Summary: The following drama was used at the opening of the 139th General Assembly on Friday May 31st. The props were minimal.
The drama was written by the author of this blog, Rev. Dr. A.R. Neal Mathers and permission is granted to any congregation to use it in worship as long as the bulletin states: “Martha and Mary: Worshipful Work” c. 2013 Neal Mathers. Used with permission.” Please let the author know if you decide to use this drama nmathers
MARTHA AND MARY : WORSHIPFUL WORK
Call to Worship
Come and worship! Be still and aware of God’s presence within and around you.
(Pause)
Come and worship! Be still and aware of Jesus’ presence within and around you.
(Pause)
Come and worship! Be still and aware of the Spirit’s presence within and around you.
(Pause)
Be still and know the presence of the Triune God, the Father to whom we come, the Son through whom we come, the Spirit by whom we come.
(Pause)
Hear his word: Be STILL and know that I am God.
Time of Silence prayer
Dramatic Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
(Note: References in the script to General Assembly can easily be changed to whatever is most appropriate for your congregational situation). Mary and Martha walk in. Each are wearing head coverings appropriate for the time. The Narrator is off the platform and to the side. Martha is holding a wooden bowl and spoon, is wearing an apron with flour on it, and has a “To Do” List in the pocket of the apron. Jesus is wearing a head covering appropriate for the time and carrying a scroll)
Jesus
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
(Martha pretends to open a door and gives welcome gestures to Jesus and his entourage to enter in. Jesus sits down. Mary faces the audience and says…)
Mary
39 She had a sister called Mary (points at herself), who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
(Mary sits down at Jesus feet. Martha meanwhile is busy pretending to dust, clean, make supper.)
Narrator
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked,
(Martha rushes over to Jesus and says in frustration)
Martha
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
(Jesus stands up and faces Martha)
Jesus
41 “Martha, Martha,”you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
(Jesus sits down again and begins to quietly speak to Mary. Martha throws up her hands in horror and walks away. She pauses before speaking again to the audience)
The Voice of Martha (sounds frustrated)
Sometimes I just don’t get Jesus!
Don’t get me wrong I love him. He’s been a good friend to our family; even brought my brother Lazarus back from the dead. Let me tell you, that was something to see. People are still talking about it.
But I had plans for today, big plans.
I had four loads of laundry to do; twelve dozen cookies to bake; a house to clean; a yard to tidy up and a meeting of the Mary and Martha Group at the synagogue to go to. Busy, busy, busy. Thank goodness I didn’t have to go to a General Assembly. I’d never have found the time.
Then just to interrupt my day, Jesus and his disciples arrive unexpectedly. Oh it’s not that I mind him using our home as his base when he’s in town but he might have given me some warning!
I hadn’t even cleared away the breakfast dishes or washed the floor yet. And now I have to prepare an unexpected meal and you can be sure that those hungry fishermen Peter, James and John will all want seconds.
At least I have my sister Mary to help me. Now where is that girl? “Mary, Mary.” Why is she’s never around when I need her? Doesn’t she know we have guests and there is a lot to do? In fact, I have so many things on my “To Do List” that I had to make a long one up for her as well (Martha unrolls a long to do list for Mary). I better go find her.
(Pause)
(Martha removes her head covering before leading in prayer so she is now out of character)
Prayer
Let us pray:
God for everything there is a time, and time is now our most precious commodity. Our clocks are always running. From birth to death: during times of joy and sorrow: work and play: business and pleasure: speech and silence: worship and church activities: tick, tock, tick, tock.
And for this Assembly, the clock has been running. Pages of reports to read: travel plans to make: stuff to be done at home before we left: We’ve rushed to get here on time: to get registered: to find our rooms: to get to this time of worship.
We are like Martha, with our long to do lists, about to begin a General Assembly that will be busy and challenging, exhausting and exciting.
Slow us down Lord, and for now simply remind us that only one thing is needful, that we be still before you and know that you are God. Amen.
(Pause)
Mary Speaks (sounds “ticked off” with her sister)
(Mary gets up from where she is sitting at the feet of Jesus and goes to the microphone)
Is that Martha’s voice I hear? Looking for me I bet.
She’ll look in here eventually but I don’t think she’ll say anything to me if Jesus is in the room.
She’s a workaholic, or at least she would be if that word wasn’t a twentieth century invention.
Oh I don’t mind all the “to do” lists she makes up for HERself, but she makes them up for me as well as if I don’t know what MY responsibilities are.
Martha just never seems able to slow down, sit down, shut down, or take it easy. She always has to be doing something. She is a schedule waiting to happen! She could outrun the Energizer bunny.
I bet she’s ticked that Jesus arrived unexpectedly. She’ll be sweating over the supper menu for sure.
I’m just not like that. I CHOOSE to be not like that. I don’t want to be so busy that I miss out on all the important things of life. I don’t want to fill my days with things that occupy my time but do not enrich my day or my life.
So right now I am sitting at the feet of Jesus. Listening to him speak about the love of God, listening to Him share about helping others, and serving God, and having faith in Him, faith that leads to salvation now and always.
This is not wasted time, as Martha thinks. This is quiet time, sacred time, time to be refreshed for daily life, to be energized by the Spirit of God, to be spiritually fed. I just wish Martha knew how to be still before God.
(Pause)
Prayer (Mary removed her head covering before leading in prayer so she is now out of character)
Let us pray:
Slow me down, God, so I remember to catch my breath and to remember that you call me above everything else to be concerned with your Kingdom.
Slow me down, Lord Jesus, that I might remember that the value of my life is not determined by how much I have, or by what I achieve in life, by how many appointments are in my calendar, or by how many recommendations we pass at this General Assembly. Remind me that my value to you was revealed by Jesus on the cross, and that it by grace I am saved through faith.
Slow me down, Holy Spirit, so that I may create space in my life for you to grow and mature your fruit within me, so I might be open to your leading, your direction, your counsel: so I might be attentive to the voice of my God. Amen
(Mary puts her head scarf back on and goes and sits again at Jesus feet)
The Voice of Jesus (speaking to Martha with concern but firmness)
(Jesus goes to the microphone)
Ah here she comes. I’m surprised she didn’t come to find Mary earlier. Wow. She looks upset; probably annoyed that her “To Do” list is still too long. (addressing Martha as if Martha was conversing with him)
“Martha, I know Mary is sitting here.
Yes, I know you think you need her help.
Yes, I can see you’re frustrated and angry but Mary isn’t idle as you think.
She has chosen to lay aside her work for a while and to spend time with me, her Lord.
She has chosen to let me speak the good news into her life.
She has chosen to focus on eternal things for a while.
You would do well to learn from her.
Martha, there will always be work to do, but life is more than the sum total of all our work and achievements. So please be still. Sit down. I have important things to talk to you about. Mary understands that.
(Pause)
(Jesus removes his head scarf to go out of character in order to pray)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, It is so easy for us to choose work over worship: activity over reflection: busyness over prayerfulness: and action over faith.
It is so easy for us to be so heavenly minded that we can choose to be spectators at worship: pew sitters instead of servants: content to let others do ministry: while we live by faith but rarely act on it.
As this General Assembly opens, teach us the value of worshipful work. Teach us how to make the worship we offer and the work we do at this Assembly a sacred unity and an offering pleasing to you. Make us one in mind, heart and spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Pause)
(Jesus puts his head scarf back on and sits down. Martha has also put her head scarf back on. Martha looks over at Jesus and Mary, who is sitting at Jesus feet. Martha puts down her bowl and spoon, and comes and sits beside Mary and Jesus)
(The scene freezes for about 30 sections. The song “Be still and know” (Hymn #64) is then sung.)
