Worship Programs

Theme:

"Hope of Earth, Joy of Heaven"

Third Sunday in Advent –

Drama

PENNY PERSPECTIVES

By Rebecca Phillips

Copyright September 2002

Enter RENEE, humming JOY TO THE WORLD. CARL, RENEE’S husband, follows. He overloaded with wrapped gifts and gift bags draped on his arms. He struggles to carry it all without dropping them while she strolls, sipping coffee and humming.  On the opposite side of the stage, a teenager brings out a jar full of pennies. Neither are aware of each other. Simultaneously, TEEN spills the pennies out on the floor and CARL drops all of the packages.

TEEN and RENEE

Oh no –

RENEE quickly begins checking each box to make sure that none are damaged and the TEEN begins counting the pennies one by one as he drops them back in to the jar. When the TEEN is not speaking his lines, he is humming JOY TO THE WORLD.

TEEN

Not as much as I thought. I thought I’d have some quarters in here.

RENEE

Clutz.

TEEN

Oh well. Money is money.

RENEE

I guess I’ll have to get this one rewrapped.

CARL
Why can’t you rewrap it?

RENEE
Are you serious? I just got my nails done.

TEEN

Maybe I’ll have enough. . .

CARL begins picking up the boxes, struggling to balance it all. RENEE pulls out a list from her purse, tapping the gift boxes as she speaks, which only makes it harder for CARL.

RENEE
This one is for Harold, this one, Irene. . . John, Kate, Sylvia. . .

TEEN
Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. . .

RENEE

We still need to buy something small for your brother and his wife. . .

CARL

I was thinking we could keep their kids – give them a free night out –

RENEE
I am not going to let that freakish seven year old terrorize my peaceful home –

CARL
They’ve just lost a baby, Renee. . .

RENEE
And I am not going to lose my mind.

TEEN
Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four. . .

RENEE
Let’s get them a calendar – or one of those rooster statues . . .I saw one in Marshall’s for half the price they are going for in the boutiques. I hear that roosters are the latest home

Fashion trend.

CARL

I don’t think they want a rooster.

RENEE

Well, what if we gave them gift certificates to Chuck E Cheese? The kids would love it  – and that way, it can be a whole family thing. No need for a sitter.

CARL

How convenient.

TEEN
Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine. . .

RENEE
Let’s Sing! (obnoxiously)  Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king!

TEEN

Thirty-one, thirty-two. . .

CARL is silent.

RENEE

Aren’t you going to sing?

CARL

Don’t feel like it.

RENEE
That’s not the Christmas spirit –

TEEN
thirty-four, thirty-five . . .

RENEE

(singing again, obnoxiously) Let every heart prepare Him room. . .

CARL

Have you ever thought about what you are singing?

TEEN

Thirty-eight, thirty-nine. . .

RENEE

And heaven and nature sing. . .

TEEN

Thirty-nine cents. That’s all I have for Christmas presents this year.

RENEE
Now what are you moaning about?

TEEN
Thirty-nine. I just read something about thirty-nine. . .

CARL
Here we are – all these gifts – spent hundreds of dollars –

RENEE
Christmas IS about giving. . .

CARL

My point exactly.

RENEE
You’re not making any sense.

TEEN
Jesus was beaten with a whip – thirty-nine times.

CARL
Every year, we give all kinds of meaningless gifts. This year, the fad is giving candles with sprayed on snowmen, last year it was mugs with dancing reindeer. It has nothing to do with our hearts reflecting Christ. Don’t you ever think about what a gift really should be?

TEEN

And if that wasn’t enough, He willingly went to the cross.

CARL

I’m tired of just giving presents at Christmas because that is what is expected. This year, I want to give something more. Something meaningful.

TEEN is finished counting.

TEEN
Thirty-nine cents.

RENEE
What could we possibly give?

CARL

Our time.

TEEN
Thirty-nine cries for my sin.

CARL
Our love.

TEEN
Thirty-nine tears of love for me unconditionally.

CARL
Our hearts –

TEEN
Thirty-nine promises of rising again from the dead –

CARL

Want to try?

RENEE nods “yes”.

TEEN
Thirty-nine cents is enough.

CARL and TEEN

(singing slowly)

Let every heart prepare Him room –

RENEE joins in, all now:

And heaven and nature sing –

and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

End.