* Designed to be done at the beginning of service, interrupting the “welcome”

SETTING and CHARACTERS
While the congregation does get a line (they will always say “Good morning” back when addressed. One of the few for sure things in a church!) the two main characters are HOPE and FEAR. Hope should be read by the person doing the announcements or welcome. Fear should be seated in the congregation or choir (a big black shirt with white letters that says “FEAR” is a nice touch). Body language is Fear’s best costume. Fear will need a good microphone. You can also do this from two microphones up front but it works much better if Fear is “interrupting” from the congregation.

SCRIPT
Hope Good morning!
Church: Good morning.
Fear What do you want?
H What do I want?
F Yeah…what do you want?
H Nothing…I’m just saying “Good morning.”
F No one says “Good Morning!” like that unless they want something.
H No, really…this is just an exciting morning for us. This is Consecration Sunday.
F There it is.
H There what is?
F Consecration Sunday…I knew you wanted something.
H What do you mean?
F Time to butter me up before you make your demands.
H Why do you need to be buttered up?
F You are going to tell me how much I should be giving, aren’t you?
H No.
F No?
H No.
F What do you want then?
H Nothing.
F Yeah, right.
H Now, what God wants…that is something different.
F Oh, I get it. You get God to do your dirty work for you!
H No, just being truthful. Today we will look at our level of commitment to God. And we will look at what God expects of us.
F So, how much does God expect from me…and is that before or after taxes?
H I don’t know.
F You don’t know!?! You are not very good at this. If you don’t know, then you can’t know how much guilt to use in getting me to write my check.
H You won’t get any guilt from me. But you do get things from God.
F Yeah, like potlucks, the music, donuts before Sunday School, and a softball team. I can get all those things somewhere else.
H How about love? How about support? How about salvation?
F See, there you go with the guilt.
H No guilt. Just reminding you of what God gives us.
F And I should pay for that? I thought the best things in life were free! Isn’t that in the Bible somewhere? Church should be free.
H The best things are free.
F Then why are we going to talk about tithing, giving and everything else today?
H Stewardship.
F That’s not an answer. That’s a committee. How is that an answer?
H Do you know what it means?
F Enlighten me.
H It means taking care of the gifts we are given.
F But it is not a gift if I am paying for it!
H It’s the other way around. We give because we have already received.
God blesses us and in response, we use those blessings to share God’s love with others.
F Did God pay taxes on those blessings?
H I know it can be difficult to see it this way, but it is true. God’s blessings come in the forms of health, love, support, teaching, learning, playing, and in every breath of every day. Stewardship is how we use those blessings.
F But, why did God give them to us if we aren’t supposed to use them for ourselves?
H Well, it isn’t like we are going to live here on earth forever! Even our most prized possessions are just temporarily in our custody. We are just caring for them while we have them. Anyway…in Christ we are one people, one body. My gifts are yours….
F And mine should be yours?
H That is your decision. That is why we are here today.
F But so many have more things…
or are temporarily watching over more things than me.
Surely they can afford to cover me this year.
H It is not about covering a budget. It is not about evening things out.
It is about responding to God in faith. Stop thinking about this as a bill to be paid.
F But you will send me a bill if I don’t pay!
H When you were little, did your family ever remind you to say your prayers?
F Sure.
H We all need reminders. But that doesn’t change the fact that our giving is between us and God. It is our response. God has given so much. The only question left is how we will use it.
F I’m not sure.
H Of course you are not sure.
F What do you mean?
H That’s why they call it faith.
F So, I am supposed to…
H You are supposed to trust God! If not, you may live your whole life in fear.
If not, you may become so afraid that you even change your name to fear.
F But my name is fear!
H See what I mean.
F What am I supposed to do about it?
H Let go of your fears…trust God.
F That is a big jump.
H That’s what God is looking for from you…big jumps.
Let go. Trust God.
F But I have responsibilities…a family, a home, a job.
H And God knows that. God loves your family too! Try caring for them together with God. Remember, your responsibilities are part of God’s gifts to you.
F I don’t know. Maybe I will wait for the sermon and see what the preacher, my spouse, my accountant and my broker have to say.
H Okay…but, maybe along the way, you will stop and listen to what God has to say as well.

Sunday – China

Opening Ceremony: Welcome and introductions
Music with Sue Lou
Mission introduction for the week
Light the Christ Candle – take light to Centering time

Centering: Olympic theme and idea that we are each Christ bearers
Learn about your country (See Country List)

Scripture: John 17: 20 – 21
“…and Jesus prayed that all may be one…”

Daily Praise:
“Praise God” in Chinese = Zan – Mei – Shen

Snack: Fortune cookies with scripture inside (order on-line)
Craft: Coffee filter globes (filters, blue ink, green ink, table protectors)
Games: Shot put, javelin throw, and other classic Olympic style games

Cultural Exchange:
Ambassador: Rebecca Cardwell
Songs: Sue Lou’s choice

Monday – Kenya

Opening Ceremony: Light the Christ Candle
Welcome and introductions
Music with Sue Lou
Mission update
Take the light to Centering time

Scripture: Ephesians 3: 13 – 14
But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.

Daily Praise:
Bwana Asifwe (Bwah-nah A-sif-way) = “Praise God” in Kenya

Centering: Focus on refugees
Worshiping God in different ways

Snack: “Ants on a Log” (Celery filled with crème-cheese with raisons on top)
Craft: Canvas bags (wondering people) or masks (traditional African designs)
Games: Blob tag, bump tag, grab tag (people moving, connecting, and being stuck)

Cultural Exchange:
Ambassador: Sheila McFarland
Songs: Sue Lou’s choice

Tuesday – Argentina

Opening Ceremony: Welcome
Music with Sue Lou
Mission update
Light the Christ Candle – take light to Centering time

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 1
And let us run with patience the race set before us…

Daily Praise: “Praise God” in Spanish = Adore al Senor

Centering: God is with us at the table
Give thanks for what god gives us
God is not about winning and loosing, but those we play with

Snack: Empanadas (Mandye to get recipe)
Craft: Woven pot-holder loop things
Games: relay races and obstacle course (focus on not rushing but collecting things)

Cultural Exchange:
Ambassador: Mandye Yates
Songs: Sue Lou’s choice

Wednesday – Italy

Opening Ceremony: Welcome
Music with Sue Lou
Mission update
Light the Christ Candle – take light to Centering time

Scripture: Psalm 67
“…Let all the people’s praise you…”

Daily Praise:
“Lode a Dio” = Praise God in Italian

Centering: Tradition of faith passed down through the years
Catholic concept of history
Widows told the story to those who could not read

Snack: Bagel pizzas
Craft: stained glass crosses
Games: Crab soccer and passing the Earthball games
Instructions for older ones in picture form… no verbal rules

Cultural Exchange:
Ambassador: ____________ (Catholic leader?)
Songs: Sue Lou’s choice

Thursday – Russia

Opening Ceremony: Welcome
Music with Sue Lou
Mission update
Light the Christ Candle – take light to Centering time

Scripture: Mary and Martha story
And the smell of the perfume filled the room

Daily Praise:
“Praise God” in Russian = Bog Pokvaly

Centering: Multi-sensory worship
Incense to connect smell
Something for touch and sight?
Old Icons?

Snack: Ice-cream Sundays (blindfold when picking toppings- by smell or touch)
Craft: Incense burners
Games: Blindfold games / trust activities

Cultural Exchange:
Ambassador: ___________
Songs: Sue Lou’s choice

The .pdf contains the way the snowmanpf font looks.  It was a fun addition to the programs.