1. Servers: The Skit based on based on Ephesians 2:8-10 and Mark 10:45 ©2012 David Skarshaug (www.alcames.org). Conditions for use: (1) If you use all or parts of this script in any form, please consider sending a suggested $25 donation check made out to “ The ROCK ” to the following address: Ascension Lutheran Church, 2400 Bloomington Road, Ames, IA 50010. Reference the script title in the memo on the check. (2) Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. (3) You may reproduce this script for internal use, but all copies must contain this copyright statement.

2. Spencer:Ryan Mrs. Server:Sawyer Peter:Zach Simon:Matt Mr. Server:Chandler

3. Peter:(Arrives with 4 papers in hand and a tennis racket & jacket.) Hmm. 777 Service Street. Welcome to the Server Home. This must be the place. (Knocks on door.)

4. Spencer: MOM, Can you get the door? Mrs. Server:Well, hello Peter. So nice you could come to our home tonight.

5. Peter:Hello, Mrs. Server. I found these papers in your driveway. I ’ d have carried more, but my hands were full. Are they yours?

6. Mrs. Server:Oh, yes. The dog used to get our paper for us and bring it in every day, but ever since he ran away, we just don ’ t seem to get the paper picked up as often as we ’ d like.

7. Peter:Your dog ran away? I ’ m sorry to hear that. I’ve never heard of a dog running away from home.

8. Mrs. Server:It ’ s just as well. He expected us to feed him EVERY day, and that was getting a little old. I ’ ll let Spencer know you ’ re here, Peter. (Turns & shouts.) Spencer…Peter ’ s here!

9. Spencer:Coming mother. Mrs. Server:So tell me, Peter. How did you meet Spencer? Peter:The tennis team.

10. Spencer:(Spencer enters.) Hi, Peter. Peter:Hi, Spencer. Thanks for having me over tonight.

11. Spencer:Oh great, you brought your tennis racket. Just drop it on the floor anywhere. Hey, great coat, Peter!

12. Peter:Oh, thank you. (Removes it to hand to Spencer, who completely ignores it, so he looks at audience & drops it on floor.) So what are we doing tonight?

13. Spencer:Come on into the family room. We ’ ll play some ping-pong until supper is ready. Then maybe after supper we ’ ll go to the park and play some tennis. (Boys prepare to play ping pong.)

14. Peter:So, shall we ping to see who serves first? Spencer:No, you just serve. I’m not into that. Peter:Not into what?

15. Spencer:Serving. Peter: You never serve?

16. Spencer: Hey, it ’ s not my thing, okay? It ’ s the same when I play volleyball and tennis. Peter:So that ’ s why you never serve at tennis practice.

17. Spencer:That ’ s right. I never want to serve. Peter:Doesn ’ t that…well, kind of limit your game?

18. Spencer:Oh, we all have our strengths. Serving just just isn ’ t my gift. Peter:You should consider trying to serve, Spencer.

19. Spencer: It ’ s not my gift, but…I ’ ll pray about it. Mrs. Server:Boys, supper ’ s ready. Peter: Oh great. Boy it sure smells good. I can hardly wait.

20. Spencer:Come on into the dining room, Peter. (All enter to sit at the table.) Mr. Server:Well, Spencer, introduce us to your guest.

21. Spencer:Oh, sure Dad. This is my brother Simon and father, Sam. And you ’ ve met my Mom, Sally.

22. Mr. Server:Welcome to the Server home, Peter. Glad you could join us for dinner. Mrs. Server:Sam, let’s start with prayer.

23. Mr. Server:Surely, Sally. Let’s pray. (All bow heads.) Lord, thank you for the smell of the food you have provided, and for the fellowship of our guest, Peter. Amen.

24. Spencer:What did you fix for supper, Mom? Wait, let me guess (takes a big sniff.) Hmm, smells like that delicious golden sautéed chicken breast.

25. Simon:(Takes a sniff.) With corn, peas, smashed potatoes and gravy. Spencer:(Takes a big sniff.) And homemade bread—don ’ t forget the homemade bread. That ’ s the best part.

26. Mr. Server:Boy oh boy, you ’ ve outdone yourself this time, honey. Dinner smells just great. Simon:Sure wish we had someone to serve it to us. (Everyone laughs. Long awkward pause.)

27. Spencer:My stomach ’ s growling. I sure wish someone had set the table. (Long pause.) Peter:Mrs. Server, can I help you in the kitchen or get something for you?

28. Mrs. Server:Oh, that ’ s okay. You ’ re our guest, Peter and we don ’ t want to put you out. (Long awkward pause.) Peter:Well, I don ’ t mean to be rude, but is supper ready?

29. Mrs. Server:Oh, it ’ s ready. I took the chicken & bread out of the oven nearly ten minutes ago. (Long awkward pause.) Peter: Pardon me for asking, but would you like me to set the table?

30. Mr. Server:Peter, we wouldn ’ t think of asking you to set the table. You ’ re our guest. (Long awkward pause.) Peter:So, does your family have all your meals like this?

31. Spencer:Oh no, we used to have a cook that would serve us our evening meals. Simon:But ever since she left, we usually have a walk-through meal.

32. Spencer:But Mom said we had to sit at the table for this meal, because we were having a guest. Peter:Oh, I ’ m sorry. I didn ’ t mean to change your routine.

33. Mr. Server:No trouble…no trouble at all. (Long pause.) Peter:Well, pardon me again, but I’d really enjoy setting the table and serving the food. Really, I kind of like helping out.

34. Simon:Where do you get these ideas, Peter? Peter:Well…I ’ m a Christian.

35. Mr. Server:So are we. We ’ re Lutherans. And us Lutherans always live by Ephesians 2:8-9: “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. ”

36. Mrs. Server: That means it doesn ’ t matter what we do, it only matters what we believe.

37. Peter:Pardon me, Mr. Server, but verse 10 goes on to complete Paul ’ s thought: “ For we are God ’ s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ”

38. Simon: Wow, sure glad I only memorized vs 8-9! That verse 10 sounds like work.

39. Peter: Well, when you throw in verse 10, we see that although we are saved by faith, God still expects us to do good works--to serve—in gratitude for His grace.

40. Spencer:Hey, maybe that ’ s why you sometimes hear people call Jesus the Servant King. Simon: SERVANT King. Nonsense, kings HAVE servants; they’re NOT servants themselves!

41. Peter:Actually, Spencer is on to something. In fact, in Mark 10:45, Jesus identified himself as the Servant King. Simon: Hey, that’s a confimation memory verse: “ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE… ”

42. (Everyone in room gasps in unison.) Simon: “…and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Spencer:So, it ’ s okay to serve?

43. Peter:It ’ s more than okay. It ’ s expected. If we call ourselves Christians, by definition we ’ re called to be servants, like Christ. Mr. Server: So serving—like forgiving--is a way of life for us.

44. Mrs. Server:So being a Christian and not serving is as crazy as… Simon: It’s as crazy as preparing a great meal and never eating it.

45. Spencer: It’s as crazy as having the last name Server and not serving? Mr. Server:Hmm. Serving Servers? That sounds so crazy it just might work. Hey, let’s go get the food. (All exit.)