Carolyn Brown, on her excellent Worshipping with Children website, suggests the following approach to the reading of Matthew 25: 14-30 (the gospel text for November 13, 2011—Proper 28A).
She writes: “All the coming and going in this parable makes it ideal for younger children to act out during worship. You need a minimum of four children, but can add others as the family of the master/mistress. They will need to rehearse before worship with the reader. Costumes as simple as head scarves and head ties are grand additions for both the actors and the watching congregation.”
Setting the stage:
Draw “$$$$” in green marker on 15 brown paper lunch sacks. Pile 8 of them in one stack to one side for the master to give the servants. Pile 5 in a second pile and 2 in a third pile. (These could be in place at the beginning of worship or the reader could take the role of the stage manager putting props in place, briefly explaining what is in each bag, and introducing the actors before going to the lectern to read the story.)
The action:
The master or mistress or master’s family stands by the big pile with the servants in a line before him/her/them as verses 14-15 are read. He/she/they give the bags to the servants, then move to the edge of the stage.
The first servant takes his/her bags to the pile of 5, adds them, stands behind the pile folding arms across chest and smiling broadly. (verse 16)
The second adds the two talents to the pile of two and strikes the same happy pose. (verse 17)
The third sneaks that bag off to one side, covers it with a square of brown cloth or an inverted flower pot, sits in front of it as if to hide it, folds arms over chest with a frown on his/her face. (verse 18)
When the master/mistress/family returns…
He/she/they go to the first servant, put hands on hips and look at the servant for an explanation (verse 19). The servant waves one hand over the big pile of bags with a smile. The master/mistress/family shake the servant’s hand (verses 20-21).
The process repeats with the second servant (verses 22-23).
When the master/mistress/family comes to the third servant, that servant does not even stand, but sits scowling as verses 24-27 are read. The master/mistress then takes the one bag (maybe dusting it off) from the third servant and gives it to the first servant (verse 28-29), then shoos the third servant off the stage (verse 30) and stands between the two servants a hand on each one’s shoulder smiling broadly.
— Carolyn Brown, on her site Worshiping with Children.
