The Reading Club
Drama
Gabriel's Horn
Readers' Theater for Advent
Object:
Characters
Angel Marvelous
Angel Wonderful
Angel Gabriel
Hannah
Nehemiah
(Enter angels Marvelous, Wonderful, Gabriel, Hannah, and Nehemiah.)
Gabriel
So where are we standing? What place have you brought us?
Marvelous
Right here is the temple.
Gabriel
That's just as I thought.
Wonderful
Fuss
Or not. Take a look at the people around.
Gabriel
They look like they're lost.
Marvelous
Can we help them get found?
Wonderful
They don't have the Bible. There's no one to read it.
There's no one to pray it. There's no one to heed it.
Gabriel
But aren't these God's people, and ain't this the temple?
Marvelous
Instead of an answer I'll give you a sample.
Hey, you there, an otherwise smart-looking girl.
I've got a few questions.
Hannah
I'll give it a whirl.
Marvelous
Are you one of God's people?
Hannah
I follow the Lord.
Wonderful
Then quote if you can just a piece of God's Word.
Hannah
The Word? Any Word?
Marvelous
The Bible's the book
That's filled with the story of love. Take a look.
Have you heard about Moses, the Red Sea, and Pharaoh?
Hannah
It don't sound familiar like someone would share.
Wonderful
Oh!
Then what of creation, the seven days' wonder.
Hannah
I stand at my station and hope I don't blunder.
Creation?
Gabriel
I can't say this sounds at all hopeful.
If she were my pupil, her mouth gets a soap full.
Marvelous
Joshua leads over Jordan, then Judges.
Ruth and Naomi are nobody's drudges.
Wonderful
Proverbs bring wisdom, and nobody fudges
The Psalms, but they pray 'em.
Gabriel
David can meet a great giant and slay 'im.
Marvelous
The Lord is our shepherd it says in a psalm.
Tamar is a hero and also a palm.
Wonderful
Elijah is tired but fed by the birds.
Gabriel
While Qoholeth sighs, it's all nothing but words,
And vanity reigns. Everything has a season.
Marvelous
The prophets speak truth and they give us a reason
To think there is hope.
Gabriel
And when God, like the wind,
Hovers over the waters, though the people have sinned,
There is hope, for the chaos, the tohu v'bohu,
Is tamed at creation.
Hannah
Excuse me please. Yoo hoo!
It sounds quite appealing, but I never read it.
Wonderful
It's hard to believe, even harder to credit.
Hannah
Please ask me the height of the moon if you're able,
I'll give you instructions on cleaning the stable.
Or how about cooking? I make a mean pita
That I'll fill with fresh lamb and the cheese they call feta.
Write a poem, build an arch, shoe a horse, I'd be liable.
But never have I seen a book called the Bible.
Marvelous
Don't you all think it's a little bit odd
These folks had this treasure, the bright word of God,
And never found time for its use, for the pleasure
Of studying what is a priceless, grand treasure?
Gabriel
I've heard quite enough. The whole thing is crazy.
They don't have a Bible? I say that they're lazy.
There's nothing more precious than God's holy word
Yet this is a thing that they never have heard!
In good times and bad through the myriad years
The people have learned from the sages and seers.
This book has brought comfort to those in distress
And told sinners that there was still time to confess.
Just as Samson lost strength with his cranium shorn,
They're weak without word. I am blowing my horn
And ending the travesty that I'm beholding.
Wonderful
One moment, Archangel.
Marvelous
We still need a bold king
Or prophet remembering Solomon's saws
And help to restore faith in all of God's laws.
Nehemiah
Angels be thanked! Don't sue me for libel
But if I'm correct then I'm holding the Bible
We haven't seen one of these Bibles for years.
We thought we had lost them. That's one of our fears.
Now all -- celebrate. Hip hooroo. Happy day!
Hannah
I've only one question.
Nehemiah
Well?
Hannah
What does it say?
In our day and age you can be very smart,
But reading's a specialized technical art.
Nehemiah
My name's Nehemiah, the one that you need.
Hannah
What makes you so special?
Nehemiah
I know how to read.
Not everyone can in this age before schooling.
There's no apples or chalkboards and no golden ruling.
What is more, if you'll listen and not act so proud
I'm happy to read the whole thing here, aloud.
Hannah
We're happy to listen, no matter that we
Might learn that we sinned for the truth sets us free.
Nehemiah
Then gather, all people, the high and the low,
And learn from God's word all the things you should know.
First things are first. Splatter blood and take cover
Because once a year we remember Passover.
No matter that you are behind in your rents
Build booths out of town for the feast of all tents.
There's a Day of Atonement we call Yom Kippur,
That comes near the New Year. Of that I am sure.
And here's Ten Commandments, not nine or eleven.
Just keep them so you can all get into heaven.
And most of all, people, it says here some day
One greater than Moses will show us the way.
Hannah
Boo hoo! And again I say, "Hoo boo ree boo!"
We didn't know what we were all meant to do!
All these years we have failed to honor the Lord
Because no one read to us from out of the word.
Nehemiah
Don't weep and don't mourn if you've missed God's command.
There's time for repentance. In mercy you stand.
You've scars from the past. Tend your wound, close your suture,
Accept God's forgiveness, and look to your future.
In bountiful banquets please gather together,
These good times a foretaste of what lasts forever.
Wonderful
It seems to me clear there's a lesson to learn.
Please open your Bible. Oh, people, please yearn
For the blessings inside. These words you should crave.
Marvelous
It's easy to open and simple to save.
Gabriel
Take a cue from these folks, steal a glance, take a look,
Grab a gander at this, the grandest, this book.
And speaking of which, when's the last time you read it?
Wonderful
It can't be that long ago.
Gabriel
Listen. I've said it
Before and I'll say it again and again.
We angels should read the commandments --
Marvelous
There's ten!
Gabriel
That answer was easy. Now tell me what is
Contained in this book or I'll give you a quiz.
Marvelous
We've a saying, we angels, because we get busy.
We'll tell it you simply. Don't get in a tizzy.
Wonderful
When it comes to the Bible you have time to read it
Unless you're inside it. Then God's will, you speed it.
Gabriel
That's not an excuse. Start right here with verse one,
And read the whole Bible until you are done.
Marvelous and Wonderful
Very well. Like God's people we can't be so stressed
That we won't read God's word because then we'd be blessed.
Angel Marvelous
Angel Wonderful
Angel Gabriel
Hannah
Nehemiah
(Enter angels Marvelous, Wonderful, Gabriel, Hannah, and Nehemiah.)
Gabriel
So where are we standing? What place have you brought us?
Marvelous
Right here is the temple.
Gabriel
That's just as I thought.
Wonderful
Fuss
Or not. Take a look at the people around.
Gabriel
They look like they're lost.
Marvelous
Can we help them get found?
Wonderful
They don't have the Bible. There's no one to read it.
There's no one to pray it. There's no one to heed it.
Gabriel
But aren't these God's people, and ain't this the temple?
Marvelous
Instead of an answer I'll give you a sample.
Hey, you there, an otherwise smart-looking girl.
I've got a few questions.
Hannah
I'll give it a whirl.
Marvelous
Are you one of God's people?
Hannah
I follow the Lord.
Wonderful
Then quote if you can just a piece of God's Word.
Hannah
The Word? Any Word?
Marvelous
The Bible's the book
That's filled with the story of love. Take a look.
Have you heard about Moses, the Red Sea, and Pharaoh?
Hannah
It don't sound familiar like someone would share.
Wonderful
Oh!
Then what of creation, the seven days' wonder.
Hannah
I stand at my station and hope I don't blunder.
Creation?
Gabriel
I can't say this sounds at all hopeful.
If she were my pupil, her mouth gets a soap full.
Marvelous
Joshua leads over Jordan, then Judges.
Ruth and Naomi are nobody's drudges.
Wonderful
Proverbs bring wisdom, and nobody fudges
The Psalms, but they pray 'em.
Gabriel
David can meet a great giant and slay 'im.
Marvelous
The Lord is our shepherd it says in a psalm.
Tamar is a hero and also a palm.
Wonderful
Elijah is tired but fed by the birds.
Gabriel
While Qoholeth sighs, it's all nothing but words,
And vanity reigns. Everything has a season.
Marvelous
The prophets speak truth and they give us a reason
To think there is hope.
Gabriel
And when God, like the wind,
Hovers over the waters, though the people have sinned,
There is hope, for the chaos, the tohu v'bohu,
Is tamed at creation.
Hannah
Excuse me please. Yoo hoo!
It sounds quite appealing, but I never read it.
Wonderful
It's hard to believe, even harder to credit.
Hannah
Please ask me the height of the moon if you're able,
I'll give you instructions on cleaning the stable.
Or how about cooking? I make a mean pita
That I'll fill with fresh lamb and the cheese they call feta.
Write a poem, build an arch, shoe a horse, I'd be liable.
But never have I seen a book called the Bible.
Marvelous
Don't you all think it's a little bit odd
These folks had this treasure, the bright word of God,
And never found time for its use, for the pleasure
Of studying what is a priceless, grand treasure?
Gabriel
I've heard quite enough. The whole thing is crazy.
They don't have a Bible? I say that they're lazy.
There's nothing more precious than God's holy word
Yet this is a thing that they never have heard!
In good times and bad through the myriad years
The people have learned from the sages and seers.
This book has brought comfort to those in distress
And told sinners that there was still time to confess.
Just as Samson lost strength with his cranium shorn,
They're weak without word. I am blowing my horn
And ending the travesty that I'm beholding.
Wonderful
One moment, Archangel.
Marvelous
We still need a bold king
Or prophet remembering Solomon's saws
And help to restore faith in all of God's laws.
Nehemiah
Angels be thanked! Don't sue me for libel
But if I'm correct then I'm holding the Bible
We haven't seen one of these Bibles for years.
We thought we had lost them. That's one of our fears.
Now all -- celebrate. Hip hooroo. Happy day!
Hannah
I've only one question.
Nehemiah
Well?
Hannah
What does it say?
In our day and age you can be very smart,
But reading's a specialized technical art.
Nehemiah
My name's Nehemiah, the one that you need.
Hannah
What makes you so special?
Nehemiah
I know how to read.
Not everyone can in this age before schooling.
There's no apples or chalkboards and no golden ruling.
What is more, if you'll listen and not act so proud
I'm happy to read the whole thing here, aloud.
Hannah
We're happy to listen, no matter that we
Might learn that we sinned for the truth sets us free.
Nehemiah
Then gather, all people, the high and the low,
And learn from God's word all the things you should know.
First things are first. Splatter blood and take cover
Because once a year we remember Passover.
No matter that you are behind in your rents
Build booths out of town for the feast of all tents.
There's a Day of Atonement we call Yom Kippur,
That comes near the New Year. Of that I am sure.
And here's Ten Commandments, not nine or eleven.
Just keep them so you can all get into heaven.
And most of all, people, it says here some day
One greater than Moses will show us the way.
Hannah
Boo hoo! And again I say, "Hoo boo ree boo!"
We didn't know what we were all meant to do!
All these years we have failed to honor the Lord
Because no one read to us from out of the word.
Nehemiah
Don't weep and don't mourn if you've missed God's command.
There's time for repentance. In mercy you stand.
You've scars from the past. Tend your wound, close your suture,
Accept God's forgiveness, and look to your future.
In bountiful banquets please gather together,
These good times a foretaste of what lasts forever.
Wonderful
It seems to me clear there's a lesson to learn.
Please open your Bible. Oh, people, please yearn
For the blessings inside. These words you should crave.
Marvelous
It's easy to open and simple to save.
Gabriel
Take a cue from these folks, steal a glance, take a look,
Grab a gander at this, the grandest, this book.
And speaking of which, when's the last time you read it?
Wonderful
It can't be that long ago.
Gabriel
Listen. I've said it
Before and I'll say it again and again.
We angels should read the commandments --
Marvelous
There's ten!
Gabriel
That answer was easy. Now tell me what is
Contained in this book or I'll give you a quiz.
Marvelous
We've a saying, we angels, because we get busy.
We'll tell it you simply. Don't get in a tizzy.
Wonderful
When it comes to the Bible you have time to read it
Unless you're inside it. Then God's will, you speed it.
Gabriel
That's not an excuse. Start right here with verse one,
And read the whole Bible until you are done.
Marvelous and Wonderful
Very well. Like God's people we can't be so stressed
That we won't read God's word because then we'd be blessed.
