Jesus? Where?
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Why do we come to church?
Summary
Frank's taking Ollie to church and Jill is upset because Ollie is a bit slow and always embarrasses her. Ollie asks, "Where is Jesus?" and Frank can't give a sufficient answer.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
Church
Props
None
Costumes
Clothes appropriate for church
Time
The present
Cast
OLLIE -- a bit slow
FRANK -- his friend
JILL -- Frank's friend
(ALL THREE ARE ENTERING THE SANCTUARY)
JILL: I really feel the Lord's presence today.
FRANK: Me, too.
JILL: It feels good to be where Jesus is.
OLLIE: Where?
JILL: Frank, I told you!
FRANK: (TO JILL) Never mind. (TO OLLIE) Where's what, Ollie?
OLLIE: Where's Jesus?
JILL: (TO FRANK) Why did you have to bring him along?
FRANK: He's a friend.
JILL: But we never can enjoy anything when Ollie comes with us.
FRANK: If Ollie didn't go out with me, he would never get out.
JILL: I didn't come to church to explain everything to Ollie three times. I wanted to enjoy the service.
FRANK: I'll take care of Ollie.
JILL: I hope so.
FRANK: Don't worry about it. Just relax and enjoy the worship.
JILL: I could relax better if he weren't here.
OLLIE: (POINTING) Over there?
JILL: Oh, boy. Here we go.
FRANK: What is it, Ollie?
OLLIE: Is Jesus over there? Is he sitting in this section? (POINTING TO A SECTION OF THE CONGREGATION)
FRANK: No, Ollie, Jesus is not in this section.
OLLIE: Over here, then? (POINTING TO ANOTHER AREA)
FRANK: No, not there, either.
OLLIE: How about back there?
JILL: Will you take care of him?
FRANK: Don't pay any attention to him. Enjoy the service.
JILL: (MOCKINGLY) Don't pay any attention to him! Enjoy the service! People are beginning to stare at us.
FRANK: Relax.
JILL: I can't with him around. He makes everyone nervous.
FRANK: Relax.
OLLIE: Frank, did you answer me about back there?
FRANK: No, no, Ollie. Let me explain something to you.
OLLIE: All right, Frank.
FRANK: Jesus isn't really here, you see.
OLLIE: But, Frank, this is church, isn't it?
FRANK: Yes, of course, but ...
OLLIE: Well?
FRANK: He is, but he sort of ... isn't.
OLLIE: Frank, I thought you were going to explain something to me.
FRANK: I am, Ollie.
OLLIE: You haven't explained it to me yet, Frank.
FRANK: I know.
OLLIE: Well?
FRANK: Well, Ollie, it's like this ...
OLLIE: Yes?
FRANK: It's kinda hard to explain.
OLLIE: Jesus is here, somewhere, right?
FRANK: Right, but ...
OLLIE: (GOING UP TO SOMEONE IN THE CONGREGATION AND STICKING HIS FINGER IN HIS FACE) Maybe in you.
JILL: Frank, will you sit on him or something? This is getting embarrassing.
FRANK: Okay, okay. (TO PERSON OLLIE POINTED TO) Sorry. Ollie, listen. You won't understand this, but people don't like it too much when you go up to them and point your finger in their face.
OLLIE: Oh, that's all right, Frank. I just thought it might be Jesus.
JILL:
Ollie, will you stop it? Jesus isn't here, all right? Now just shut up!
FRANK: You didn't have to be so rough with him.
JILL: Well, you weren't doing anything.
FRANK: It's a little difficult to explain.
OLLIE: Frank, I'm ready to go now.
FRANK: It's okay, Ollie. Jill didn't mean to yell at you.
OLLIE: I'm ready to go now.
JILL: Great! Let's just leave. That would be best.
I can't worship with all this going on. C'mon, let's just leave.
FRANK: Will you relax?
OLLIE: I'm ready to go, now.
FRANK: Ollie, we're not leaving yet.
JILL: I'm leaving. (SHE BEGINS TO EXIT)
FRANK: I guess we are leaving. Ollie, don't you want to stay for the rest of the service?
OLLIE: No, Frank, I don't. I don't want to be in church if Jesus isn't here. Frank?
FRANK: Yes, Ollie?
OLLIE: Why do all these people come to church if Jesus isn't here?
Why do we come to church?
Summary
Frank's taking Ollie to church and Jill is upset because Ollie is a bit slow and always embarrasses her. Ollie asks, "Where is Jesus?" and Frank can't give a sufficient answer.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
Church
Props
None
Costumes
Clothes appropriate for church
Time
The present
Cast
OLLIE -- a bit slow
FRANK -- his friend
JILL -- Frank's friend
(ALL THREE ARE ENTERING THE SANCTUARY)
JILL: I really feel the Lord's presence today.
FRANK: Me, too.
JILL: It feels good to be where Jesus is.
OLLIE: Where?
JILL: Frank, I told you!
FRANK: (TO JILL) Never mind. (TO OLLIE) Where's what, Ollie?
OLLIE: Where's Jesus?
JILL: (TO FRANK) Why did you have to bring him along?
FRANK: He's a friend.
JILL: But we never can enjoy anything when Ollie comes with us.
FRANK: If Ollie didn't go out with me, he would never get out.
JILL: I didn't come to church to explain everything to Ollie three times. I wanted to enjoy the service.
FRANK: I'll take care of Ollie.
JILL: I hope so.
FRANK: Don't worry about it. Just relax and enjoy the worship.
JILL: I could relax better if he weren't here.
OLLIE: (POINTING) Over there?
JILL: Oh, boy. Here we go.
FRANK: What is it, Ollie?
OLLIE: Is Jesus over there? Is he sitting in this section? (POINTING TO A SECTION OF THE CONGREGATION)
FRANK: No, Ollie, Jesus is not in this section.
OLLIE: Over here, then? (POINTING TO ANOTHER AREA)
FRANK: No, not there, either.
OLLIE: How about back there?
JILL: Will you take care of him?
FRANK: Don't pay any attention to him. Enjoy the service.
JILL: (MOCKINGLY) Don't pay any attention to him! Enjoy the service! People are beginning to stare at us.
FRANK: Relax.
JILL: I can't with him around. He makes everyone nervous.
FRANK: Relax.
OLLIE: Frank, did you answer me about back there?
FRANK: No, no, Ollie. Let me explain something to you.
OLLIE: All right, Frank.
FRANK: Jesus isn't really here, you see.
OLLIE: But, Frank, this is church, isn't it?
FRANK: Yes, of course, but ...
OLLIE: Well?
FRANK: He is, but he sort of ... isn't.
OLLIE: Frank, I thought you were going to explain something to me.
FRANK: I am, Ollie.
OLLIE: You haven't explained it to me yet, Frank.
FRANK: I know.
OLLIE: Well?
FRANK: Well, Ollie, it's like this ...
OLLIE: Yes?
FRANK: It's kinda hard to explain.
OLLIE: Jesus is here, somewhere, right?
FRANK: Right, but ...
OLLIE: (GOING UP TO SOMEONE IN THE CONGREGATION AND STICKING HIS FINGER IN HIS FACE) Maybe in you.
JILL: Frank, will you sit on him or something? This is getting embarrassing.
FRANK: Okay, okay. (TO PERSON OLLIE POINTED TO) Sorry. Ollie, listen. You won't understand this, but people don't like it too much when you go up to them and point your finger in their face.
OLLIE: Oh, that's all right, Frank. I just thought it might be Jesus.
JILL:
Ollie, will you stop it? Jesus isn't here, all right? Now just shut up!
FRANK: You didn't have to be so rough with him.
JILL: Well, you weren't doing anything.
FRANK: It's a little difficult to explain.
OLLIE: Frank, I'm ready to go now.
FRANK: It's okay, Ollie. Jill didn't mean to yell at you.
OLLIE: I'm ready to go now.
JILL: Great! Let's just leave. That would be best.
I can't worship with all this going on. C'mon, let's just leave.
FRANK: Will you relax?
OLLIE: I'm ready to go, now.
FRANK: Ollie, we're not leaving yet.
JILL: I'm leaving. (SHE BEGINS TO EXIT)
FRANK: I guess we are leaving. Ollie, don't you want to stay for the rest of the service?
OLLIE: No, Frank, I don't. I don't want to be in church if Jesus isn't here. Frank?
FRANK: Yes, Ollie?
OLLIE: Why do all these people come to church if Jesus isn't here?
