Walk On

By: Marvin Lansverk
Church Year: Season of Lent and Easter
Title: Walk On
Bible Text: Matthew, the Road to Emmaus
Theme:


Puppets: Barnabas and Lorenzo
People: Kids
Props: Sunglasses and moustache (thin horizontal strip cut out of construction paper) for Lorenzo
Songs: Barnabas and Lorenzo chant a rap together

[Barnabas and Lorenzo are up front, Lorenzo wearing sunglasses and pencil thin mustache]

Barnabas: Buenos dias boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Lorenzo: [In sunglasses and mustache] Hola kids. You look marvelous this morning, simply marvelous.

Barnabas: And you, Lorenzo, you look…you look…different. Is everything alright?

Lorenzo: Of course. Don’t you recognize contemporeneity when you see it?

Barnabas: Contemporeneity?

Lorenzo: Contemporeneity. You know, the state of being “with it,” “up to date,” as in “contemporary.”

Barnabas: As in “cool?”

Lorenzo: Cool, schmool. That word is so passé. Contemporeneity is the new cool word for being cool.

Barnabas: But, but…how does one use it? When someone does something coo…I mean “with it,” you don’t say: “Wow, that thing you just did was really, like contemporaneous, man.” I mean, by the time you got done saying all that, whatever you’d done that was cool would probably already be passé too, wouldn’t it?

Lorenzo: Ah. That’s just it. Contemporeneity isn’t a word you have to say, it’s just a thing, an “isness,” so to speak. That’s what makes it so cool. I mean contemporaneous.

Barnabas: Cool. I mean contemporaneous, man! But, don’t you think we might stop being contemporaneous up here long enough that we could actually do today’s puppet show?

Lorenzo: Ah. But puppet shows are so uncontemporaneous.

Barnabas: Whaaat?!?

Lorenzo: As in passé. I was thinking instead that it would be much more hip to be in a rock band than in a puppet show. [Play air guitar and hum: doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo, do] Don’t you think? Then instead of puppeting up here each week, we could sing, and jump around, and play guitars, and shake our heads, and get famous.

Barnabas: But we are puppets.

Lorenzo: OK, ok, so we’ll be puppet rock stars. But instead of calling us Barnabas and Olivia, which is a title I never really understood very well anyway. I mean the Barnabas part seems ok, but when I’m here, then it’s not really [singing] Barnabas and Olivia. So I thought the name of our rock band should be “Lorenzo and the Pencil Thin Mustachios.”

Barnabas: Maybe we can work on the name later… Wait a minute!!! What am I talking about? As if there is going to be a later. For your idea, I mean, as if we were actually going to become a puppet rock band.

Lorenzo: Well, how about if we just try it, this once. Just for today.

Barnabas: But, but.

Lorenzo: Please? Besides, Pastor Dave’s not here.

Barnabas: Ok. But only if it has to do with today’s Bible story.

Lorenzo: [Scoff weirdly] Of course it does…So, what is today’s Bible story?

Barnabas: It’s about the road to Emmaus! You know, when a couple of Jesus’ followers were walking towards the city of Emmaus, alone, still terrified and lost, because Jesus, their Lord, the Lord, had been crucified.

Lorenzo: Ah. I know this one. And then suddenly the risen Jesus appeared on the road with them, but somehow the disciples didn’t recognize him. And Jesus came up behind them and said, “hey, what’s up?”

Barnabas: And they said, “What’s up? Are you the only person in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what’s been happening the last few days, who hasn’t been keeping up with contemporaneous events? [Barnabas and Lorenzo both look at each other]. Don’t you know that they have taken Jesus of Nazareth, and crucified him, Jesus, who was the Messiah, but now he’s dead, dead for three days.

Lorenzo: And not only that, but then this morning, when some of our friends went to the tomb to be near Jesus’ body, the tomb was open, and his body was gone, and there were angels there instead, and they were saying that Jesus was alive. And…and…we just don’t understand what it all means, which is why we are sad.

Barnabas: And there on the road, Jesus must have wanted to say something like…[hold up hands], “you big bozos, don’t you get it? But instead, he explained scripture to them, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, until they invited him to dinner with them, and then, when they were breaking bread, they finally saw…they understood…they realized…it was the risen Lord. And he vanished from their sight.

Lorenzo: Ah. Now listen to this: The Road to Emmaus. [Barnabas chanting, with Lorenzo joining him on the capitalized rhymes]

Jesus’ friends were walkin down the road
The road they were walkin to EMMAUS
Their world had just ended with the death of the Lord
Events have conspired to BETRAY US.

When there, in their midst, a stranger appeared
“What’s the matter,” he said, what’s the BIG FUSS?
“You haven’t heard? Not a word?—Then you’re the only one.
Come on then, we’ll tell you, come this WAY WITH US.

We’d had big plans for the Kingdom of God
With Jesus there to CONVEY US
His message of peace and love to us all
Nothing could possibly DELAY US

But it did. They killed him. And we don’t know what to do.
Nothing’s left. All that is, just DISMAYS US.
Now it is over and all done—and we are on the run.
And our lives have become a CLICHÉ TO US.

Then he said: “think, friends, you know what has been writ
By the prophets who were sent to ALLAY US
And your fears, through the years, listen all ye who have ears
This is God’s plan, it’s OK FOR US.”

So we begged him to stay, to eat with us that day
At the table we said, please PRAY WITH US.
And he did: [Stop singing, Lorenzo takes off glasses and moustache…speaking slowly and emphatically now]

Lorenzo: He said: “this is my body, broken for you…
This is my blood shed for you…Do this in remembrance of me.”
And we did…We remembered…And we recognized him…It was Jesus. He was alive. Our Lord…The one who had PAID FOR US.

Barnabas: Wow. But what happened to being “with it,” with contemporaneity?

Lorenzo: I guess you don’t really need cool when you’re dealing with timeless truth and boundless love. [Both look at each other, shrug, and grin]

All: Amen!! Jesus is alive. Now, is this a great day or what?

Easter Unwrapped

The Season of Easter .... Easter Unwrapped .... John 20:1-10: The Resurrection .... Jesus is Alive.

Puppets: Barnabas, Olivia, and Fodder
People: Kids
Props: Bible, box, wrapped as birthday present, with removable lid

[Prompt everyone to yell “He is risen, indeed” at the end]

[Barnabas, Olivia, and Fodder are up front]

Barnabas: Buenos dias, boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Olivia: Hi kids. It’s good to see you all here this morning.

Fodder: Gooood morrrrrning Methodists! Whaaaat’s happpenin? Hey Barnabas, what have you got there?

Barnabas: It’s an Easter present for you guys. In all the excitement last week, I forgot to give it to you.

Olivia: Wow! Thanks, Barnabas. [Open it, revealing nothing inside]

Fodder: Gee, Barnabas. Everybody can always use more….nothing. It takes up so much less space than….something.

Barnabas: It’s the perfect Easter present. Get it? Because it’s empty. Like the tomb. The way things are supposed to be on Easter. It’s symbolical.

Fodder and Olivia: [Underwhelmed] Oh!

Barnabas: Isn’t it great? I’m hoping to start a whole new tradition here. One in stark contrast to all the commercialism and materialism that has been appurtenanced to Christmas. And one that is in stark contrast to all the commercial confectionarity of calories that has come to accompany Easter. Empty presents! The box is empty! I’ll make a fortune.

Olivia: You’re going to sell them?

Barnabas: Sure. You don’t think people will want to take the time to wrap up empty presents on their own, do you? Besides, it’s fun to buy stuff.

Fodder: Or in this case, it’s fun to buy stuff that’s not stuff.

Barnabas: Exactly. And come to think of it, I could branch out to beyond Easter to appeal to all the Earth Day advocates and critics of crass consumerism and commercialism in general. People could give each other empty presents for Christmas. And for birthdays. And for anniversaries. And to distinguish my empty present product line from those commercial hooligans who will inevitably try to copy my great idea, mine empty presents will come with special designer wrapping paper and a little fashion logo right in the middle of the box. So all your friends will know that you got yours from the original source. See my logo. Did you notice?

Olivia: It’s a little picture of you—holding fistfuls of money.

Barnabas: Do you think it’s too subtle?

Olivia: Barnabas! This has got to be the one of the dumbest ideas you’ve ever come up with. [Scoffing] Empty presents. They’re symbolical all right—of your empty brainpan.

Fodder: Now wait a minute. Let’s not be too quick to judge.

Barnabas: [Smugly] Judge not Olivia, lest you become an alliteratively named t.v. judge yourself--like Judge Judy.

Fodder: I think we should give this some thought. By doing a bit more research. Into the source. [Open Bible] Now, in John 20, it says, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark [slam box over Barnabas’s head]

Barnabas: Hey, what is this?

Fodder: Is it dark in there?

Barnabas: What do you think?

Fodder: Good. Now, “Early on the first day of the week while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb…oops [slam box over Olivia, instead] and she saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran [Olivia comes out and runs to Barnabas] and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

[Barnabas and Olivia still pantomiming this] Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together and when they arrived, Peter went in and saw the linen wrapping lying there and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, also went in…and he saw…and believed.” He believed—even though he didn’t yet understand.

Barnabas: Wow. Maybe instead of selling empty presents for Easter…maybe we should just give people Bibles so they can read that story, again and again…And maybe for kids who can’t read yet, well, why not, maybe for everyone, we should just keep telling that story, again and again.

Fodder: [Reading] Then the other disciple also went into the tomb…and he saw…and he believed.

Olivia: Believing because of what you don’t see, and don’t understand. But have experienced: the remains of the resurrection, right there before your eyes.

Barnabas: And not just the remains—the memories, and the stories—but Jesus too. Alive. HE IS RISEN! [Repeat three times]

All: HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!

Barnabas: [Turn over box, get inside] Hey. It’s snowing outside! After church, how about if we all go and do some sledding—in my new designer decorated box sled?

All: Now, is this a great day or what?

Life Is Weird, I Mean Beautiful

Season of Lent and Easter .... Life is Weird, I Mean Beautiful .... John 12:12-19: Jesus Appears to the Disciples on the Beach .... God’s in the Amazing and the Ordinary .... Easter Sunday

Puppets: Barnabas, Fodder, and Lorenzo
People: Kids
Props: Block of wood, drawn on to look like a totem of some kind

[Barnabas, Lorenzo, and Fodder are up front; Lorenzo is chewing on a block of wood]

Barnabas: Buenos dias boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Fodder: Gooood morning Methodists! Whaat’s happening?

Lorenzo: Hola kids. You all look marvelous in your Easter clothes. Simply marvelous. [Go back to chewing]

Fodder: Hey Lorenzo, what are you doing?

Lorenzo: Hm?

Barnabas: He said, “hey Lorenzo, what are you doing?”

Lorenzo: Oh. I started reading Moby Dick, for school. [Long pause]

Barnabas: [To Fodder] He started reading Moby Dick, for school. [Barnabas and Fodder both shrug]

Lorenzo: You know, Moby Dick, about the big whale, with that famous opening scene, where Queequeg—he’s the one that’s different from the other characters—because of his tattoos. Come to think of it though…these days, having tattoos [look around] actually makes you…the same, rather than different. That’s weird.

Fodder: Can we get on with it, so that we can get on with getting on with the Bible story? This is Easter Sunday after all. Not Moby Dick Sunday.

Barnabas: Actually, I think that’s sometime in November.

Lorenzo: OK, Ok, so in the opening scene of Moby Dick, Queequeg is there with a totem, like this, it’s his god, and he doesn’t quite like the way it looks, so he changes it—by doing a little whittling. Like this [whittle out a chunk]…voilá!

Fodder: And you think we can do that with God?

Lorenzo: Well, no not really. But then I don’t have any tattoos.

Barnabas: Ahem. And what, pray tell, if anything, does this have to do with today’s Bible story, the Easter story, the reason that…they are all here today?

Lorenzo: Well, it’s weird too.

Barnabas and Fodder: What?

Lorenzo: Well, you have to admit, it is a bit weird isn’t it? I mean, the biggest thing in the world, in the…universe, has just happened. Jesus, the Son of God, Christ, was just crucified…and he didn’t stay dead. He came back. He conquered death.

Fodder and Barnabas: [Suspiciously] Yah

Lorenzo: Well if you were going to have God conquer death, and come back, would you have him come back as…a camp host…a beach picnic caterer…a fishing guide? (“Hey, try fishing over there”). Don’t you think you’d have him come back…big, awesome, amazing—maybe even a bit angry—and certainly glorious, amazingly glorious [look at carving]. That’s how I’d script it…or carve it [hold up wood].

Fodder: But that’s just it. We don’t…didn’t get to script it. God did.

Lorenzo: But, but, don’t you think it could have been even more…exciting? You know…don’t you think we’d get even more people in church if there were more… fireworks…if we added, I don’t know, if we added some…things.

Barnabas: Like a banjo?

Fodder: Listen. I think you’ve been reading too much Moby Dick, or even more likely, watching too much scripted-exactly-the-way-we-want-it-to-be-for-commercial-
success-therefore-really-really-fakey-reality-t.v! Listen. There the disciples were, Peter and Thomas, and James, and the others, back in their fishing boat, back exactly where they’d started; only it was worse than where they started, because all their hopes, and dreams, and lives had been shattered. Jesus had been killed. The Messiah, their friend. He was dead.

Barnabas: Ah. And what do you think they most wanted, above all else, but couldn’t even have imagined was possible? Did they want…glory…fireworks?

Lorenzo: I’ll bet they wanted a “do over.”

Fodder: But what they got was even better than that. Not a do-over. But a done-forever. They got their lives…God…everything back…and He was calling them by name:

Barnabas: Friends!

Fodder: You want amazing? Then just think about that. You get up in the morning knowing that everything is over, and by breakfast time you’re having a picnic with your best friends, which includes God, on the beach.

Lorenzo: Hmm. Life’s weird that way, isn’t it.

Barnabas: Thanks to God, it is.

Fodder: [Praying] And thank you God, for continuing to call us “friend,” and for being with us always, when we most need you and in the most ordinary moments of each and every day, and for continuing to invite us to life's picnic.

All: Now, is this a great day or what?

Encompassing Easter

The Season of Lent .... Encompassing Easter .... John 12:12-19: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem .... Easter gives life meaning ..... Palm Sunday

Puppets: Barnabas, Fodder, and Olivia
People: Kids
Props: Cardboard box, with “Easter” written on one side; palm fronds of some kind inside—paper or otherwise
Songs: Lively Easter music, to be played at end, while kids dance

[Barnabas, Fodder, and Olivia are up front, Barnabas with the box in his lap].

Barnabas: Buenos dias, boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Olivia: Hi kids, it’s good to see you all here this morning.

Fodder: Gooood morning Methodists! Whaaat’s happpenin?

Barnabas: Look! I invented a new machine. Now you guys need to help me figure out what it does.

Olivia: You invented something, and you don’t even know what it is?

Barnabas: Well how could I? I haven’t even tried it yet.

Fodder: Olivia, don’t you know that for real men like us, inventing is just like cooking? We just toss things together, and spit a few times [do so], and then we talk one of our friends into trying it out first.

Olivia: Friends?

Barnabas: In case it blows up—or tastes terrible. So Olivia, you wanna try it?

Olivia: No thanks. Go right ahead.

Fodder: I’ll go. Let’s see. This looks like a button. I’ll try pushing it. [Push it]

Barnabas: What happened?

Olivia: Nothing.

Fodder: [Excited] No. That was weird.

Barnabas: What?

Fodder: Right when I pushed the button, I got this image in my mind of a great big barbecued salmon, all laid out for a feast and ready to eat.

Olivia: But that’s what you’ve always got on your mind.

Fodder: Oh.

Barnabas: Here, let me try. [Push] That was weird.

Fodder: What, what?

Barnabas: Right when I pushed it, I blinked. Did you blink? Maybe this is a blink inducer.

Fodder: Here, try it again. [Push] Ok. Did you kids blink?

Olivia: Of course they blinked. Everyone blinks, about every eight seconds, on average. Unless you happen to be in the middle of a Presidential debate. Then you blink a lot more, I’m told.

Barnabas: Say, I have an idea. Maybe this is some kind of oracle computer. Maybe we’re supposed to ask it questions, and it answers them, like your Sunday School teacher, only faster.

Fodder: Cool. Let’s try it. I know. How about this: OK invention, “just what is it that you do?” [Push button, wait]

Barnabas: Maybe that question was too difficult for it. How about this one: “What is the meaning of life?”

Olivia: Hey look, it says something here on this end: it says “Easter.”

Fodder: [Thoughtfully] The meaning of life is “Easter.” Hmm. Let’s try another question. I know, here’s one that I’ve been wondering—about today’s Bible story.

Barnabas: Bible story?

Olivia: You know, those things that we’re supposed to be telling up here—at least on the days that we don’t get too distracted by the odd cardboard box and our own enthusiasms!

Fodder: Today’s Bible story! Today is Palm Sunday, after all. The day that Jesus entered in triumphal fashion into Jerusalem, and the people all gathered, excited, knowing that…that…Jesus was someone special…that he had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. And that he could save them. So they pulled down palm branches and they waved them and they shouted:

All: Hosanna. Save us. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. The King of Israel.

Fodder: Exactly! And so my question is this: “how could Jesus be excited and enjoy the Palm Sunday parade; how could he enjoy life, when he knew that…Good Friday was just around the corner. [Push button]

Barnabas: [Looking] It says “Easter,” again.

Olivia: Hmm, kinda repetitive, but…profound.

Barnabas: I know, how about this question: “how can anyone be happy, and live an abundant life, when there is so much pain and sorrow and suffering and misery in the world. Let’s see what the box says about that. [Push button]

Fodder: Hmm. “Easter.”

Olivia: Let me see that. [Grabbing box] Barnabas! This isn’t a computer, or an invention, or anything!! It’s just the box of palms for Palm Sunday that you got from the supply room. See? That’s why it says “Easter” right here. It’s just the Easter supplies!!! [Long pause, Barnabas and Fodder look astonished at Olivia.]

Barnabas: Oops.

Fodder: [Thoughtfully, examining box] You’re right Olivia. I guess your invention isn’t a computer after all, Barnabas.

Olivia: Well I should say not.

Fodder: [With profundity] It’s a compass. [Olivia does a double take] And it’s pointing straight at Easter. So that we don’t lose our way. Even when we are sad, or in pain, and when we’re happy. See? [Looking at box] Easter. That way. [Point to cross]. Cool invention Barnabas. I like it. Can I take it home with me? Everyone needs a compass.

Barnabas: Sure. And in the meantime, let’s grab these palms and celebrate. After all, it is Palm Sunday. [Pass around palms, stand up and dance to music].

All: Now, is this a great day or what?

The Pyschology of Love

Season of Lent .... The Psychology of Love .... Mark 14:66-72: Peter denies Jesus .... God loves us, even when we make mistakes

Puppets: Fodder and Olivia
People: Kids
Props: Scarf for Olivia, as Servant Girl; headpiece for Fodder, as Peter
Songs: Jesus Loves Me

[Tell the kids that they are going to be roosters, and that they need to be ready to crow, on cue]

[Fodder and Olivia are up front, with props in prop at their feet]

Fodder: [Imitating Barnabas] Buenos dias boys and girls. How is everybody today?

Olivia: What was that supposed to be?

Fodder: Just because Barnabas isn’t here this morning, doesn’t mean his greeting can’t be.

Olivia: But I miss your loud obnoxious one.

Fodder: Well, I can remedy that: Goooood morrrrning Methodists!! What’s happenin!?

Olivia: Now I feel much better. It’s funny how something that irritates you can still…seem just right, somehow.

Fodder: I think it has something to do with object relations theory.

Olivia: Huh?

Fodder: Well, Barnabas is your brother, right?

Olivia: Yah.

Fodder: And he’s irritating, right?

Olivia: Well, yah, sometimes.

Fodder: So, we both object to your irritating relations. Object relations theory!

Olivia: Umm, can we talk about something else? So what’s on the agenda, this morning?

Fodder: [Looking a bulletin] Hm. That’s weird.

Olivia: What?

Fodder: It object relations theory.

Olivia: I said, can we talk about something else?

Fodder: We can’t.

Olivia: What?

Fodder: Because today’s Bible story is about object relations theory, well, sort of.

Olivia: [Big sigh] Ok. Please explain.

Fodder: Well, God made us, right?

Olivia: Yah.

Fodder: We’re his children, right? His relations?!

Olivia: Right.

Fodder: Yet sometimes we do things that really irritate him, that really bug him, and then He objects! See? More object relations.

Olivia: But, but…that’s not the whole of it! It’s also about our loving relations with God…about…I don’t know…let’s just do the story.

Fodder: OK. I’ll be Peter. And you be one of the servant girls…of the high priest.

Olivia: Right.

Fodder: And you [gesturing to congregation], you are the crowds who have gathered to see what happens…when Jesus is arrested. And you [gesture to the kids], you are the rooster. Got that? [As Peter, putting on headpiece] So, when Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest, I—I’m Peter—I followed along, to see what I could do to help. And I was standing outside, trying to stay warm. [Serious now] It was so cold. And I knew Jesus needed me. He was in trouble. There was no telling what that crowd would do. They were scared. They didn’t understand. They could even have him killed. But…what could I do? Me? There, by myself? I was afraid. And that’s when she saw me:

Olivia, as Servant Girl: [With scarf on, pointing to Fodder] Hey, I know you. You were with Jesus, you’re one of his followers.

Fodder, as Peter: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Olivia, as Servant Girl: But, I’m sure you were with him. You are one of them!

Fodder, as Peter: Shh! Be quiet. Can’t you go play in the street, or something. Leave me alone.

Olivia, as Servant Girl: No, I know it. You’re a Galilean, just like Jesus. You’re one of them.

Fodder, as Peter: Would you be quiet! I tell you, I don’t know him. [Cue roosters]

Olivia: [Take off scarf] Ah! I’m beginning to understand. Just when you’d think Peter would have stood by Jesus, he got scared, and didn’t. He denied his relationship with Jesus. Even though Jesus had just warned Peter just the day before, that he would do just that, before the cock crowed three times. [Cue roosters again].

Fodder: [Take off scarf] And how do you think Peter felt then, or even later, after they did crucify Jesus? He must have felt terrible; he must have felt terrible shame…and guilt.

Olivia: Ah. But Jesus…understood. Because Jesus understands human weaknesses. Because he was a person too, you know. He understood that Peter was afraid. He knows that we make mistakes. Jesus was no doubt disappointed in Peter, but Jesus didn’t blame him. He forgave him. So Peter could also forgive himself. Jesus may object to sin—to the things that hurt our relationship with him—but he never, ever, ever objects to us!

Fodder: Exactly. God made us. God loves us. And even though we’re sometimes weak, we know that he is strong. And thankfully, because God loves us, by His loving us, that’s how we know who we really are.

Olivia: That’s the whole point, the object of it all: being in relation to God.

Fodder: Object relations! [Grin]

[Sing Jesus Loves Me]