Lesson Presentation

Catechism Unit 3

Lord's Prayer Skit (3 acts)

Cast: Prayful Person, God

Note: "God" should be off-stage, concealed somewhere. With larger groups, it works better if "God" is using a microphone. For the purposes of this skit, it is not necessary for "God" to have a tenor or bass voice.

ACT 1

Prayerful Person: Well, I guess I better go ahead and say my prayers ... "Our Father, who art in heaven--"

God (booming): Yes?

P (startled, looks up): Hmmm ... must've been an airplane going overhead. Let's see, where was I...? Oh yeah ... "Our Father, who art in heaven--"

G: What is it?

P: Who's that? Who's there?!

G: What do you mean "who's there"? Who'd ya expect? The Jehovah's Witnesses?

P: Hey, this isn't funny! Who's the one talking?

G: I AM the one talking!

P: Who!?!

G: No, who's on first.

P: Who are you?!

G: You really don't know? Then why did you call for me?

P: What?!

G: You called for me. I heard you. You said: "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

P: You've got to be kidding!

G: I heard you say it: (mimics) "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

P: God...? Is that really you?

G: Speaking.

P: No way. Really? How can I be sure?

G (booming): I AM GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!

P: All right, all right ... golly ... ya don't have to yell about it.

G: Sorry. I just wanted you to believe me.

P: Yeah, I know ... This is kind of hard to believe.

G: Is that a confession?

P: I mean, how often does God come and talk to you during your prayers?

G: Well, it's something I do every now and then ... just to keep folks on their toes. Anyway, go ahead.

P: What do you mean?

G: Go ahead; keep praying.

P: You mean keep praying to you? What should I pray?

G: Umm, what was wrong with the prayer you were about to pray?

P: Oh, that's just a prayer I always say ... you know, whenever it's time to say my prayers. I've known that prayer since I was a kid.

G: Well, there's nothing wrong with that. It's a good prayer to pray. That's why I had my Son teach it to his followers. I guess it caught on.

P: I guess so. It's just that I know it so well, I say it without even thinking about what I'm saying. It's like it has no meaning anymore.

G: Oh. Well, we can fix that. Go ahead ... give it a try.

P: You mean pray the Lord's prayer?

G: That's right.

P: Okay, hear goes: "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

G: There you go.

P: "Hallowed be thy name..."

G: Sometimes folks use my name like it's a swear word or they do it without thinking who they're talking about. That's why it's good to ask me to remind people just who they're dealing with here.

P: Oh. Should I continue?

G: By all means.

P: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth--"

G: Yeah, yeah, if only people really meant that part.

P: Hey, do you mind? I'm trying to pray here.

G: Sorry, I just wanted to say that it's kind of tough trying to rule you human beings, what with how stubborn you are sometimes. But one way or the other, I'll have my way with you.

P: Okay, enough with the teaching moments. Can I finish this or not.

G: Gee, I guess so. I see you wanna get through this. Go ahead ... maybe we'll finish this another time.

P: "...Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen."

ACT 2

P: Well, it's time to say my prayers again. I'm kind of afraid to though. You know what happened the last time I prayed. God, started answering! Praying would be a whole lot safer if God didn't answer, that's for sure. Oh well, here goes nothing ... "Our Father, who art in heaven..." (pauses expecting a reply) Phew! He's not there. No God to contend with this time. I'm clear. (Continuing) "...hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, the will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread -- "

G: Hold it right there!

P: Aaah! You scared the hell out of me.

G: That's the idea.

P: So you're back interrupting my private prayers again.

G: Private? I thought you were talking to me.

P: Well, yeah. But I don't expect you to keep talking back. I've got high blood-pressure you know.

G: Oh, sorry about that. That's the story of my life. I talk; people get scared. Just ask Moses. Just ask Mary. Just ask Paul.

P: Maybe it's your approach.

G: I see what you mean. I'll work on it.

P: Anyway, God. I was in the middle of my prayers...

G: Oh sure, don't let me stop you.

P: "Give us this day our daily bread --"

G: Oh yeah, I had something to say about that.

P: I sense another teaching moment coming on.

G: You know what "Daily Bread" means, don't you?

P: Ummm...well...I think it means not only bread, but the other food groups as well, fruit and vegetable, meat, dairy ... caffeine ...

G: EVERYTHING! "Daily bread" is everything you need for daily life: food! clothes! home! parents! schools! stores! government! transportation! weather! health! friends!...

P: Television!

G: Well, I'm not so sure about that one. The point is I made it all, and I give it to you because I want you not to be in need, and I want you to help others not be in need!

P: That's why you're such a swell God.

G: Oh, I'll bet you say that to all the other gods.

P: May I continue?

G: By all means.

P: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us --

G: I don't have to give you any of this stuff, you know.

P: What?

G: All that stuff: Food, clothes, home, friends ^+ okay, even television -- I don't have to give it to you.

P: Why not!

G: Because you're a sinner! You don't deserve it! Sinner! Sinner!

P: Boy, that's jsut great for my self-esteem. Aren't you being kind of harsh?

G: That's the point. I could be. But because I'm such a loving father, I'd rather forgive your sins. Totally, forget about them. That's what I sent my Son to die for, you know.

P: I know ... believe me, I know.

G: No. You just believe me ... because I know YOU.

P: How's that?

G: When I forgive you, I expect you to forgive others. I know it's hard; so I'll help you, even with that.

P: Thanks again God.

G: Your welcome.

P: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen.

ACT 3

G: Well, isn't it time to say your prayers?!

P: God? Is that you again?

G: Of course it's me! You were expecting maybe Madonna?

P: I don't even like Madonna.

G: Well, you're entitled to your opinion I guess.

P: You like Madonna?

G: How could I not? I chose her to bear my one and only Son for the world.

P: O, that Madonna.

G: You mean there's another one?

P: Nevermind. Anyway, you were saying...

G: I think it's time for your prayers.

P: Yeah, I was getting to them. But I must admit, I'm getting a little hesitant.

G: Oh? How come?

P: Everytime I pray the prayer your Son taught us to pray, you pipe in and interrupt me. It's very nerve-wracking, you know.

G: O, I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to upset you. It's just that I want you understand what you are praying. And I want you to mean it. And I want you to be sure that you can count on me to give you the things you pray for.

P: Well, I appreciate that. And I have learned a lot from you, I have to say.

G: This time, I'll just listen, then. No interruptions. Go ahead.

P: "Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation --

G: What's that!?!

P: Hey, I thought you said no interruptions!

G: Yeah, I did. But I gotta say something about that last line, "lead us not into temptation."

P: What about it?

G: You think that I would lead you into temptation?

P: Actually, I've never thought about that.

G: The truth of the matter is that the world you live in is full of all sorts of things to tempt you. Things that look attractive to you at first, things that are hard to resist. You can't help but find yourself being drawn to things that aren't necessarily good for you. Things like, drugs, sex outside of marriage, crime, and so on, but also things like despair, doubt, and unbelief. My job is to keep you away from those things. Or to give you the will-power to resist them. That's what you pray for.

P: Oh.

G: Sorry about that. You may continue.

P: But deliver us from evil --

G: That's a full time job. The world's full of that to. My promise is that no matter how bad things get, I'll bring you through it. And no matter how low you go, I will raise you up. There's no grave deep enough, that I can't get to the bottom of.

P: It's good to know that.

G: I want you to more-than-know that. I want you to believe that. To trust that.

P: You got it, God. After all, "Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory; forever and ever. Amen."

G: You got that right.

P: What?

G: "Amen". It's really an old way of saying: "It's true."

P: "It's true"?

G: You betcha.

P: "Amen"?

G: Amen.

CURTAIN