherds are at the sides. There is a commotion among them with the kings not so happy about standing near the shepherds. Once everyone is set proper he goes back to take the snap. Suddenly the inn owner walk in.

Wife:                What is all this noise? We gave you some place seeing your plight and now you’ve brought in all these people here? And who is this funny man with that scrap?

Angel1:             He is a man who came from beyond the time. He is taking a photograph of ours. You also come and join us.

Husband:          What is all this nonsense?

Angel1:             If you take this it can be seen all over the world.

Wife:                Is it so? (She then suddenly arranges her dress and tries to look good). Okay, okay, do it then. But we should also be there.

Photographer:   Oh, there’s not enough space in this.

Wife:                In that case there is no space here also. All of you leave from here.

Photographer:   Ohhh… Okay, okay. I’ll adjust. Come and join.

Photographer then starts adjusting his camera. (Suddenly turns to the audience)

Photographer:   Everything looks beautiful. I can cut off these ugly shepherds and these people out of this. I’m sure this picture is going to fetch me all the awards on earth. I will be known as the greatest of the photographers through out history. But…. (pauses for a while) how will they know me if I’m not there in it. Noo…. I should also be there in it. Ahhh… I can set the timer and do it so that I will also be seen by all those who are in this world and those who are yet to come. Yes, I too want to be in it.

Photographer adjusts the timer and runs back to the scene. Suddenly there is a whole lot of commotion. The shepherds pulls them towards them, but he move from there. He runs across the place. Others pushes him away. Suddenly Mary and Joseph gets up with the baby and slowly walks away leaving him enough space to sit. Photographer poses right in the middle and the flash light flickers.

Narration: Are we not the photographer who tries to be in the picture, forgetting the true essence of Christian life. Instead of carrying the image of Jesus within us we run behind the customs and traditions, celebrating his birth with all its glory, yet at the same time forgetting who the center of it is. This Christmas time let it be a time to reflect the greatness of the person who made us what we are. May this be a beginning that brings in the change in us where the true prince of peace takes birth. Let us prepare our hearts to let Mother Mary bear her child instead of sending them away with our busy celebrations of Christmas season.

The kite skit

(Costumes)

Pitch dark with 7 people on stage

Blue light slowly fades in.

Creator walks in slowly rotating in a wavy dance form and goes through the statues.

He comes to one statue and starts chiseling. (Sharp white focus light falls on the statue) The statue starts moving one hand slowly and then the other. He takes two steps behind and blows breath to the statue. Suddenly the whole body starts moving like a wave.

Creator walks to the next statue and starts chiseling. (Sharp white focus light falls on the statue) The statue starts moving one hand slowly and then the other. He takes two steps behind and blows breath to the statue. Suddenly the whole body starts moving like a wave.

After all the statues He pulls the thread when everyone moves according to that.

Creator dances with the whole group and slowly moves off stage

Suddenly a creaky shrewd laughter comes from the audience. One crow starts moving aggressively and walk towards the stage. Suddenly another laughter comes from other part of the audience….

All crows move towards the stage and the main crow jumps on the stage and do a somersault and go around the kites. They start laughing loudly at the kites.

Kites (Chorus)                   :             Who are you?

Main Crow                          :             I am the master of Universe

Kites (Chorus)                   :             What!

Main Crow                          :             Yes I am the master.

Kite1                                      :             No, you are not the master. The one who created us is the master.

Kites (Chorus)                   :             Yes, yes. He is our master. You are lieing to us

Main Crow                          :             Ha, ha, ha… He is your master? Even I used to think like that once. But I realized the truth and now I am free.

Kites (Chorus)                   :             Free??? What do you mean by free?

Main Crow                          :             Free. Ha ha ha… (All crows laugh together, mocking at the kites). Haven’t you heard of it? It gives you the freedom to do anything you want. 

Kite 1                                     :             But, then we are free. We can do everything. We can move around...

Kite2                                      :             We can float

Kite3                                      :             We can turn

Kite4                                      :             And we fly so high.

Main Crow                          :             This is what you call freedom?

Kites (Chorus)                   :             Yes

Main Crow                          :             You fools. See, you are all tied up. He’s the one who’s controlling you. And you say you are free?

Kite1                                      :             But he’s our master.

Main Crow (angrily)        :             Master, master, master. He’s not your master. If so why are you tied up?

Kite2                                      :             We are tied up. But still…

Main Crow                          :             But still?

Kite3                                      :             (Turns to another kite) Yes, doesn’t it make sense?

Kite4                                      :             No, don’t listen to him.

Kite3                                      :             But why?

Kite4                                      :             I dunno. But my heart says not to listen to him.

Kite3                                      :             But it’s not the heart that matters. We need to use our brains.

Main Crow                          :             Yes. Now you are coming to your senses.

Kite3                                      :             But then, how will I be free.

Main Crow                          :             All you need to do is just break that thread.

Kite4                                      :             No, don’t do that. You’ll fall into trouble.

Main Crow                          :             What trouble? Look at me. See how I can fly. If you are tied how far can you go? I’ve gone all around the world. I’ve seen places. I have so much of experience. Listen to me.

Kite3                                      :             Yes. I think what he says is right. I don’t want to be a slave anymore. (To the crow) Can you break this and set me free.

Main Crow (with fear)   :             No, no, no… I can’t do that. You do it yourself.

Kite3                                      :             Okay then. I’ll do it myself. (breaks the thread and start moving freely). Hey it’s a free world. Come and join. I feel so great. Wow!!!

Kite2                                      :             Come let’s also do that. See how better he is. (breaks the thread and starts moving fast)

Main Crow                          :             Don’t waste your time. Come and experience the freedom.

Few more kites join and they all start dancing with the crows. All of a sudden they become very fast and start screaming and falls off one by one.

Main Crow                          :               Blessed are those who are tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians in Church - they are my best workers.

Blessed are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked - I can use them in my business.

Blessed are those who are touchy. Soon they will stop going to church - verily, they shall be my missionaries.

Blessed are those who sow gossip and trouble - they are my beloved children.

Blessed are those who have no time to pray - for they are MY prey.

Blessed are those who gossip - for they are my secret agents.

Blessed are you when you hear this and think it has everything to do with other people, and nothing to do with you. - I've got room for YOU in my kingdom.

The creator walks in slowly. At his sight all devils screams and run away in different directions. Few of them jump off the stage and runs through the audience screaming and shouting loudly and exit through different exit doors.

Creator comes and cries at the sight and goes to each and every one lying on the floor.

Creator                                 :             My dear children, why did you do this to yourself?

Kite1                                      :             They said they wanted freedom.

Creator                                 :             But were you not free? I was only guiding you for your goodness. (Turns to the audience) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Main crow                           :             (laughs cunningly and walk in) Ha ha ha…

Creator                                 :             What have you don’t to them?

Main crow                           :             I didn’t do anything. They said they want freedom. And they traded their souls.

Creator                                 :             They are my creation. I want them back.

Main crow                           :             But you need to pay the price.

Creator                                 :             What shall I do?

Main crow                           :             I want your only son.

Creator                                 :             What?

Main crow                           :             Yes. Your only son. I know you won’t do that. Ha ha ha…

Creator                                 :             You are wrong. I’m ready for the deal.

Main crow                           :             What? Have you gone mad?

Creator                                 :             I love my creation so much that I’m trading the flesh and blood of my beloved son.

Main crow                           :             Hmm… You won this time. But I will come back again hunting for the souls. (Shouts and goes off)

Creator goes to them one by one and chisels them and gives them their life back. Pulls the strings to which they move and they start dancing together.