Creative Arts
Creative worship resources on the themes of justice, peace, and care for creation

Justice and Peace

• A Woman's Place  A reading of persistence in the face of opposition, based on the story of the widow and the judge from Luke 18, but also on the lives of real women around the world.
• Anna and the General    An airport encounter between "sister Anna" Mow--Church of the Brethren teacher, writer, speaker--and General Lewis Hershey, director of the Selective Service System.
• We have seen the enemy    Young adults discuss conflict resolution from the global to the very local and discover the same principles apply in both arenas
• The King and I    Reactions to events on that first Christmas night by King Herod and by a shepherd near Bethlehem--both had a vested interest in the events unfolding that night.
• Wanted: Prophet to the Nations A skit for two readers on the call of Jeremiah in which the least qualified applicant is the most desired candidate for the position of "prophet to the nations."
• Thought-provoking Something to Think About series for use in youth meetings or as a Moment for Mission .
• I Was Hungry Today compares a day in the life and the role of food for two young people--one rich, one poor.
• Long-term Investment A skit of hope and humor based on Jeremiah's purchase of property in soon-to-be-overrun Jerusalem. Reference: Jeremiah, chapter 32.
• Homeland Security Two counter-terrorism agents discuss the threat posed by the Jesus-movement. Based on Acts 17:1-6, where the early church is said to have "turned the world upside down" by saying there is another king besides Caesar.
• Of Frogs and Men A conversation between graduating college friends; one heading into his career, the other into volunteer service.
• The Morning After A mother and daughter discuss the daughter's encounter with violence on a date the night before. One out of four women experienced physical or psychological violence in a dating relationship.
• One Good Question A reading on Jesus' healing of the man on the Sabbath. For four readers.
• The Client A reflection on the story of the rich man and Lazarus for three readers.
• The Predicament This drama highlights the problem and complexity of child exploitation in the world by comparing the experiences of two young women and whose lives intersect in a moment of decision. The drama calls for nine actors, some or all of whom can be youth.
• Time to Take Off Energetic litany based on Isaiah 40:28-41 dealing with issues of worldly and spiritual power.
• One Man's Witness The story of Ted Studebaker, a young man who went to Vietnam during the war, but as a conscientious objector--and was killed while there.
• Listening to the Word of God Jesus' teaching of loving our enemies, but with an injection of modern-day reality.

Care for Creation

• The Sower is an interactive retelling of this parable of Jesus that invites those sowing seeds not to lose hope—some seeds do eventually take root and grow—even multiply!
• In The Talk, a young person tells it like it is to her parents about their generation's role in making such a mess of the planet--and how she can help them learn a better way.
• The Creation Gives Praise, a Call to Worship with "different" voices
• We've got the whole world... This litany challenges Christians to respond to global warming
• When Mother Calls is a longer skit (20 minutes) portraying a trial in which earth's creatures testify about human impacts (represented by leaf-blower-toting Ralph) on the environment
• Litany of Disappearance endangered species on the planet speak for themselves--and challenge concerned humans to speak up too.
• Now showing...! "Francis" is a 30-minute one-man show on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of God's creation. The performance traces Francis' life from wealthy young merrymaker to his transformation into "God's troubadour"--complete with a renunciation of materialism and a deep love for all living things.
• Wade in the Water , a 20-minute worship resource calling for stewardship of water, one of God's most precious gifts.
• Thirsty is a reading on appreciating--or not appreciating--clean water, contrasting the attitudes of a person from the poorer world and the richer world.
• Worship resources -- suggestions for responsive readings, prayers, hymns, anthems, and praise songs
• Sunday School resources -- Care for creation lesson plan for ages elementary through youth.
• Sermon resources -- Four different scripture and sermon outline possibilities on everything from the sacredness of the Sabbath to global warming
• Children's Stories -- text for children's stories
• Articles written with care-for-the-earth themes; we offer
  • Longer articles for your newsletter
  • Shorter articles for your newsletter or bulletin
  • (NEW!) Short blurbs for your bulletin or newsletter
  • Bulletin insert -- text for the print-ready bulletin insert

• If Koalas were King A reading intertwining the creation story of Genesis 1 with a commentary on the role of human beings as stewards of God's world.

• Psalm 8

Seasonal/General

• Couldn't keep a dead man dead The Easter morning story retold years later by two of the women who were there
• A Christmas Eve service provides a serious yet at-times humorous look at events of the first Christmas night
• Mary Calls Home imagines the new mother of Jesus calling home from Bethlehem to share the news with mom
• Seeing is Believing is an Easter morning reading showing both the initial despair but dawning hope of the events around Easter weekend
• No Room at the (Comfort) Inn tells the story of the rich young ruler from the disciples' perspective
• Free as a bird...? invites a person enthralled with taking their "freedom in Christ" and running with it to consider whether sometimes our supposed "freedom" is really just another form of enslavement--to things, popular culture, etc. Concluding responsive reading included.
• The King and I    Reactions to events on that first Christmas night by King Herod and by a shepherd near Bethlehem--both had a vested interest in the events unfolding that night.
• We Two Kings A Christmas skit for two readers in which the wise men reflect on their visit with Jesus and their encounter with King Herod. Typical Christmas play attire (or at least a robe or a crown) suggested as dress for actors.
• Birth Announcements A Dr. Seuss-style Christmas Reading for Three Readers