Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And…Jesus cried with a loud voice saying…’My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’…and Jesus cried out…and yielded up his spirit…

“There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed him from Galilee, ministering to him.” *

WOMAN: (stands holding one or more long pieces of cloth) I was a follower of Jesus, but not until the very end. But you see, I had no idea it was the end. My name is unimportant. You won’t find me in your Bible, because I’m not there. But I was there–when Jesus came to town. Read the rest of this entry »

A TESTIMONY: JOHN THE BAPTIST
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: The word of God came to John in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But when John rebuked Herod the king, (looking at JOHN) Herod locked John up in prison. *

JOHN: I always knew I was not the Messiah. But I thought Jesus was. It was my job to be his messenger, to point the people to him. I got their attention, too, for my sermon was powerful. Read the rest of this entry »

A TESTIMONY: THE DINNER HOSTESS
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. *

HANNAH: I wasn’t sure why my husband invited Jesus to dinner. Simon was a Pharisee, and the Pharisees were having problems with Jesus. I could tell Simon thought Jesus was potentially dangerous, and yet he was intrigued by him. You see, the Pharisees were doing their best to preserve our nation. We were the chosen ones, God’s people. We had to be different from all the nations around us. But Jesus had a way of turning their teachings upside-down every time. Read the rest of this entry »

A TESTIMONY: MATTHEW
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR: Jesus…saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. *

MATTHEW: Somehow it came easily for me, following Jesus. I had heard of his miracles before I ever met him. By the time he called me to follow him, I guess I already wanted to believe. Read the rest of this entry »

I’d like to post five short dramas that I wrote for our school’s Holy Week services last year. If you’re looking for one or more simple, yet meaningful dramas for this Lenten season, feel free to use these.

A TESTIMONY: MARY MAGDALENE
By Denise Day Spencer

NARRATOR:     Jesus…appeared to Mary Magdalene, (looking at MARY) out of whom he had cast seven demons. *

MARY: Demons, they called them. You might call it something different today. I can’t even tell you when or how it started. It’s all such a jumble in my mind. Read the rest of this entry »

When Noel blesses everyone in the family by presenting each of us with a copy of her Christmas wish list in…oh…June or so, she always writes at the top, “It’s never too early to start!”

And so keeping in step with my earlybird daughter, I’m posting the gist of a Christmas program we did at our school this past Christmas. I wrote it to be as flexible as possible with the music. Take a look, and if you can use any part of it this holiday season, it’s free for the taking. Just think of it as my early Christmas gift to you. All I ask is that you give me credit for the writing. Read the rest of this entry »

The third of three dramas I’m posting from past Holy Week services at OBI. This is a two-woman skit that depicts Mary’s memories of and fears for her son, Jesus, before his crucifixion. Read the rest of this entry »

The second of three Holy Week skits I’m posting from years past in our chapel services. This one is a four-man drama about the thieves who died with Jesus. Read the rest of this entry »

I know it’s only early Febuary, but I believe in getting a head start. I’d like to share three skits that I wrote some years ago for our annual Holy Week services in chapel. If you can use one or more of them this Easter season, be my guest.

First, a two-man skit about Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first started this blog, I intended it to be partially an opportunity for personal expression, and partially a chance for me to share some of the things I’ve written for creative ministries. I apologize for not getting started with the creative ministries part sooner. But as the holiday season is fast approaching, I’d like to post the chapel Christmas program that we did here at OBI last year. It offers short, easy-to-stage drama segments and several choices of carols for the music spots. If you’re looking for a user-friendly Christmas program for your youth or adult choir that combines music and drama, this may be the thing for you. Read the rest of this entry »