. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: fatherly examples
SCRIPTURE: Gen.5:32-8:22, 21:1-22:14, Matt.1:16-2:23,
. Luke 2:1-2:52, 15:11-32
Style: drama/conversation:
Cast: HOST,
. NOAH, WIFE, JAPHETH
. ABRAHAM, SARAH, ISAAC,
. JOSEPH, MARY, JOHN,
. FATHER, WIFE, SON
(NOTE: you can have the same actors
. doing quick costume changes
. to play each scene)
Set & Props: podium, list, envelope with card inside,
. long white beard, breadbasket,
. staff, mallet
SCRIPT:
(HOST steps out to a podium on one side of the stage,
holding a list and an envelope with a card inside.)
HOST Welcome to the “Father of the Year Awards.”
. Each year we review the stories that really
. touch our hearts, to find the man that
. exemplifies what it means to be the most
. awesome father. As usually, it was really
. difficult to choose. Our first nomination is
. (looking at list) - Noah, depicting
. the obedient father in - “The Hopeful Float.”
(HOST takes a step back to watch the scene unfold.)
(On the other side of the stage, from offstage,
hammering sounds are heard. Then, NOAH’S WIFE steps out
carrying a breadbasket.)
WIFE Lunch time! Time for a break!
(NOAH with a long white beard steps out.)
NOAH Thank you, my dear! Good timing, as usual.
(JAPHETH comes out wearily, tired from slaving all day.)
. 2
JAPHETH Dad! I protest. I do not understand
. why we are building this – thing! We are
. the laughing-stock of the entire community.
NOAH I, too, hope that this is all worth it. But
. we will continue to obey God in this endeavor.
JAPHETH But I want to be out with my friends,
. having fun.
NOAH Fun? Japheth, you call that fun? Those
. so-called friends are corrupt in their
. efforts to have fun.
JAPHETH But this is no life! Working so hard
. at such a ridiculous task – just so everyone
. can laugh and mock us. I want to live my life,
. not waste it building some monstrously,
. strange-looking edifice.
NOAH If you wish to live, you WILL keep building
. this-
(JAPHETH storms off. NOAH looks back at WIFE, who puts
a hand on her hips, still holding the breadbasket.)
NOAH I’ll go speak with our son.
(NOAH exits, followed by WIFE.)
(Animal noises are now heard from offstage.
NOAH’S WIFE enters, staggering a little from side to side
as if on a floating boat, carrying a breadbasket.)
WIFE Lunch time! Time for a break!
(NOAH staggers out, with a little side to side action.)
NOAH Thank you, my dear! Good timing, as usual.
(JAPHETH comes out, wearily staggering side to side.)
JAPHETH Dad! I still protest. I do not understand
. why we are still floating around on this –
. enormously, smelly coffin.
NOAH Coffin! Japheth, this is a vessel of life. 3
. The rest of the world was destroyed because
. of its wickedness, and God chose to save us.
. Be thankful. Be very thankful.
(JAPHETH does his best to fight his claustrophobia
and sea-sickness.)
JAPHETH Thankful - to be stuck in this beast-filled-
. buoyant... topsy-turvy, ever-churning... tomb-
(JAPHETH suddenly covers his mouth as if he needs
to throw up, then rushes out. NOAH looks back at WIFE.)
NOAH It won’t be forever. We must have hope-
(Still holding the breadbasket, WIFE puts a hand on
her hips.)
NOAH I’ll go speak with our son.
(NOAH exits, followed by WIFE.)
(HOST claps and steps back up to the podium.)
HOST Our second nomination goes to Abraham,
. for his heart-wrenching role as father
. in “The Trust Factor.”
(HOST takes a step back to watch the scene unfold.)
(On the other side of the stage, ISAAC enters.
After taking a few steps, ABRAHAM enters, walking staff
in hand, calling out after him.)
ABRAHAM Isaac! Wait for me.
(ISAAC stops short, terrified to turn around.)
ABRAHAM Let me join you in a walk.
ISAAC Ahhhh... Now? I was – ahhh... just going –
ABRAHAM Spit it out, son.
ISAAC (thinking) But, I was planning...
. to, ahhh...
. 4
(ISAAC holds up a ‘just-a-moment-finger’ as he thinks.)
ISAAC I forgot something back at the house!
(ISAAC dashes off back stage, just as WIFE enters.
ABRAHAM looks at WIFE and shrugs.)
ABRAHAM What was that all about?
WIFE Now really, Abraham! You cannot guess?
ABRAHAM How can I? Isaac always finds excuses
. not to go out on walks with me-
WIFE (fishing) Since...
ABRAHAM (confused) Since? (light-bulb-moment)
. Ohhhh, since that day - when I took him out
. to make a sacrifice to the Lord.
(WIFE puts a hand on her hip and tilts her head.)
ABRAHM (continues defensively) But I trusted
. that God would provide a sacrifice,
. so I would NOT have to use our only son.
. And He did provide. God was just
. teaching us a lesson through that symbolic –
. experience... Isaac needs to know that
. he can trust me. And more than me,
. he needs to know that he can trust God.
(ABRAHAM pauses and looks at his unmoving WIFE.)
ABRAHAM I’ll go speak to our son.
(ABRAHAM exits, followed by WIFE.)
(HOST claps and steps back up to the podium.)
HOST The third nomination goes to Joseph, for his
. role as the loving father in “The Adopted Son.”
(HOST takes a step back to watch the scene unfold.)
(On the other side of the stage, JOSEPH enters,
carrying a mallet. JOHN enters behind him.)
. 5
JOHN Dad!
JOSEPH Oh... yes, John, what is it?
JOHN Why do you have to correct me like that?
JOSEPH I discipline you because I love you.
. As we go through life, there are many
. teachable-moments. I want you to be
. a fine carpenter, like I am. But more
. than that, I want you to grow up to be-
JOHN What? More like my half-brother, Jesus?
JOSEPH Well, yes.
(MARY enters and stops to listen to the conversation.)
JOHN Why don’t you ever correct or discipline Him?
JOSEPH Because - He – never makes any mistakes.
JOHN That’s really starting to bug me!
JOSEPH John, you have to realize that Jesus
. is not just any regular person.
JOHN He’s not even your real son, and you love Him
. more than the rest of us.
(MARY watches as JOHN rushes out. JOSEPH notices MARY.)
JOSEPH Mary! Did you just hear what our son
. said to me? What are we going to do with him?
(MARY puts a hand on her hips and tilts her head.)
JOSEPH I’ll go speak to our son.
(JOSEPH exits, followed by MARY.)
(HOST claps and steps back up to the podium.)
HOST The fourth and final nomination goes to
. the forgiving father of the prodigal son
. for his compassionate role in “Family Reunited.”
. 6
(HOST takes a step back to watch the scene unfold.)
(On the other side of the stage, FATHER enters.
SON rushes on after him, angrily.)
SON Father! What do you think you are doing?
(FATHER stops and turns.)
FATHER Father? Why so formal? What happened
. to calling me “Dad?”
SON Dad! Why are you treating your wayward son-
FATHER (reminding) Who is your brother.
SON. You are treating him to a welcome-home-feast?
FATHER Because he came home.
SON Why don’t you ever treat me to a feast?
FATHER I do. Every day we eat together.
SON (gasps) But he doesn’t deserve-
FATHER What? He doesn’t deserve my love?
. He is my son, as you are my son. I care
. for all of you, and love you all the same.
SON But I have worked hard for you.
FATHER And by working hard, did that make you my son?
SON N-no.
FATHER Do you think THAT will make me love you more?
SON I, ah, thought so... maybe.
FATHER I love you all the same. Working hard
. is a fine thing to do, and it does please me;
. but know that it is the relationship
. that I value.
SON So you don’t want us to be working hard?
. 7
FATHER We all work and serve together, because
. we love each other. Do not work – thinking
. that THIS will earn my love.
(WIFE enters, concerned as she watches SON storm off.
FATHER smiles calmly.)
FATHER I got this.
(FATHER exits, with WIFE following.)
(HOST claps and steps back up to the podium.)
HOST And the award for Father of the Year – goes to-
. (opening envelop, reading the card inside)
. ALL fathers - who take these examples to heart.
. Congratulations for the continuing task
. of living out all these qualities at home,
. with each and every one of your children.
(HOST applauds and exits.)