006. A Bedtime Prayer Turns into a Surprising Conversation

The Lord’s Prayer, about 5 minutes, from Matthew 6:9-13

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
Oscar Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Line up chairs to represent a bed
VoiceÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keep off to one side, speak loudly and slowly.
PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script

Oscar	(Stand and stretch) Time for bed. It’s been a long day. (Start to lie down on the chairs)
Prompter & Echoes	You forgot something!
Oscar	Oh! My bedtime prayer. (Sit up and fold your hands in an attitude of prayer) Our Fatherâ€¦
Voice	(Interrupt. Speak loudly and slowly) Yes?
Oscar	(Jerk your head around looking for the speaker, then shrug) Our Father…
Voice	(Interrupt) Yes, my son? What did you want to say to me?
Oscar	(Look around again, scratch your head) Who is that?
Prompter & Echoes	Who spoke?
Voice	To whom were you speaking?
Oscar	No one. I was just saying my prayers.
Voice	Then to whom were you saying your prayers?
Oscar	To our Heavenly Father. Oh! Ahâ€¦ Oh, no! Ahâ€¦ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name…
Voice	(Interrupt) Do you know what the word â€œhallowedâ€ means?
Oscar	Ah… no. It’s what they taught me to pray.
Voice	It means to respect me above all, and enter my presence devoutly, with fear.
Oscar	Well, I have plenty of fear right now. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Voice	(Interrupt) Do you know what a kingdom really is?
Oscar	Yeahâ€¦ We gotta obey a king’s commands.
Prompter & Echoes	Or he will zap us!
Voice	My Son Jesus is your King, and you will obey his commands. Continue.
Oscar	Right. Give us today, our daily breadâ€¦
Voice	(Interrupt) I already gave that to you. Do you not have other needs?
Oscar	Yes. I need a job. I also need your help to tell my friends about Jesus.
Voice	Then, ask me for that, as a child would.
Prompter & Echoes	Simply ask!
Oscar	Dear Father, I need a job, and power to testify for Jesus. Ahâ€¦ And forgive us our debts... Umâ€¦ Forgive us our debtsâ€¦ Ahâ€¦
Voice	(Allow a pause) Finish the sentence.
Oscar	(Mumble rapidly and softly) Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Voice	(Interrupt) I did not hear you. Repeat it more clearly, my son.
Oscar	I am afraid to. I know what you will say. Wellâ€¦ Okay. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, and lead us…
Voice	Wait! Have you forgiven your friend Alex?
Oscar	I will. Somedayâ€¦ Wellâ€¦ Okay. I forgive him now! And I will ask his forgiveness tomorrow. Ahâ€¦ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Voice	(Interrupt) Why do you ask for protection from the evil one?
Oscar	Because without your power and pardon, I cannot resist Satan’s false lures. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
Prompter & Echoes	Amen!

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