Summary: The song evokes a variety of emotions at the graveside of a faithful servant. A horrible crash at the end of the drama leaves the thought: Did someone die and were they ready to meet God?
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 9min
Actors: 2M, 2F
Setting: The graveside of an elderly, faithful servant. Many close family members are present and have a variety of emotions with the song. Thoughts during the song are pre-recorded.
Characters:
Sarah, daughter who always depended on her mother and not God
Katie, granddaughter who shared her grandmother's faith
Jason, nephew who does not believe in God and thinks it is all crazy
Pastor
Vocalist (can be off stage or pre-recorded)
(All are seated in a prayerful position. As each one has their time to reflect, they react physically to their pre-recorded thoughts. As the others speak, each person sits quietly with their heads bowed. The Pastor is standing; the vocalist may be on stage or off stage.)
Pastor: This celebration of the life of Mary would not be complete without her favorite song, “How Great Thou Art”.
(looks at each character as he says their relationship with Mary and they smile in return)
She was our mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and sister in Christ and we will always remember her sweet smile every time she heard this song but, more importantly, we remember her steadfast faith.
(first verse is sung)
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
(all of the following thoughts can be pre-recorded)
Sarah ( adult daughter; agitated) : Oh, no! Not THAT song! I know it was Mom's favorite but I can't bear to hear it right now. How great Thou art? How can a great God let her suffer and take her away from me? I don't know how I will be able to handle all of my problems without her. She was my rock, my adviser, my source of strength.
(refrain is sung)
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Sarah (less agitated): How Great are you God? Mom talked to you every day and she still died. Are you great enough to help me now? I feel so alone. Mom has been there for me. I've always had her to talk to and lean upon. She said that she got her strength from you, that she talked to you every day and leaned on your Word.
(prayerfully)
God, are you there for me, too? How can I find you? Can you help my soul to sing, too?
Katie (granddaughter; smiling sweetly and at peace with herself): Oh Grandma, your soul is singing in the presence of God Almighty today!
(third verse is sung)
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
Katie: Thank you God, for giving me a wonderful Grandma that shared your Son, Jesus, with me. You blessed us both with the chance to share our faith and I learned so much from her. Oh, I will miss you, Grandma, but I have Jesus in my heart because of you. I have all those wonderful memories of spending time with you and your worn, marked up Bible. I will always feel your sweet, sweet spirit whenever I hear this song.
Jason (nephew; uncomfortable and disinterested) Well, I knew they would get Aunt Mary's favorite song in here sometime. She loved this song but I never really listened to it. I guess her generation liked it but I just don't get it. How Great Thou Art? Nobody talks like that anymore!
(fourth verse is sung)
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Jason: I've never heard that verse before. Home..... is that the heaven that I hear Christians talk about? I know my Aunt always tried to talk to me about it but I was always good at dodging her. (smirking) Really good at dodging her!
(pondering the words for the first time)
I wonder if there really is something to this God thing. The idea that Christ will come again is really strange but I will admit that my Aunt was one of the happiest and most contented people I've ever known. However, I can't believe that there is a God that let His Son die and He is supposed to come back again. Maybe one day I'll take time to Google it but I've got too much on my plate right now to deal with it. Maybe one day.......
(live action resumes)
Pastor (holding a worn Bible): Here is her Bible. She believed every word in it but she doesn't need it anymore.
(He holds it out to the trio and they all have different reactions. Jason immediately pushes it away. Sarah is uncomfortable but takes it reluctantly.)
Sarah (hands it to Katie): Here, I think you should have it. I know that you both read it together a lot. (passes it to her but a paper falls out) What's this?
Katie (takes the paper and reads it aloud; smiling): It's her prayer list! You know she prayed for all of us every day, don't you?
(others are uncomfortable)
Sarah to depend on God and not on me.
Katie to be blessed with a deeper faith and a Christian husband.
Jason to have his eyes opened so he can see God and accept Jesus as his Savior.
(They realize she prays for them every day and are humbled.)
Jason (nervously): Katie, I think you should take it since you shared that kind of stuff with her.
Katie (lovingly): I have it in my heart already. I think she would want you to have it, Sarah.
Sarah (holding her hands up to avoid taking it): No, I already have one she gave me.
Katie (smiling): Well, Jason, I think she would have wanted you to have it. Here, it's yours!
(Jason takes it uncomfortably.)
Sarah (breaking the tension): Let's all drive together to the funeral dinner. We can take my car.
(All three and vocalist exit quickly. Pastor stays back at the gravesite, praying. Seconds later the sounds of a horrific car crash are heard. Pastor reacts quickly, calling 911)
Pastor (excitedly): 911? Yes, there has been a horrible accident near the cemetery. It's bad.......really really bad. I don't know if anyone is still alive...... please hurry!
(Pastor exits hurriedly)
….............................................
© Claudia Rudolph. All rights reserved.
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