Description
Someone is seriously ill and calls for prayer support through the church prayer chain.
Unfortunately along the way the message gets . . . muffled. What happens is hilarious and . . a bit silly.
A comedy that pokes fun at ourselves.
Cast: 8 m or f adult age
- James Franklin
- Pastor Thomas
- Ida Shields
- Doris
- Clarence Adams
- Sarah Williams
- Judy Thompson
- Offstage voice of Jeannie Franklin
Bible Reference: James 5:16
Set:
- blank stage with 2 areas somewhat distanced, isolated from each other by lighting.
- Each area has a phone on a table
Sound: wireless mics if available
Song: none
Lighting: standard
SFX:
- phone ringing
- phone beep
Props:
- 2 phones
Costumes: standard
Special Instructions: none
Time: 18
Sample of script:
lights up on Pastor
Pastor picks up phone
Pastor: Hello, Pastor Thomas here.
James: Pastor Thomas . . . . Sorry to bother you, it’s James Franklin . . .
Pastor: James, how are you?
James: I am fine Pastor, fine, but it’s my wife Jeannie, she’s not at all well . .
Pastor: Sorry to hear that James, been a lot of colds and flu going around the last week or so and . . .
James: No Pastor, this is more than just a cold, Jeannie is real sick, got chest pains, some numbness . . There’s a lot of heart problems in Jeannie’s family . . . I am worried.
Pastor: As you should be James, but have you called the doctor, the ambulance?
James: Yes Pastor, the ambulance is on its way, doctor is waiting at the hospital . .
Pastor: Good . . good . . .
James: What I called about Pastor, do you think maybe we could have our church family pray for Jeannie?
Pastor: Say no more James, of course I will call the head of our church prayer chain and get things started. . . Now you get back to Jeannie, let her know we will all be praying for her. . . I will call you in the morning and if Jeannie is in the hospital I would like to come around and spend some time with the two of you.
James: That is so very kind of you Pastor . . .
Pastor: Not another word, you look after Jeannie.
James hangs up phone, leaves stage, Pastor looks up number, dials, waits,
SFX: phone ringing
lights come up on Ida, picks up phone
Ida: Ida Shields speaking . . .
Pastor: Good evening Mrs. Shields, Pastor Thomas here.
Ida: Oh Pastor, what a coincidence, I was just remembering you and your good wife in my prayers tonight and I . . .
Pastor: That is very nice of you Mrs. Shields but I wanted to . .
Ida: Not another word Pastor, why you must remember when you first came to Elm Street Community Church I told you that you would be in my daily prayers and never once have I neglected that.
Pastor: I am grateful for that Mrs. Shields but what I . .
Ida: Not one time, even though I must say that my duties as the head of the Women’s Missionary Support and also head of the church prayer chain keeps me more than just a bit busy and . .
Pastor: Well Mrs. Shields . . .
Ida: Plus with my . . .
Pastor: Mrs. Shields . . .Mrs. Shields . . .
Ida: And . . .
Pastor: Listen, Mrs. Shields, I have a prayer request and . . .
Ida: Done, done, done! . . Like I said, I pray for you and Mrs. Thomas and the little ones every single day and . .
Pastor: You are not listening Mrs. Shields! . . Listen please! . . . The prayer request is for Jeannie Franklin. . . James Franklin called, Jeannie is on her way to the hospital, she is . .
Ids, thinks: Jeannie Franklin . . let me see . . Jeannie is the new one in old Widow Edwards’ house I believe.
Pastor: The Franklins have lived there and been part of our church for 3 years.
Ida: I thought so, I can’t say I know Jeannie . . she never comes to Women’s Missionary functions . . mind you few of the young ones do.
Pastor: Mrs. Shield, it is essential that we mobilize the Prayer Chain and raise up prayers for Jeannie.
Ida: Of course Pastor, I will get on it immediately. Now tell me the details . .
Pastor: Jeannie is having chest pains, her family is prone to heart problems. And Jeannie is on her way to the hospital now, the doctors will meet her there.
Ida: Oh my, that is serious! . . I will call the first person on the prayer chain, not a minute to waste. . . Thank you for letting me know Pastor.
lights down on Pastor, Ida puts on glasses, picks up a a paper, dials, waits,
SFX: phone ringing
lights up on Doris, answers phone
Doris: Doris speaking.
Ida: Doris, it is Ida Shields from the church.
Doris: Oh Mrs. Shields, I can explain, I was for sure intending on coming to the Women’s Missionary banquet but I had to . .
Ida: Doris, that is another matter for another time. . . Right at the moment the priority is the prayer chain matters. . . And right now we are praying for young Jeannie Franklin.
Doris: Sorry I don’t believe I know her.
Ida: Perhaps, and if so, that doesn’t matter. . . . What does matter is that Jeannie is having chest pains and her husband James told us that there is a lot of heart issues in her family. Jeannie is in an ambulance on her way to the hospital where the doctors are waiting to work with her. . . . Now do you have the facts?
Doris: Yes, yes, I have it, . . . .
Ida: Good then, this is priority, we need everyone in the church to be in prayer.
Doris: I will get on it immediately.
lights down on Ida, Doris hangs up phone, picks up paper, reads, dials, waits,
SFX: phone ringing
lights up on Clarence
Clarence: Hi, you have reached Clarence Adams.
Doris: This is Doris, calling on behalf of Elm Street Community Church prayer chain.
Clarence: Hi Doris, thanks for calling, how can I help?
Doris: Well Jeannie Franklin has been taken to the hospital, some chest problems.
Clarence: Oh no! . . . How is James taking all this?
Doris: I understand that James rode to the hospital in the ambulance with Jeannie, the doctors were waiting there.
Clarence: You said it was chest problems, what kind of chest problems?
Doris: Not sure but there has been a lot of colds and flu lately so wouldn’t be surprised if it was pneumonia. They say Jeannie’s family has a history of chest problems.
Clarence: Wow, I sure feel for James, I will get on the prayer chain right away.