Gabriel's Horn
Drama
Gabriel's Horn
Readers' Theater for Advent
Object:
Characters
Angel Marvelous
Angel Wonderful
Angel Gabriel
(The scene is heaven and two Angels enter.)
Marvelous
Welcome to heaven. Have you been away?
Wonderful
I've been off working. What can I say?
How about you? I think I kinda know you
Like someone I met.
Marvelous
It might have been below you.
I'm often assigned to duty in the field,
The work of the Lord, sending messages twice sealed,
Or directing the traffic of the birds in their flight
And sometimes the stars as they soar through the night.
And you, where on earth or in heaven, might I
Have run into you, buddy?
Wonderful
On business I fly
Where I'm sent, with a mission I'm lent, never bored.
On the winds of God's word I have flown, I have soared.
Marvelous
My name is Marvelous. Hey, I didn't choose it.
When it's printed on T-shirts or mugs I don't lose it.
Wonderful
My name is Wonderful. I was the messenger
Who told Samson's mother a baby would share
Her home though for long there was no baby blessing her,
But her son was special. Just don't cut his hair.
Marvelous
I think I remember that fuss and that bother.
Did that make the Bible?
Wonderful
Take one. You need it.
You can learn all about it in Judges.
Marvelous
Some other
Millennium when I slow down I might read it.
For now I've been busy.
Wonderful
Did you visit a prophet?
Marvelous
No, an Archangel's coming! A big wig I heard!
Wonderful
Where'd it go? Here's my hat. Do you think I should doff it?
Marvelous
Oh, please. He's an angel like us. That's absurd.
(Enter Gabriel with long horn.)
And who are you, creature of luminous light?
Gabriel
My name is Gabriel. My head is shorn
Of halo or hat, but I still have this horn.
I come from the most august throne at the center
Of all that is holy while down below winter
Is raging, assaulting on all the five senses.
Meanwhile in Israel they've got the census
And each to a hometown must go to be counted,
Arriving on foot, or on stern donkey mounted.
There's plenty of tension across the old empire
I think that it's time for the light from the lamp. Fire
Spread from the corners of this tired globe
And burn away dross, leaving only the precious --
Wonderful
Excuse me. Hey you in the natty white robe!
Marvelous
I don't think he heard us. This could get delicious.
Gabriel
It's time that I blew on my horn, the last trump!
Wonderful
Who told you to do so this morn? Not the ump!
Gabriel
I'm the angel recording the times and the seasons.
When I say it's over, it's over. No reasons
Are needed. I've looked at this dark, wicked earth
And seen there's a lack, there's a definite dearth
Of good will to all. There is sin here to mop
Up and wash away. Blow, my horn!
Marvelous and Wonderful
Stop!
Marvelous
There's more to be offered. The world has grown colder.
Wonderful
The Ancient of Days, though, is not one hour older.
A day like a thousand of years quickly passes.
Marvelous
And sure, everything fades away like the grasses
But something endures, a plan we can follow
That comes from the Father that all may still hallow.
Gabriel
That bit about grass fading's fine. Why, may, ah,
I quote from it?
Marvelous
Sure. From the prophet --
Wonderful
Isaiah
Marvelous
I think so.
Gabriel
Then all flesh is grass and let all, low and great,
Fade when I blow on this trumpet here.
Wonderful
Wait!
You're going to end all of history now?
Gabriel
It's seems like the right time, so don't have a cow.
The world's in a mess, and it's not getting better.
Try getting a room. It's cold. Get a sweater.
Nobody makes room for the ones who, in need,
Are wandering aimlessly.
Marvelous
Yet, in the reed
And the billowing wave of the marsh floated Moses
Remember the time Pharaoh's daughter his toeses
And fingers were counting and raised up a prophet
Despite all the doubters who, tempted to scoff it,
Cried aloud to cross back and be slaves once again.
There are many around still enslaved -- but to sin!
Wonderful
It's somewhere or other still inside these pages,
I'm sure that I read it, that one of these sages
Said a Savior is coming, a prophet much greater
Than Moses --
Gabriel
-- Not Moses --
Marvelous
And yet, like a waiter
In meekness and service, not glory and power,
He'll save all creation.
Gabriel
Still, this is the hour
This horn I will blow. I won't wait no longer.
Wonderful
Your negative's double, and I'm a belonger
To grammar that's proper.
Marvelous
That means you must pause
And allow us to show you in scripture the cause
For hope in the midst of this sad, sinful world
That a much greater plan might still be unfurled.
Wonderful
(holds up Bible)
Besides every prophet in much of this book
Has pointed to one greater still. Take a look!
And remember whatever the warning they say
They all add an "if" and insist a delay
Must be given so people can finally repent.
Gabriel
Fine. You've convinced me. For now I'll relent.
This horn will stay near, but to me you must show
Examples from history so I might know
There's hope in God's people, despite the appearance
Of failure, fire, and fickle adherence
To all of the chances that they have been given.
Marvelous and Gabriel
Hip hooray! And now we'll start livin'.
Gabriel
Each week travel with us through biblical time
Discovering in both our prose and our rhyme
How servants of God when asked would fulfill
The Almighty's wishes and do his good will.
Angel Marvelous
Angel Wonderful
Angel Gabriel
(The scene is heaven and two Angels enter.)
Marvelous
Welcome to heaven. Have you been away?
Wonderful
I've been off working. What can I say?
How about you? I think I kinda know you
Like someone I met.
Marvelous
It might have been below you.
I'm often assigned to duty in the field,
The work of the Lord, sending messages twice sealed,
Or directing the traffic of the birds in their flight
And sometimes the stars as they soar through the night.
And you, where on earth or in heaven, might I
Have run into you, buddy?
Wonderful
On business I fly
Where I'm sent, with a mission I'm lent, never bored.
On the winds of God's word I have flown, I have soared.
Marvelous
My name is Marvelous. Hey, I didn't choose it.
When it's printed on T-shirts or mugs I don't lose it.
Wonderful
My name is Wonderful. I was the messenger
Who told Samson's mother a baby would share
Her home though for long there was no baby blessing her,
But her son was special. Just don't cut his hair.
Marvelous
I think I remember that fuss and that bother.
Did that make the Bible?
Wonderful
Take one. You need it.
You can learn all about it in Judges.
Marvelous
Some other
Millennium when I slow down I might read it.
For now I've been busy.
Wonderful
Did you visit a prophet?
Marvelous
No, an Archangel's coming! A big wig I heard!
Wonderful
Where'd it go? Here's my hat. Do you think I should doff it?
Marvelous
Oh, please. He's an angel like us. That's absurd.
(Enter Gabriel with long horn.)
And who are you, creature of luminous light?
Gabriel
My name is Gabriel. My head is shorn
Of halo or hat, but I still have this horn.
I come from the most august throne at the center
Of all that is holy while down below winter
Is raging, assaulting on all the five senses.
Meanwhile in Israel they've got the census
And each to a hometown must go to be counted,
Arriving on foot, or on stern donkey mounted.
There's plenty of tension across the old empire
I think that it's time for the light from the lamp. Fire
Spread from the corners of this tired globe
And burn away dross, leaving only the precious --
Wonderful
Excuse me. Hey you in the natty white robe!
Marvelous
I don't think he heard us. This could get delicious.
Gabriel
It's time that I blew on my horn, the last trump!
Wonderful
Who told you to do so this morn? Not the ump!
Gabriel
I'm the angel recording the times and the seasons.
When I say it's over, it's over. No reasons
Are needed. I've looked at this dark, wicked earth
And seen there's a lack, there's a definite dearth
Of good will to all. There is sin here to mop
Up and wash away. Blow, my horn!
Marvelous and Wonderful
Stop!
Marvelous
There's more to be offered. The world has grown colder.
Wonderful
The Ancient of Days, though, is not one hour older.
A day like a thousand of years quickly passes.
Marvelous
And sure, everything fades away like the grasses
But something endures, a plan we can follow
That comes from the Father that all may still hallow.
Gabriel
That bit about grass fading's fine. Why, may, ah,
I quote from it?
Marvelous
Sure. From the prophet --
Wonderful
Isaiah
Marvelous
I think so.
Gabriel
Then all flesh is grass and let all, low and great,
Fade when I blow on this trumpet here.
Wonderful
Wait!
You're going to end all of history now?
Gabriel
It's seems like the right time, so don't have a cow.
The world's in a mess, and it's not getting better.
Try getting a room. It's cold. Get a sweater.
Nobody makes room for the ones who, in need,
Are wandering aimlessly.
Marvelous
Yet, in the reed
And the billowing wave of the marsh floated Moses
Remember the time Pharaoh's daughter his toeses
And fingers were counting and raised up a prophet
Despite all the doubters who, tempted to scoff it,
Cried aloud to cross back and be slaves once again.
There are many around still enslaved -- but to sin!
Wonderful
It's somewhere or other still inside these pages,
I'm sure that I read it, that one of these sages
Said a Savior is coming, a prophet much greater
Than Moses --
Gabriel
-- Not Moses --
Marvelous
And yet, like a waiter
In meekness and service, not glory and power,
He'll save all creation.
Gabriel
Still, this is the hour
This horn I will blow. I won't wait no longer.
Wonderful
Your negative's double, and I'm a belonger
To grammar that's proper.
Marvelous
That means you must pause
And allow us to show you in scripture the cause
For hope in the midst of this sad, sinful world
That a much greater plan might still be unfurled.
Wonderful
(holds up Bible)
Besides every prophet in much of this book
Has pointed to one greater still. Take a look!
And remember whatever the warning they say
They all add an "if" and insist a delay
Must be given so people can finally repent.
Gabriel
Fine. You've convinced me. For now I'll relent.
This horn will stay near, but to me you must show
Examples from history so I might know
There's hope in God's people, despite the appearance
Of failure, fire, and fickle adherence
To all of the chances that they have been given.
Marvelous and Gabriel
Hip hooray! And now we'll start livin'.
Gabriel
Each week travel with us through biblical time
Discovering in both our prose and our rhyme
How servants of God when asked would fulfill
The Almighty's wishes and do his good will.
