A Brief Skit About Friendship
Drama
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
Characters
Reader 1 -- male or female
Reader 2 -- female, older than Reader 1
Reader 3 -- male or female
Reader 1: (to Reader 2) I'm new in this area, and I'm lonely. I wish I could find a good friend, maybe a partner.
Reader 2: What kind of friend or partner are you looking for -- an extrovert? Rich? Assertive? Educated?
Reader 3: (to Reader 2) Aren't you being a bit personal?
Reader 2: Yes. When I look for a friend there are some qualities I am quite sure about.
Reader 1: For example?
Reader 2: I want friends who are loyal and self-reliant.
Reader 3: Oh, so you make a list of "friendship traits"?
Reader 2: There are all kinds of lists....
Reader 1: I like to be with people who are aware of what they think and feel.
Reader 3: Well, my mother always told me to avoid crowds, that boredom is a frame of mind, and that idle hands would get me into trouble.
Reader 2: The best lists I know come from literature -- like the Bible.
Reader 1: Like "Don't commit adultery" or "Don't say vulgar words"?
Reader 3: That's important to me.
Reader 2: Okay, let me think. There are several lists of character traits in the New Testament: loving, joyful, peace-making, patient, kind, good, compassionate, humble, self-controlled....
Reader 3: Oh, all those things! I can remember a few -- don't be obligated to anyone (Romans 13:8), be strong in faith, don't be jealous.... You hear those at weddings all the time.
Reader 1: All I can remember are "don'ts."
Reader 2: My favorite list was probably written by a city leader in Palestine, maybe 2,500 years ago! The church has usually used it to keep women in line. It's written in a positive style -- an acrostic on the Hebrew alphabet so everyone, especially boys, memorized it saying, "A good wife is hard to find...."
Reader 3: Yeah? Recite it for us.
Reader 1: Is this going to help me feel less lonely?
Reader 2: It might guide your search for friends.
Reader 3: Well, go on. The suspense is killing me.
Reader 2: It goes something like this:
It's hard to find a capable friend;
that person is worth far more than jewels!
Family members and neighbors put their confidence in that person;
they feel very rich!
The capable friend does only good;
never does a friend bring harm!
Friends work and play and never get bored, nor seek trouble.
A capable friend brings surprises from out-of-the-way places;
that friend gets up early to help do what needs to be done.
A capable friend is strong, industrious, careful with money, and
values people, animals, and things....
Reader 1: I bet that kind of person is generous with people who are in need.
Reader 3: I think friends aren't afraid; they think ahead and plan for the unexpected.
Reader 1: I bet capable friends are appreciated by everyone.
Reader 2: Respect -- a worthwhile friend is respected for wisdom and kindness.
Reader 1: Yeah. I'm looking for friends like we've described. Know any?
Reader 2: I like to think that I am becoming a better kind of friend and partner as each day comes and goes.
Reader 3: I'm working on it. But right now, I'm hungry. Let's go to my place and make a pasta salad.
Reader 1 -- male or female
Reader 2 -- female, older than Reader 1
Reader 3 -- male or female
Reader 1: (to Reader 2) I'm new in this area, and I'm lonely. I wish I could find a good friend, maybe a partner.
Reader 2: What kind of friend or partner are you looking for -- an extrovert? Rich? Assertive? Educated?
Reader 3: (to Reader 2) Aren't you being a bit personal?
Reader 2: Yes. When I look for a friend there are some qualities I am quite sure about.
Reader 1: For example?
Reader 2: I want friends who are loyal and self-reliant.
Reader 3: Oh, so you make a list of "friendship traits"?
Reader 2: There are all kinds of lists....
Reader 1: I like to be with people who are aware of what they think and feel.
Reader 3: Well, my mother always told me to avoid crowds, that boredom is a frame of mind, and that idle hands would get me into trouble.
Reader 2: The best lists I know come from literature -- like the Bible.
Reader 1: Like "Don't commit adultery" or "Don't say vulgar words"?
Reader 3: That's important to me.
Reader 2: Okay, let me think. There are several lists of character traits in the New Testament: loving, joyful, peace-making, patient, kind, good, compassionate, humble, self-controlled....
Reader 3: Oh, all those things! I can remember a few -- don't be obligated to anyone (Romans 13:8), be strong in faith, don't be jealous.... You hear those at weddings all the time.
Reader 1: All I can remember are "don'ts."
Reader 2: My favorite list was probably written by a city leader in Palestine, maybe 2,500 years ago! The church has usually used it to keep women in line. It's written in a positive style -- an acrostic on the Hebrew alphabet so everyone, especially boys, memorized it saying, "A good wife is hard to find...."
Reader 3: Yeah? Recite it for us.
Reader 1: Is this going to help me feel less lonely?
Reader 2: It might guide your search for friends.
Reader 3: Well, go on. The suspense is killing me.
Reader 2: It goes something like this:
It's hard to find a capable friend;
that person is worth far more than jewels!
Family members and neighbors put their confidence in that person;
they feel very rich!
The capable friend does only good;
never does a friend bring harm!
Friends work and play and never get bored, nor seek trouble.
A capable friend brings surprises from out-of-the-way places;
that friend gets up early to help do what needs to be done.
A capable friend is strong, industrious, careful with money, and
values people, animals, and things....
Reader 1: I bet that kind of person is generous with people who are in need.
Reader 3: I think friends aren't afraid; they think ahead and plan for the unexpected.
Reader 1: I bet capable friends are appreciated by everyone.
Reader 2: Respect -- a worthwhile friend is respected for wisdom and kindness.
Reader 1: Yeah. I'm looking for friends like we've described. Know any?
Reader 2: I like to think that I am becoming a better kind of friend and partner as each day comes and goes.
Reader 3: I'm working on it. But right now, I'm hungry. Let's go to my place and make a pasta salad.
