A Readers' Theatre on Holiness

Encountering God: Experiencing the Holy in Everyday Life - A Readers’ Theater in 4 Voices Psalm 46; I Kings 19:11-18; Matthew 6:25-34; John 13:1-17; 31b-35 Psalmist: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Voice 1: The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Voice 2: We will not fear, though the earth should change. Voice 1: Jesus said: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Voice 2: We will not fear though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam. Voice 1: Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Voice 2: We will not fear though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Psalmist: ‘Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Narrator: Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord. Voice 2: But the Lord was not in the wind. Narrator: And after the wind an earthquake, Voice 1: But the Lord was not in the earthquake. Narrator: And after the earthquake a fire. Voice 2: But the Lord was not in the fire. Narrator: And after the fire a sound of sheer silence. Voice 1: Silence Voice 2: Silence Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus continued, “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Voice 1: The birds, they do not sow Voice 2: They do not reap. Voice 1: They do not gather into barns. 2 Voice 2: Yet, God feeds them. Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Voice 1: ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus answered, Voice 1: ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Peter said to him, Voice 2: ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus answered, Voice 1: ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: When Elijah heard the sound of sheer silence, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah? Voice 2: What are you doing? Voice 1: What are you doing? Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: After Jesus had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. Voice 2: For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Voice 1: Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, Voice 2: nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. Voice 1: If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Elijah answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Written by Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox 3 Voice 1: I alone Voice 2: I alone. Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus.’ Voice 1: Return on your way. Voice 2: Return Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus continued, And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, Voice 2: “What will we eat?” Voice 1: “What will we drink?” Voices 1 & 2: “What will we wear?” Narrator: Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Voice 2: ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, Voice 1: for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Voice 2: Today’s trouble is enough for today. Voice 1: Enough Voice 2: Enough Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Narrator: Jesus said, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ Voice 1: Love one another Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am God! Voice 2: Love one another Psalmist: Be still, and know that I am! Narrator: Love one another Psalmist: Be still, and know! Written by Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox 4 Voices 1 & 2: Love one another Psalmist: Be still All: Love one another Psalmist: Be Written by Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox