Power
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme:
The power that is eternal is available to Christians in any and all situations. It is the power of serving.
Summary:
Tim has just been promoted and is enthusiastic about the new opportunity. His superior, Carl, is trying to help him become a better leader by teaching him to be a servant, but Tim has some reservations.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
Tim and Carl's business office
Props
None
Costumes
Business
Time
The present
Cast
TIM -- a businessman
CARL -- his superior
CARL: (ENTERS ALONG WITH TIM) So, how's it working out?
TIM: With the new division? Not bad.
CARL: I thought it might.
TIM: I appreciate the promotion.
CARL: Well, I think I picked the right person for the job.
TIM: Thanks. I like the challenge. My people seem to be doing well. Production is up seven percent.
CARL: I've got some ideas that will help you.
TIM: I'm open to anything that will help me be more effective.
CARL: I hoped you would say that.
TIM: Let's hear those ideas.
CARL: Well, to begin with, I want you to serve your people.
TIM: Serve?
CARL: Yes, I want you to be their servant.
TIM: Whoa! What are you talking about -- serving?
CARL: You're supposed to be their servant.
TIM: You're joking.
CARL: I'm not joking. I'm serious.
TIM: Come on, Carl, what are you talking about?
CARL: I mean serve your people. Be there to help them.
TIM: I'm there to see that they do their work.
CARL: True enough, you are, but you're also in the position to help them.
TIM: Help them, how? I thought they were being helped by getting their paycheck and by their benefit package.
CARL: No. That's what they work for. They earn that.
TIM: What else is there to helping them? I can't hold their hands and guide them through life.
CARL: No, that's God's job, but you're God's man in this job. Therefore that means you have to serve the people you're responsible for.
TIM: You're going to have to prove that to me.
CARL: All right. I've heard you say you want to succeed.
TIM: I do. I'll do anything it takes to succeed at this job.
CARL: Well, your attitude is right, that's for sure.
TIM: I try.
CARL: I've seen that in you. But you don't have a servant heart.
TIM: No, I guess I don't. I missed that lesson in leadership training.
CARL: That's because you've only had the company training.
TIM: And what kind of training have you had?
CARL: I've had the same company training you had, but I also went to "Servant Training."
TIM: Where'd you go for that?
CARL: To my Bible.
TIM: Oh.
CARL: Don't give me that look.
TIM: It's just that I don't think the Bible is appropriate right now. Not on the job. What is appropriate is that I do my job and increase production and profits and keep injuries to a minimum and do what I know how to do.
CARL: All the things you've been trained to do.
TIM: Of course. You wouldn't have promoted me if you didn't think I could produce.
CARL: True enough, but I also hoped you would be willing to learn.
TIM: I am.
CARL: But not from the Bible.
TIM: You don't expect me to have a Bible study at work, do you?
CARL: No, I don't.
TIM: Well, what then? How am I supposed to be their servant?
CARL: Listen to them.
TIM: We have a suggestion box.
CARL: How many suggestions do you get?
TIM: A few.
CARL: I know. Remember, I used to have your job. I know that it takes time to write out a suggestion and drop it in the box. How many do you answer?
TIM: We use a few.
CARL: You use a few of the few. There's a better way. By listening to your workers. In that way they get the chance to explain it and you can watch their gestures and facial expressions.
TIM: Their non-verbals.
CARL: Oh, you know about that.
TIM: Sure. It's easier to talk to someone in person than it is on the phone.
CARL: Or trying to communicate through the suggestion box.
TIM: Listening. Right. I can do that. Is that it?
CARL: That's part of it.
TIM: What else?
CARL: This is the tough part. Give them whatever they need to get their job done.
TIM: What's tough about that? We do that. Our company is very innovative.
CARL: It is. But as you're listening to the ideas of your workers you have to evaluate those ideas and put those that are worthy into practice. Then you have to give them everything they need to see their idea come into being.
TIM: Sort of like a doctor helping a mother birth a child.
CARL: Yes. Sort of. If they need it -- you get it for them.
TIM: That's easy enough.
CARL: Well, it's sure easier to talk about than it is to do.
TIM: You did that for me when you were my boss.
CARL: And how did it work?
TIM: Great. You helped me reach my full potential.
CARL: In that particular job. You haven't reached your full potential yet.
TIM: I hope not.
CARL: I'm always here to serve you.
TIM: Hey, that's right. You are, aren't you?
CARL: Right. Just like you have to be for your workers.
TIM: I see what you mean. I can do that. Maybe production will be up even further.
CARL: Probably. Let's hope so.
The power that is eternal is available to Christians in any and all situations. It is the power of serving.
Summary:
Tim has just been promoted and is enthusiastic about the new opportunity. His superior, Carl, is trying to help him become a better leader by teaching him to be a servant, but Tim has some reservations.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
Tim and Carl's business office
Props
None
Costumes
Business
Time
The present
Cast
TIM -- a businessman
CARL -- his superior
CARL: (ENTERS ALONG WITH TIM) So, how's it working out?
TIM: With the new division? Not bad.
CARL: I thought it might.
TIM: I appreciate the promotion.
CARL: Well, I think I picked the right person for the job.
TIM: Thanks. I like the challenge. My people seem to be doing well. Production is up seven percent.
CARL: I've got some ideas that will help you.
TIM: I'm open to anything that will help me be more effective.
CARL: I hoped you would say that.
TIM: Let's hear those ideas.
CARL: Well, to begin with, I want you to serve your people.
TIM: Serve?
CARL: Yes, I want you to be their servant.
TIM: Whoa! What are you talking about -- serving?
CARL: You're supposed to be their servant.
TIM: You're joking.
CARL: I'm not joking. I'm serious.
TIM: Come on, Carl, what are you talking about?
CARL: I mean serve your people. Be there to help them.
TIM: I'm there to see that they do their work.
CARL: True enough, you are, but you're also in the position to help them.
TIM: Help them, how? I thought they were being helped by getting their paycheck and by their benefit package.
CARL: No. That's what they work for. They earn that.
TIM: What else is there to helping them? I can't hold their hands and guide them through life.
CARL: No, that's God's job, but you're God's man in this job. Therefore that means you have to serve the people you're responsible for.
TIM: You're going to have to prove that to me.
CARL: All right. I've heard you say you want to succeed.
TIM: I do. I'll do anything it takes to succeed at this job.
CARL: Well, your attitude is right, that's for sure.
TIM: I try.
CARL: I've seen that in you. But you don't have a servant heart.
TIM: No, I guess I don't. I missed that lesson in leadership training.
CARL: That's because you've only had the company training.
TIM: And what kind of training have you had?
CARL: I've had the same company training you had, but I also went to "Servant Training."
TIM: Where'd you go for that?
CARL: To my Bible.
TIM: Oh.
CARL: Don't give me that look.
TIM: It's just that I don't think the Bible is appropriate right now. Not on the job. What is appropriate is that I do my job and increase production and profits and keep injuries to a minimum and do what I know how to do.
CARL: All the things you've been trained to do.
TIM: Of course. You wouldn't have promoted me if you didn't think I could produce.
CARL: True enough, but I also hoped you would be willing to learn.
TIM: I am.
CARL: But not from the Bible.
TIM: You don't expect me to have a Bible study at work, do you?
CARL: No, I don't.
TIM: Well, what then? How am I supposed to be their servant?
CARL: Listen to them.
TIM: We have a suggestion box.
CARL: How many suggestions do you get?
TIM: A few.
CARL: I know. Remember, I used to have your job. I know that it takes time to write out a suggestion and drop it in the box. How many do you answer?
TIM: We use a few.
CARL: You use a few of the few. There's a better way. By listening to your workers. In that way they get the chance to explain it and you can watch their gestures and facial expressions.
TIM: Their non-verbals.
CARL: Oh, you know about that.
TIM: Sure. It's easier to talk to someone in person than it is on the phone.
CARL: Or trying to communicate through the suggestion box.
TIM: Listening. Right. I can do that. Is that it?
CARL: That's part of it.
TIM: What else?
CARL: This is the tough part. Give them whatever they need to get their job done.
TIM: What's tough about that? We do that. Our company is very innovative.
CARL: It is. But as you're listening to the ideas of your workers you have to evaluate those ideas and put those that are worthy into practice. Then you have to give them everything they need to see their idea come into being.
TIM: Sort of like a doctor helping a mother birth a child.
CARL: Yes. Sort of. If they need it -- you get it for them.
TIM: That's easy enough.
CARL: Well, it's sure easier to talk about than it is to do.
TIM: You did that for me when you were my boss.
CARL: And how did it work?
TIM: Great. You helped me reach my full potential.
CARL: In that particular job. You haven't reached your full potential yet.
TIM: I hope not.
CARL: I'm always here to serve you.
TIM: Hey, that's right. You are, aren't you?
CARL: Right. Just like you have to be for your workers.
TIM: I see what you mean. I can do that. Maybe production will be up even further.
CARL: Probably. Let's hope so.
