Easter in the Nursing Home
The family has decided to vist grandma in the nursing home before they attend the Community Church Egg Hunt. Derrick has mixed feelings about the nursing home.They join Grandma to listen to some youth share their voices in singing for the residents. They hear the testimony of their Grandma's new friend, Mr. Jones.
Cast: Mom, Dad, Children (Terri and Derrick), Grandmother, Kid’s choir, Office Person, Mr. Jones
Props: Wheelchair, desk, guest book, coffee cup, Peter Cotton's Tale CD
Settings: Kitchen, nursing home scene, office with desk
Dad: Are you planning on taking the kids to the Community Church Egg Hunt?
Mom: I don’t know. I have such a busy schedule on Saturday. You know mom is not doing well.
Dad: How is she doing? I have not heard you say anything this week about her condition.
Mom: You know mom. She does not like the food, and the staff takes too long to meet for her needs.
Dad: Maybe it will just take a little more time for her to get used to the place there.
Mom: I wish we could have brought her here, but with my work and the kids in school, it concerns me that she may hurt herself.
Dad: You're right, although I know it makes you feel bad about the arrangements.
Mom: I hear the kids; the bus must have let them off a little earlier today.
Terri: Hi, mom, hi dad.
Derrick: Hi dad, you’re home early?
Dad: I took off a half day. I ‘m going to help your mother with preparations for Easter.
Derrick: Are we going to the egg hunt?
Dad: That’s what we were just discussing. How about it, honey?
Mom: Why don’t we all go over to see your grandmother first then get back to the egg hunt after that? I really need to get her this box of clothes that she has been requesting for several days now.
Dad: I’ll finish this coffee and change real quick and we’ll be on our way.
Scene 2 (Nursing Home)
Desk Person: Hello, would you mind to sign in? Here is our guest book. We like to keep good records on our visitors.
Mom: Sure, we would be glad to. (Signs guestbook)
Dad: I hear some music. Is that from the chapel?
Desk Person: Yes, we have a youth group from the local community church giving a program today for the residents. You are welcome to join them.
Mom: Maybe we should check on mom first.
Dad: She may be down there. Why don’t’ we take a look. If we do not see her, I will get her and bring her down.
Mom: Thank you, Dan. That is really helpful of you.
Derrick: What is this place? Is this where grandma is staying?
Terri: Of course, silly. This is her new home.
Derrick: Some place! It looks generic.
Mom: Stop it, you two. Someone might overhear you.
Dad: This looks like it ahead. Over here!
(Kids are heard singing)
Choir: Easter's Here!
Mom: That was beautiful! Such a nice choir.
Dad: I’d like to hear the kids sing at our church songs like those.
Terri: Hey, there’s Callie. She attends our school.
Derrick: Don’t be so loud dummy, she could hear you.
Mom: You kids need to listen to this song here. I have not heard this one before.
Choir: That's Why We Praise Him
Mom: There’s mom over there (pointing) sitting with the man who has on the blue hat. See over there?
Dad: Ok, I see she’s made herself a friend. Why don’t we go over and join them until the program is over. I’m sure she’d rather stay and hear the Easter message in song than take off with us.
(Begin walking toward them)
Terri: He’s in a wheelchair.
Derrick: So what! He must have trouble walking or something.
Grandma: It is so good to see all of you here today. Isn’t this just wonderful? Oh, I’m sorry. I’m forgetting my manners. This here is Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones: It’s mighty fine to meet you all. I have heard a lot about you and the grandchildren. They are bigger than I imagined. I was thinking they were real little things.
Dad: They have grown up fast. It is our pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jones (Shakes his hand and sits down next to him)
Mr. Jones: Don’t you love these good songs? I remember the day the Lord saved me.
Mom: That sounds wonderful, Mr. Jones. Would you tell us about it? (Sits down on other side of her mother)
Mr. Jones: I attended a small little church down our country road – about a mile I’d say. I went forward and God forgave me. I was a mean thing before that. In fact, I was knows for the meanest tempter around town. Why, nobody wanted to mess with old Jones.
Choir: Forgiven
Mr. Jones: Yes, sir, God came into my heart and forgave me – a poor sinner. A mean one at that! (Pauses to clean his glasses) It has been a pleasure getting to know your mother here at the home. She has brightened my life here.
Mom: We are glad that she had found a good friend. A place is lonely until you begin to meet some friends.
Grandma: Yes, I agree with that. It was very difficult for me adjusting that first week. The second week was not much better. Then, meeting new friends here as really helped more than I would have imagined.
Dad: We’re glad mom, that you are finding new friends.
Derrick: How come you’re in a wheel chair?
Mom: Derrick….
Mr. Jones: No that’s ok. I am used to those kinds of questions and they do not bother me. I lost a leg about 7 years ago, and had a real hard time getting used to an artificial one so I decided not to use one. Actually, I had infection for so long and had more trouble than usual with wearing one. So much time has passed that am used to this chair. Come here, young man…(leans forward speaking in a lower voice in Derrick’s ear) Listen to this next song – it is my favorite. I bet you know it, too.
Choir: Amazing Grace (Mr. Jones sings along)
Mr. Jones: So beautiful! I could sing that one three times a day. But, as you can see, I ‘m not a singer. I used to in the old days.
Mom: Mr. Jones, you did a nice job. I think you have a nice voice.
Grandma: He sings all the time, don’t let him kid you. We all like to hear him sing when we fellowship on Thursday evenings. He knows so many songs and leads the rest of us in a song fest quite often.
Derrick: I don’t like to sing.
Terri: You sing in choir at school
Derrick: That’s because I have to.
Terri: I think your choir sounds really great!
Mr. Jones: You keep on singing young man. God may want to use that gift of yours someday for a special purpose. God loves us and has a purpose for all of us. Do you believe that, kids?
Terri & Derrick: Of course, we do (look at each other and shrug)
Mr. Jones: He does, and it is because of His love that we can fulfill that purpose.
Choir: Because Of Your Love
Dad: It has been a privilege to meet you Mr. Jones.
Mom: Yes, and getting to hear the choir was such a blessing.
Dad: Honey, (Standing up) if you’re ready we need to leave in order to get the kids to the community egg hunt on time.
Derrick: Yippee! (Dances a few steps)
Terri: We’re ready! (Stands up) Come on grandma (Pulls her hand upward)
Dad: You have a wonderful Easter! (Shakes Mr. Jones hand)
Mom: We will probably see you again sometime (Shakes Mr. Jones hand) Mr. Jones.
Mom: Let’s get your things, mom, and we will meet the others at the car in a few minutes.
All Exit!
© Kidzministry.net Jeanne McIntosh December 2009. All rights reserved.
