Worship  | |
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Advent Puppet Skits
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PUPPET SKITS: Advent Symbols
This section contains a puppet dialogue for each Sunday of Advent. They are
written for lion and lamb puppets but can be easily adapted for other puppets or
presented as a dialogue between two persons. They can be used as an introduction
to the lighting of the Advent candle in the worship service. Other uses include
Sunday School classes or intergenerational learning centers during the Advent
season.
The stage used for the puppets can be as simple or elaborate
as the abilities, time, and interests of the congregation indicate.
Possibilities include:
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using the pulpit, piano, or other wall in the front of
the sanctuary.
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creating a simple frame with curtains that can be placed
on top of the pulpit or other wall.
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First Sunday of Advent
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Lion:
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Well! Here we are again. |
Lamb:
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What do you mean “again”? |
Lion:
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Well, we’ve been here in the summer and for
pre-baptismal classes. And now we’re here for Advent. Aren’t we just
paragons of puppet pliability? |
Lamb:
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Yes! We bend but we do not break. |
Lion:
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We… oh, forget it. Let’s get on with our business. |
Lamb:
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To tell these fine people something about Advent. |
Lion:
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Which is? |
Lamb:
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Advent is the season before Christmas when we prepare
to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. |
Lion:
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We use four themes: hope, love, joy, and peace. And
each Sunday we light another candle in the Advent wreath. |
Lamb:
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This year we have another part to our Advent
celebration. Each Sunday there will be a different symbol. |
Lion:
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You mean a cymbal? Like a crashing cymbal? That will be
fun! Noisy but fun. |
Lamb:
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No, silly, I mean a symbol. S-Y-M-B-O-L. An object that
reminds us of something about Advent. |
Lion:
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And I suppose today’s symbol won’t be a clanging
cymbal. |
Lamb:
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You’ve got that right, but it does clang. It is a
bell. |
Lion:
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Cool! A bell. A bell would be a symbol of… of… Hey!
What would a bell be a symbol of? |
Lamb:
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Just be patient. There is someone here who will light
the Advent candle and tell us about the symbolism of the bell. |
Lion:
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And we will be leaving, but we’ll be back next week.
’Bye. |
Lamb:
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’Bye everyone. |
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Second Sunday of Advent
Lion:
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It’s okay. What do you like so much about it? |
Lamb:
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I LOVE the music. I LOVE the lights. I LOVE the
shopping. |
Lion:
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OK! OK! Let me summarize. You love Christmas. |
Lamb:
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Oh yes! I LOVE, LOVE. |
Lion:
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LOVE, LOVE?? |
Lamb:
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Yes! At Christmas we celebrate God’s love. The Bible
says, “For God so loved the world that God sent a Son.” That’s what
Christmas is about. |
Lion:
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And that is also the Advent theme for today, right? |
Lamb:
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How did you guess? |
Lion:
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And do you have a symbol for today? Wait, let me guess.
It will be a heart. |
Lamb:
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No, smarty pants. It’s not a heart. It’s a
poinsettia. |
Lion:
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A flower? What’s that got to do with love? |
Lamb:
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It’s the color and the size of the poinsettia. They
remind us of God’s loving presence with us. |
Lion:
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Presents! I’m liking this better every minute. |
Lamb:
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Not that kind of presents! Let’s listen while someone
reads about it and lights the candle. You might even learn a thing or two. |
Lion:
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I’m ready to listen. We’ll see you all next week.
Same Advent time, same Advent channel. |
Lamb:
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Oh, brother. ’Bye everyone. See you next week. |
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Third Sunday of Advent
This skit can take the place of a reader for the Advent candle lighting.
Instead the puppets will ask the designated person to light the candle at
the end of the skit.
Lamb:
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Hey, Lion. Want to play catch with my new ball? |
Lion:
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Right now? Right here in church? |
Lamb:
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Well, maybe we should wait. What about putting the ball
over there on the worship center? |
Lion:
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In the worship center? That’s for worship things, not
play things like balls. Why would you put it there? |
Lamb:
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Because a red ball is the Advent symbol for today. |
Lion:
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I know you like symbols, but a ball is taking it a
little far, isn’t it? |
Lamb:
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Not really. The Advent word for today is joy. Doesn’t
a ball make you happy? |
Lion:
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Oh, boy, it sure does! I like to bounce a ball and play
catch. You can really get someone’s attention when you are throwing a ball at
them. |
Lamb:
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Well, that’s one reason. But there is another kind of
red ball that is a symbol of joy. |
Lion:
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Is it one of those red Christmas tree ornaments? |
Lamb:
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That would be it. On a Christmas tree, a red ball
ornament merrily reflects all that goes around it, the tree lights and other
ornaments as well as the smiles and happy faces of family and friends who gather
around the tree. |
Lion:
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That works when there are a lot of people around. But
what about when I am alone? |
Lamb:
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Even in quiet times, the red ball ornaments color the
room with a joyful glow. The ornaments on a Christmas tree represent the Earth
bathed in Christmas joy. |
Lion:
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You think of everything. Is it time to light the candle
now? |
Lamb:
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It sure is, but we’ll need some help for that. |
Lion:
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Let’s have _______________ come
up and take the ball to the worship center and light the third candle of Advent. |
Lamb:
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That will be great. And we’ll be back one more time
next week. ’Bye all. |
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
This skit begins with Lion striking a statuesque pose.
Lamb:
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Hey, Lion. What are you doing? |
Lion:
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I’m trying to look statuesque. Don’t I look heroic and dignified? |
Lamb:
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Weeellll. Now that you mention it. Maybe, but I could
think of other words to describe it, too. Why are you doing this? |
Lion:
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Because today’s Advent symbol is the lion and the
lamb. It has to do with peace. I figured that would mean us, and I was getting
ready to be symbolic. |
Lamb:
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Honestly! Sometimes I think making you into a statue
would be an improvement. |
Lion:
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And I suppose you know all about this lion and lamb and
peace business? |
Lamb:
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I don’t know all of it, but I do know that it has to
do with the kingdom of God. |
Lion:
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And the fourth Advent candle of peace. |
Lamb:
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Let’s get out of the way and hear more about it. |
Lion:
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Let’s do. Thanks for including us in your Advent
season. |
Lamb:
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’Bye everyone. |
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