Home Sweet Church Home

Intergenerational Worship Service

Rev. Colleen M. McDonald
UU Church of Rockford
Rockford, IL

A few words of explanation: This service was a multi-generational service held on “Homecoming Sunday,” the first Sunday of the new church year.

When people arrived for the service, they were greeted by the ministers; outside the sanctuary door, in the Narthex, a refreshment table was set up, and people were invited to have a cup of juice and a small danish (before or after the service).

The “Processional” was a lively song with an African drum beat. In advertising the service, we had invited people in the congregation to bring drums and other rhythm instruments. When the Processional started, the “cast” entered, playing instruments, accompanied by children in the church, who also had been given instruments.

The service was built around a play, its various acts interspersed with music. In the play, “Dorothy” is visited by three of her friends (played by ministers?including affiliated ministers?of the church), each of whom tells her why his/her church is important to him/her and invites Dorothy to come along. The dialogue was not written out completely – the three friends all spoke personally about their own experience in the church. Near the end of the play, the congregation joins in the “action” of the play, as they become the congregation Dorothy visits; Dorothy invites the congregation to tell her why they go to their church.

Cast:
Narrator (two lines only)
Dorothy
Dan, Thandeka, and Sarah (Dorothy’s Friends)

Stage Setting: Dorothy is wearing pajamas and red slippers. She is sleeping in a bed. There is an alarm clock on a small table by her bed. Also on the stage are a card table and two chairs.

Narrator: [“invisible,” speaking from the back] Welcome to today – the first day of the rest of our lives.
Alarm clock rings.

Dorothy: Oh, man?is it morning already? Boy, that was sure a doozy of a dream! I’m going to have to stop eating those peanut butter and eggplant sandwiches right before bed. Well, I better get up and get ready for work...

Wait a minute... Today’s Sunday, not Monday. I can sleep in. My twin sister, Colleen, may be a minister, but me – I don’t even go to church. Who needs church? I have everything I need in this cozy little home of mine.

Yes, siree. I have companionship [hug stuffed animals], stimulation [someone throws in a folded newspaper], and live music when I want it. [plays chopsticks on the keyboard] I have plenty of peace and quiet for reflection. If I have a problem, I can call 911.

At home I’m free?free to be myself, to ask questions, and to search for truth, without anyone telling me my answers are wrong. And there’s no one here making me feel guilty about what I’m doing?or not doing. I’m socially responsible – I give at the office.

Yes, I’m satisfied, here in my own home. I don’t need anything else. (Sits down at her table and reads the newspaper.)

Narrator: To be continued.
Introit, Welcome and Announcements, Chalice Lighting, and Response

Visitor 1

[Steve knocks on the door.]

Dan: Hi, Dorothy.

Dorothy: Hey, Dan ? come on in.... It’s good to see you ? sit down. Can I get you a cup of coffee and a bagel? I have vegan cream cheese.

Dan: No thanks. I can’t stay long. I was on my way to church and was hoping you’d come with me.
Dorothy: Me go to church? Sorry! I’m not a churchy person.

Dan: Lots of people in my congregation felt the same way once ? before they found our church.
Dorothy: Really?

Dan: Look, my church doesn’t believe in proselytizing. But I’d really appreciate a chance to tell you more about it.

Dorothy: Okay...

Dan: [Ad libs his reason for going to the church] . . .. I have to go. Will you come along?

Dorothy: Gee, Dan. You make your church sound pretty appealing?but I don’t know. To be honest, just the thought of going somewhere where there’s stained glass, organ music, and a preacher is giving me a Maalox moment.

Dan: OK. OK. I understand. Maybe you’d like to come just for brunch after the service. We’re having tofu barbecue today.

Dorothy: It’s tempting, but, no thanks.

Dan: Okay... see you later, Dorothy. [leaves]

Dorothy: Hmmm... a church where... [refers to things he said]

And where they serve tofu barbecue! (Goes back to her newspaper)

Hymn #389: “Gathered Here”

Visitor 2

[Thandeka knocks on the door]

Dorothy: Thandeka, what a surprise! [Lets her in]... You know, I just finished that book about Schleirmacher that you lent me, and I’ve been looking forward to discussing it with you.

Thandeka: I’m organizing a Schleirmacher book discussion at my church ? maybe you’d like to join us.

Dorothy: Hey ? you’re the second person today trying to get me interested in a church. To tell you the truth,

Thandeka, you’ve never seemed to me to be the kind of person who would need a church... I certainly don’t!

Thandeka: Why do you say that, Dorothy?

Dorothy: I keep remembering when I was a kid, and I’d visit friend’s churches... and I just couldn’t sing the words in those hymns.

Thandeka: Yeah. We have a reputation, in my church, for not being very good hymn singers, ourselves, because everyone’s busy reading all the words, figuring out whether they agree with them!

Dorothy: Yep – that would be me.

Thandeka: [Explains why she goes to the church] . . .. So, will you come with me to church this morning?

Dorothy: Thandeka, if you’re part of that church, it must be okay. But I have a lot of trouble imagining myself fitting in – fitting in to that church, or to any church.

Thandeka: No problem. If you’d like to talk some more about this later, I’d be glad to continue this conversation.

Dorothy: Alright. Thanks for stopping by. [Thandeka leaves] [Hums “Amazing Grace,” then shakes her head; returns to newspaper]

Interlude

Visitor 3

Sarah: [knocks on door and calls out] Dorothy. Are you here? I’m returning those books you loaned me.

Dorothy: Hey, Sarah ? come on in... I was just reading this article in the Register Star about the number of homeless children in the Rockford schools.

Sarah: I know, isn’t it awful?

Dorothy: Gee, sometimes I feel so helpless.

Sarah: I know what you mean, Dorothy. Some of us at church were feeling the same way.

Dorothy: You were?

Sarah: Yes, then we started organizing to do something. A school nurse we talked to said that lots of the kids don’t even have a change of underwear ? so this month our church is having an underwear drive.

Dorothy: That’s a great idea. What kind of a church do you go to, Sarah?

Sarah: [Explains]. . . . It’s getting late. You’re welcome to come with me this morning.

Dorothy: I can’t believe I’m even considering it... but no – I’ve just got too much to do today.

Sarah: That’s okay, Dorothy. But I hope you’ll give yourself some more time to think about it. See you later. [starts to leave]

Dorothy: Sarah, wait a minute... Will you take these? [hands her some underwear]

Offertory

Dorothy Seeks a Home

Dorothy: [Gives a few reasons she’s just heard.] Maybe there’s a church for me, after all. There’s no harm in checking out one service. Okay then, I’m going to go to church today... I’m going to stay home... No, I’m going. Wait a minute. Which church am I going to go to? Sarah’s church? But I don’t know where it is. I don’t know which church Thandeka or Dan go to either. None of my friends is still here to take me to church this morning ? so how I am going to get there? [looks at red slippers]

Hey – if ruby slippers were good enough for Dorothy Gal e– “there’s no place like a church home, there’s no place like a church home.” (Music: Snatch of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”)

Anthem

Why are You Here?

Dorothy: Wow – this sure doesn’t look like Kansas.... [Sees friends]

So, I’ve found your church, Dan... and yours, Thandeka... and yours, Sarah? You mean, you all go to the same church? Wow – those ruby slippers really knew what they were doing.

Now, you three have already told me what this church home means to you. Why are the rest of you here? What makes this your church home? Will you tell me?

[Dan goes around congregational with mike... Then, after congregational sharing]

Dan: We’re here for all those reasons. We’re here because today is the first day of the rest of our lives, and this day is holy, as are all our days. Why are we here? We’re here because we have a home here – in our hearts, in our minds, in our spirits, as Unitarian Universalists who know how to celebrate the miracles of our lives.

Let the congregation say Amen.

Let us sing hymn #131 “Love Will Guide Us”

Hymn #131, “Love Will Guide Us”

Closing words:

Dorothy: This feels like a homecoming! That’s what it is ? I’m home! What do I do next?

Dan: Repeat after me, “There’s no place like a church home.”

Dorothy: There’s no place like a church home.

Dan: Everyone: “There’s no place like a church home.”

Whole cast: WELCOME HOME!

Response

Recessional

Coffee and Fellowship