Special
Special Days CHURCH PROGRAMS FOR
CHURCH PROGRAMS FOR
Days
With the variety of resources in Church Programs for Special Days, your congregation can celebrate throughout the year! Skits, dramas, poems, and more will help you plan meaningful worship services and programs for 10 special days including New Year’s, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Thanksgiving.
as d ide n a , s poem ! Plays, ations r b e l ce for 10
• Easy to use • Entirely reproducible • All new material • Appropriate for teens and adults to perform
Also available: Easter Programs for Children (021520609) Easter Programs for the Church (021520509) RELIGION / Christian Ministry / General ISBN 978-0-7847-2353-1
9 780784 723531
021520709
All Ages
www.standardpub.com
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Special CHURCH PROGRAMS FOR
Days
deas i d n ms, a e o p , ions! s t y a a r l b P cele 0 1 for Compiled by Elaina Meyers
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Permission is granted to original purchaser (you or someone in your church or organization) to reproduce these materials for ministry purposes only within your church or organization—not for resale. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version. Editorial team: Dawn A. Medill, Elaina Meyers, Rosemary H. Mitchell, Courtney Rice Cover design: Brigid Naglich Inside design: Bob Korth Published by Standard Publishing Cincinnati, Ohio www.standardpub.com Copyright © 2009 by Standard Publishing All rights reserved. ISBN 978-0-7847-2353-1
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Contents This collection of easy-to-use plays, poems, readings, and skits can help churches celebrate special days throughout the year! new year’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 * People around the world celebrate the first day of the calendar year. * Some people reflect on the past year and many make promises for the one to come. Martin luther king JR. day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 * Observed each year on the third Monday in January since 1983. * The United States federal government and all of the states honor the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. sanctity of life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 * Observed each year on the third Sunday in January since 1984. * Sanctity of Life Sunday is observed by many churches and Christians across the nation to honor life. mother’s day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 * Observed each year on the second Sunday in May since 1915. * Julia Ward Howe and several others campaigned for a celebration to honor mothers in the United States. It was Anna Jarvis’s later suggestion that caught on. memorial day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 * Observed each year on the last Monday in May since 1971. * First observed in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866. * Memorial Day originally honored soldiers who had been killed in the American Civil War but now honors Americans who died in any war while serving their country.
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father’s day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 * Observed each year on the third Sunday in June since 1972. * First celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. * Established by Sonora Dodd in tribute to her father who raised his six children alone after his wife died. independence day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 * Observed each year on July 4. * Many countries have days to celebrate their independence from the rule of another country, but the best-known Independence Day is that of the United States. * By adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared that the American Colonies were free and independent states. promotion sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 * Observed by many churches in the fall. * Promotion Sunday is the day when children begin attending the next age-level or grade-level in the children’s ministry programs at their church. thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 * Observed each year on the fourth Thursday of November since 1941. * Early American thanksgiving celebrations were held in the fall to thank God for the harvest of good crops. pastor appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 * Observed each year on the second Sunday in October.
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New Year’s Wanted—All Parts of the Body Sheryl Young Summary: Three people with various temporary injuries lament to each other about their own inconveniences, but then realize how they can help one another accomplish their necessary tasks. Characters: Sue—has one arm in a sling or wrapped with an ACE bandage Mike—has a patch over one eye Pat—has a broken left foot, either in a fake cast or a fracture boot. The boot or cast must be on his left foot, because he needs to be able to drive. Setting: a public park or a mall, with or without scenery Props: fake cast or a fracture boot, sling or ACE bandage, eye patch, large laundry or garbage bag stuffed full to make it look heavy Running Time: 4-5 minutes Sue enters, trying to drag a large, full sack behind her with her one good arm. Mike enters from the opposite side. Mike: Hi, Sue! Fancy meeting you here. Hey, how’d you hurt your arm? Sue: [looking up from her efforts to drag the bag, breathing heavily] Oh, hi, Mike. Just did it yesterday, no time to call people. I tried parasailing again and dislocated my shoulder. It’s back in place, but it hurts. And my goodness, what happened to you? What’s that patch for? Mike: I was out fishing; cast the line and the hook . . . Sue: [stands up straight, letting go of the bag] Ouch! Yikes! I bet that smarts. Mike: Yeah, pretty much, but the doctor says I’ll be OK. Sue: Me too. But it’s so hard to do my daily errands with only one arm. Mike: Tell me about it! I can only see out of this one eye. It’s hard to read and drive and watch where I’m going. [Pat enters from Mike’s side of stage, limping.] Church Programs for Special Days
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Pat: Hey . . . Sue, Mike! What’re you two doing here? Mike: [turns so Pat notices the patch] Hello, Pat. Pat: What happened to you, Mike? And Sue, what happened to your arm? Mike: I was fishing and . . . Sue: [interrupting Mike with a grimace on her face and waving her good arm] You don’t wanna know, Pat. But wait a minute . . . you’re hurt too! What happened? Pat: Oh, just had another fall. You know me, clumsy as always. Broke the foot this time. Well, it looks like a lot has happened since we saw each other last Sunday. Sue: Yep. I was just telling Mike how hard it is to do everything with just one arm. Mike: And I was just telling Sue how I can’t see what’s coming around the next corner, and the doctor says I shouldn’t drive the car until I get used to this patch. I had to walk here. Sue: You think it’s easy for me to drive? It’s hard with this arm still hurting. Pat: At least you two can walk OK. Everything hurts from shifting all my weight on this good leg. After a couple minutes, I’m tired out. Mike: I never realized how hard it is to do everything you need without your whole body functioning right. Sue: You can say that again. [bends down to pick up the sack once more] Pat: Sue, what are you trying to lug around there? Sue: I’m taking this bag of clothes to the donation drop [points off ahead], but I had to park on the far side. Pat: Why don’t we all help each other? Tell you what . . . driving is one thing I can do with my right foot. Mike, if you help Sue with her bag, I’ll meet you guys there with my car. I can drive Sue back to her car, and give you a lift wherever you need, Mike. Sue: Thanks, Pat! And I can make sure Mike doesn’t bump into anything. But how can I help you in return? Pat: You can walk around the grocery store for me one day this week. Mike: You’ve got a deal! If we all help each other, we can get everything done. [He picks Sue’s sack off the ground.] Sue: [facing congregation or audience] What a good idea to take back to church for the new year! [They all exit.]
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Mothers
A Dramatic Reading for 5 Voices
Karen M. Leet
1. New Mother I’m new to this and have so much to learn. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know. Sleepless nights, colic, and diapers to change—so much hard work and responsibility. Some days I’m so tired I could cry. But, oh, the wonder of it . . . the joy . . . the miracle! A new life . . . a new person to hold in my arms . . . to protect and love . . . forever. Thank God for this baby given to me. Thank You, God, for this precious gift. 2. An Experienced Mom Always busy. That’s me. Three kids to raise and most days it feels like 30! They’re in and out, back and forth, up and down. I can’t even count the number of times somebody calls for me. “Mom, I hurt my knee.” “Mom, can I have a snack?” “Mom, can you help with my homework?” They keep me hopping, I’ll tell you that. And, oh, how I love it, every minute of it. Thank You, God, for these crazy, busy, full, and wonderful years so crammed with blessings I can’t count them all. Thank You, God, for these children. 3. Older Mom Sometimes I almost cry to see them: my babies growing up so fast. How the time flies. They’re so caught up in their own lives . . . hectic lives . . . full lives. Their friends are always in and out. Seems I’m always at the grocery store buying food. How can they all eat so much? I just don’t know where they put it. And sometimes, late at night, I think of when they were little and I wonder, “Do they still need me?” I pray for them—always—for the days ahead and the challenges they’ll face—and I thank God for them, my grown up “babies.” 4. Empty-Nest Mom They’re gone. Left the nest. Off living their own lives—jobs and families, independence, the promise of their own futures. I’m not always sure what to do with myself, with my empty days, my empty nest. My home is full of memories. My heart is full of countless moments of joy and blessings. This is all so new to me, rediscovering who I am and where my life is going, what God plans for me now that the kids are off on their own. I love 26
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