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"Please Lord, Heal Me Now" Setting: Audience sits in rows of chairs or pews as part of the "congregation" in the skit. Each of six ladies tells her thoughts before she sits with the "congregation." Cast: Narrator, Scripture Reader, Six Ladies
Narrator: We are going to visit an evening worship at Our Saviour's Lutheran church tonight. We will share in the thoughts and feelings of six ladies as they come into the Lord's house to worship. Keep in mind that this could be anyone of us as we seek God's love and forgiveness at the end of a long trying day. Let's pray&endash;Lord, I failed again. I spent most of the day without thinking of you. I was so absorbed in my own concerns that I did not listen with the sensitivity of love; I left healing words unspoken. And yet … you gave your only Son that I might have your forgiveness, that I might be free from my past mistakes. Teach me to forgive myself, that I may rejoice in the astonishing gift of your love. Be with us tonight as we worship together and seek your love and grace. (as the first lady enters, the narrator tells about her) Narrator: Virginia is a middle-aged divorced woman who is visiting Our Saviour's for the first time tonight. She has had a very difficult time dealing with the divorce and coping with raising two young children alone. Imagine her as a poorly dressed rather harassed looking woman. She acts shy and self-conscious as she walks in to find a seat. Virginia: I am a stranger here at this church. I wonder how people will look at me. Will they see me as a middle-aged divorced woman and wonder why I am divorced? Will they think it must have been my fault? Maybe they will think I am just church shopping and won't bother to come back after tonight. Maybe I make them feel uncomfortable. I am not dressed very well and I drive such a beat-up old car. Oh, Lord, I just want them to see me as a fellow Christian who needs a church home. I want so much for them to like and welcome me here. I am one face among so many who already know each other. Please let them be friendly to me. The last church I attended acted friendly at first but they were never really warm and caring to me. Lord, I just want and need a church home for me and my kids. We need to be accepted and liked so much. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 63:1-8 Narrator: Ellen is the next person to join the congregation this evening. She has a quick temper and tends to fly off the handle very quickly. Today she knows that she deeply hurt an old friend and fellow church member with her quick temper and sharp tongue. Ellen: Lord, I really told her off. I must have talked - yelled - at her for a good ten minutes. Fire came out of my mouth. Not only did I react to what she just said then, but I brought up everything I could think of from the past… the times she annoyed me, hurt my feelings. I really didn't intend to say all that. We have known each other for so long and worked together in Church on so many things. Lord, forgive me for my destructive anger. I see now that I bottled things up for too long and it just erupted like a volcano. Annie can be a pain in the neck but she is a good person and doesn't deserve to be yelled at like that in front of everyone. I should have been honest but in a kind way. Help me, Lord, to have more self-control over my bad temper. I put myself in your loving hands dear Lord. SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:14-16 Narrator: Betty comes in next. She is very upset over her feelings about a fellow church member named Bridgett. Bridgett is the congregation's busybody who never shuts up long enough for anyone else to talk. Betty: If I have to listen to that woman one more day, I'll go bananas, Lord. She talks ALL the time. A non-stop flood of malicious gossip, petty complaints and mindless trivia. She tells everyone's business and seems to know everyone's business too. Do you hear what I'm saying, Lord? I do not know or understand what makes this busybody tick and I am ashamed that I should let her upset me so much. Please teach me to love and understand her at least a little bit. Help me to reach out to her as my sister in Christ and guide her in better ways, rather than to resent her so. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:1-5 Narrator: Margaret comes in next. She has a friend who is having a very bad time at work. She is concerned about what her friend is going through. Margaret: I can see she is hurting, Lord. She seems wrapped up in a private cocoon of misery, out of reach of a comforting word or a friendly hand. She is grouchy and preoccupied and remote. Her work suffers from inattention and even carelessness. If she doesn't shape up soon, she could lose her job. Maybe I should mind my own business. If she wants to confide in me, she should know that I'm ready to listen and sympathize. I certainly don't want to intrude on her privacy by asking what her problem is. For one thing, I don't know what to say. To make things worse, the forbidden subject seems to make a barrier between us. I find myself avoiding her. She is the one who is causing a problem in our relationship - not me. Lord, I guess that is just hurt pride talking, not love. Let me convince my friend that I will always stand beside her. Show me how to help without seeming to pry into her business. Bless my friend, Lord… and give us both your love, the gift that endures forever. SCRIPTURE: Galatians 6:2 and 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Narrator: Leona comes in next. She is upset because of something that happened at work today that she handled very badly. Leona: When I think about today, I feel sick - sick and ashamed. I would like to go to the other side of the moon and never come back - never have to face them again. What must they think of me, Lord? I have exposed myself before them all. They know my self-centered insensitivity, my pettiness, my nagging desire to be perfect at any cost, my lack of self-control. Oh, God, how I would like to take back the words I said. Sure she made a mistake but the tongue lashing I gave her was way out of proportion to her mistake. I was angry so I took out my feelings on the most defenseless person I could find. To make matters even worse, I picked on anyone else who got in my way. Forgive me Father. I have offended you as well as all my co-workers. Dear God, how can I begin to repair the damage I have done? The pure heart I am asking you to give me has no room for pride and selfish ambition. Somehow I must ask for forgiveness and try to make things right no matter how great the cost to me. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51:1, 6-7 Narrator: Irene comes in next. She is a worrier - constantly worrying about things over which she has no control. Irene: What if the rumors I hear are true? What if business is as bad as they say and John does lose his job. How will we pay our bills? And then there is the first payment on our new car coming due … just when we thought we were getting ahead a little bit. Oh Lord, I know I shouldn't worry so much, but I just can't help it. Father you know my needs and I know I should put my faith in your love and guidance through my troubled times. Be with me, Lord, when I find that worries are all I can think of. Keep my priorities straight. Fasten my attention on the important things in life, while I leave my daily worries in your loving hands. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:1-34 Narrator: And so as our service draws to a close, we bow our heads in prayer. We pray that we will always recognize that we come to your house, oh Lord, to bring our concerns, our worries, our frustrations - because we know you are here to help and guide us through your Word. AMEN.
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