The Easter Tree Competition
Preview: The Community Church is planning a special project this year. They have decided to help five needy families in the community. The church will be collecting Easter Eggs filled money to hang on the Easter Tree in the church. There is a competition among the classes to see which will raise the most money for the Easter tree.
Cast: Jeremy, Ericka, Jerrod, Ms. Jones, Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Garth, Choir
Props: Easter Tree, plastic eggs, table & chairs, Cosmic City DVD (David D. Cook Publishing), artificial trees
Scenes: Sunday school class, outside scenes
Costumes: Mrs. Garth (Dress, large hat and big purse); Mr. Henderson (casual pants, shirt, glasses); Ms. Jones (suit); Ericka, Jerrod and Jeremy (jeans and tops)
Scene 1
Jeremy: I am going to bring lots of eggs for the Easter tree.
Ericka: Where are you going to get the money to fill them?
Jeremy: I’ll figure it out.
Ms. Jones: I hope you all will be able to help with the project. This is something that everyone can take a part in this year.
Ericka: Ms. Jones, what are they going to do with all the eggs we bring?
Ms. Jones: Ericka, we will be helping five families in the community who need some help.
Jeremy: Why do they need help? Don’t they have money?
Ms. Jones: Of course, they have some money, but times are difficult now, and some people need extra help. Our Community church wants to reach out and help these families. God’s Word says, “It is more blessed to give then to receive.”
Ericka: What does that mean exactly?
Ms. Jones: We are the most happy when we are helping others. It is a nice thing to receive gifts, but it is even nicer to give a gift. When we are reaching out to help others, it helps us to gain a greater perspective on what true giving and caring is all about. It is not how much we give, but the thought behind the gift. I love to receive a present for my birthday, but enjoy so much more shopping for someone else to make them happy. God wants us to help others with what we have, and to trust him that He will take care of our needs. He will provide all we need, as we obey and trust him.
Jeremy: I see, but what if you don't have money to give?
Ms. Jones: There are more ways to give then in money. We can give of our time, our talents, and our service to others.
Ericka: I’m going to give my allowance each week.
Jeremy: I don’t receive any allowance, so I can’t do that. I will think of something.
Ms. Jones: That is a good idea, Jeremy. I think God will help you as you keep your heart open to him. He will provide for you.
Choir: God Will Meet My Needs
Scene 2:
Jeremy: Hello, Mr. Henderson.
Mr. Henderson: Why, hello there, Jeremy. Why the long face?
Jeremy: I need to earn some money. I don’t know what I am going to do?
Mr. Henderson: Why the urgency to earn money?
Jeremy: My class at church is helping some needy families, and we are collecting eggs filled with money to place on the Easter Tree. We are having a competition between all the classes. The class that raises the most money will earn a pizza party.
Mr. Henderson: That sounds like something nice! Giving to some needy families, I mean. How can I help you?
Jeremy: Can you think of any way that I can earn some money to help the needy families? I really want to help, but I do not get an allowance like Ericka does.
Mr. Henderson: And who is Ericka, if I may ask?
Jeremy: She is my friend at church. We also go to the same school together.
Mr. Henderson: Hmmmm. Let me think about it. Here comes Mrs. Garth, why don’t you tell her about it; she may have some ideas.
Mrs. Garth: Did I hear my name?
Jeremy: I was just telling Mr. Henderson about our class at church that is raising money for the Easter Tree for some needy families. We are placing the money in Easter eggs.
Mrs. Garth How wonderful! I think your class is doing a very noble project. I will help all I can.
Jeremy: Thinks Mrs. Garth. I need some ideas on how I can raise the money. I do not earn an allowance.
Mrs. Garth: I am sure you will think of something.
Jeremy: I hope so.
Choir: My God Does Miracles
Scene 3
Ericka: Did you find any way to raise money for the Easter Tree?
Jeremy: No, not yet. I asked a couple people who go to church, but they did not seem to have any answers.
Jerrod: I am working for my uncle at his store 2 nights a week after school. He is paying me and I plan to use that for filling my eggs. He is glad that I am using my money to help someone else.
Jeremy: That’s good for you, but it does not help me. Does your uncle need any more help with the store?
Jerrod: He said he only took me on because of this project. He does not plan to keep me very long. At least, I will make enough for this project, and possibly a new game I want.
Ericka: Jeremy, maybe something will turn up. Let’s ask Mrs. Jones about it. Maybe she can help.
Jeremy: I’ll see.
Ericka: We’ll walk home with you. I do not have to home right away since my mom is stopping by to pick up a few things for Easter Dinner. We are having in the whole family and it takes a lot of food to feed them all. My dad tells her she should let some others take their turn once in a while.
Jerrod: My mom and I eat alone on Easter. We really do not plan a special dinner. Sometimes my uncles and his wife come over, but not too often.
Jeremy: Hey, look! What’s this? (Stoops over to pick up something).
Jerrod: A Twenty dollar bill! Wow!
Ericka: I wonder if anyone lost it? You know, a lot of people pass this way every day, and it is close to Mr. Henderson’s home. He lives right around the corner.
Jerrod Maybe he lost it!
Jeremy: I doubt it. I’ll pocket it, and I can get twenty bills and put one dollar bills in each egg. That will be twenty eggs! I told you I’d figure it out.
Ericka: But what if it belongs to someone who really needs it? How would you feel?
Jeremy: They must not need it, or they would not have lost it. It’s mine now, and I will use it for my offering.
Choir: All Things Are Possible
Scene 4
Jerrod: Hey, here comes Mr. Henderson right now. Why don’t we ask him?
Jeremy: Well, I guess if you say so. He probably does not even know he lost it if he did.
Mr. Henderson: Hello there, Jeremy. Didn’t I just see you earlier?
Jeremy: Yes, you did. Did you lose anything?
Mr.; Henderson: I don’t know what you mean. Lose what?
Jeremy: Anything important?
Mr. Henderson: Anything important? What could that be?
Jerrod: Twenty dollars.
Mr. Henderson: Well…..I don’t’ know. Let me check my wallet. I paid for some groceries with some bills, and I just now remember that I stuffed them in my pocket here. Just give me a minute. (Pulls out both pockets and stuff falls out)
Ericka: It is a lot of money, and we thought you should know about it if you lost some.
Me. Henderson: I’ll be (counts his money) I did lose a twenty dollar bill. I may not have known it unless you had told me about it.
Jeremy: Here is the bill. You should have it back since it belongs to you.
Mr. Henderson: You are right, Jeremy, and I think you for being an honest young man about it. Why don’t you just keep it for your Easter Tree? I did not know it was gone, and may not have thought any more about it. So, I didn't miss it. I know you are trying to raise money for your tree, and this will give you a start.
Jeremy: Thanks, Mr. Henderson! Thanks a whole lot!
Choir: God of Power
Scene 5
Ms. Jones: It is good to see you all here again this Sunday. Today our lesson is about how we can be honest.
Jeremy: I understand what that means.
Ms. Jones: And what is that, Jeremy.
Jeremy: It is taking back something that does not belong to you.
Ms. Jones: Yes, that is one way that we can be honest with others.
Jerrod: I know another way to be honest.
Ms. Jones: And what might that be, Jerrod?
Jerrod: Working the whole time while you are on the job.
Ms. Jones: Thank you for sharing. That is a way that we can be honest with how we spend our time on the job.
Ms. Jones: Ericka, do you have anything you would like to share with the class?
Ericka: Well………….I think we can help our friends to be honest when they are struggling to do the right thing.
Ms. Jones: I like that, Ericka. God will use us to be an example to others, and help us influence them to make good choices.
Ericka: Mrs. Jones, what class is bringing in the most eggs so far?
Ms. Jones: That is hard to tell for sure. But this is our little secret. I think we have a good start. Just keep bringing in those eggs. Look at our tree; it looks so colorful. Does anyone have any eggs to add to it today?
Jeremy: Yes, Ms. Jones. I have some.
Ms Jones: Maybe you can add those as soon as we dismiss our class.
Ms. Jones: Let us close in prayer. Exits. (Jeremy places eggs on tree as choir sings)
Choir: From Everlasting to Everlasting
Scene 6
Ericka: Are you two coming home with us today? My mom said you could eat dinner with our family if you get permission.
Jeremy: Let me check with my mom and see if she will be needing me for anything first.
Jerrod: My mom won’t care. She will be glad not to have to fix lunch for me today.
Jerrod: Hey, look who’s coming over here.
Jeremy: It’s Mrs. Garth. I wonder what she wants?
Mrs. Garth: Hello children, I hope you had a good lesson today. I know your teacher, Ms. Jones is good and speaks very well of her class.
Jeremy: We had a good lesson today. How are you, Mrs. Garth?
Mrs. Garth: I’m fine as usual; although, my back hurts some today. How are you doing with collecting money for your Easter Tree project?
Jeremy: Our class is going very well. I think we are in the lead.
Mrs. Garth: That is good to hear. Let me help you out some more. Here is some money to put in those eggs. Don’t say I never give to the church when there is a good cause. Especially to help a needy family.
Jeremy: Twenty dollars! Gee, thanks Mrs. Garth. This will help our class win for sure.
Mrs. Garth: You all take care; I’ll be seeing you around.
Jeremy: Wow! God does provide.
Ericka: I knew He would help you, Jeremy.
Jerrod: I think we will be having pizza. I love pizza!
Jeremy: So do I! Especially if it has extra cheese.
Ericka: Here's mom, let’s go. She does not like to be kept waiting when she cooks a big dinner.
Choir: You Are
Exit
© Kidzministry.net Jeanne McIntosh December 2009. All rights reserved.
