December 15, 1996

Star Search

[This play was given by the Youth Clowns at a time Seekers Church was looking for a new home. All the actors are in whiteface.]

Set: Seekers worship, chairs in straight rows paralleling the piano and the door opposite the piano, with open space before the altar. An aisle between the rows on the piano side. A sign is on the cross, "Christmas 1997." Music is playing "We Three Kings of Orient Are."

[Enter the "3 Kings Package Delivery Service", each carrying a box wrapped in plain brown paper. They stand in front of the altar.]

1st King (Patrick):

I have a package here for the Seekers Church.

2nd King (Brian):

Me, too. And my instructions say that if they’re not at Massachusetts Avenue, then I should follow the star.

3rd King (Erica):

I have a package for Seekers, too. But my address is nothing like yours. [Erica pulls open a scroll with Seekers’ home page address and displays it to everyone.]

1st King (Patrick):

Well, there’s no one here, and I don’t see any star. What should we do?

2nd King (Brian):

There’s a Starbucks around the corner. Why don’t we try there? [3 kings exit through doors.]

Scene: Overhead sign reads "Starbucks", altar becomes counter with coffee mugs, muffins, etc. Sarah is behind the counter, Susanna is sitting nearby with stack of hymnals underneath her chair when 3 kings reenter.

Sarah:

Can I help you? Regular, Decaf, Café Mocha, Frappacino, Café au Lait, Irish Cream, Swiss Chocolate Almond, Hazelnut…. [etc. until Erica interrupts]

3rd King (Erica):

Actually, we’re looking for Seeker’s Church. Do you know where we could find it?

Sarah:

Sorry, never heard of them. But how about a croissant? Or maybe a blueberry muffin ….[again starts to babble until interrupted by Susanna.]

1st Seeker (Susanna):

Did you say Seekers?

Patrick:

Yeah! Do you know where we can find them?

Brian:

We have these packages for Seekers, but our directions just say to follow a star.

Susanna:

Sorry, our congregation had to move earlier this year. I was down in El Salvador with ASAPROSAR when they did, so I have no idea where they are now. I was just at the old address, too, to drop off all of this hymnal they left at my house during a sing-along. Do you think you could take it along for me?

[Pulls out stack of hymnals from under her chair, one by one stacks them on top of Patrick’s box so he can no longer see in front of him.]

Patrick:

Are you sure it’s one hymnal? Looks like a bunch to me. Maybe you better come with us. [Susanna removes the stack of books]

Brian:

Where should we look next?

Susanna:

Crestar bank is right around the corner. Why don’t we try there? [All exit]

Scene: Overhead sign reads "Crestar Bank", altar becomes the loan officer’s desk, with nameplate, stapler, papers, etc. A few feet away is a second overhead sign reading "ATM", where Sol is standing, conducting a transaction with several grocery bags at his feet. Elizabeth is working busily at the desk when 3 kings and Susanna enter.

Erica:

Excuse me, would you happen to have any information concerning Seeker’s Church?

Banker (Elizabeth):

[Looks up for the first time] Seeker’s Church…. Hmmm…. Sounds familiar…. [Checks a few papers] Ahhh, yes, we turned them down for a loan a few months ago. Sorry. [Returns to work].

Patrick:

Well, do you have their address?

Elizabeth:

[Does not look up] No.

Brian:

A phone number?

Elizabeth:

[Again, does not look up] No.

Erica:

A name? Anything? It’s very important we find Seeker’s Church this afternoon- [Upon hearing "Seekers", Sol turns around. Elizabeth continues working and does not look up.]

Sol:

You guys looking for Seekers? [He recognizes Susanna as he approaches the group.] Astrid! How have you been? [Looks from her to the 3 Kings, then back.] What are you doing?

Susanna:

We’re looking for Seekers. It’s a long story, but we need to get these packages there, but we don’t know where to find them. I was in El Salvador when they moved, so I don’t know where to find them either.

Sol:

Sorry, I haven’t been in months. I’ve been spending all my time waiting tables at Potter’s House. By the time I got free day, Seekers was gone! I couldn’t find them anywhere.

Patrick:

There’s a surprise.

Sol:

Do you mind if I come along? I have this new idea for coffee hour… [Pulls boxes of Twinkies and Ho-Hos and several packages of Kool-Aid from the grocery bags.]

Susanna:

Twinkies, Ho-Hos and Kool-Aid! Great idea! [3 kings give each other strange looks]

Elizabeth:

[Looks up, clearly annoyed] This is a place of business, not a social gathering. Would you please take this outside? [Returns to work]

[Group heads towards double doors. Jonathan enters door by piano]

Sol:

Where next?

Brian:

Let’s ask a cabdriver. [Sees Jonathan.] Cabby!!

Jonathan:

Yeah, where are you heading?

Erica:

We’re looking for a star. We have packages to deliver and we were told to look for a star.

Jonathan:

There’s a Star Street two blocks over. You could try there.

[All exit]

Scene: Overhead sign reads "Star Street". Elizabeth enters. Group enters through piano doors

Susanna:

Hey Elizabeth! Long time no see!

Elizabeth:

What are you doing?

Erica:

[slightly exasperated] We’re from the 3 Kings Shipping Company. We’re supposed to deliver these packages to Seekers, the only problem being we can’t seem to find this church! [Very exasperated].

Elizabeth:

Sorry, I can’t help. I stayed an extra day at the October Dayspring overnight, and when I got back, the Seekers were gone!

Patrick:

Sounds familiar.

Elizabeth:

[gives him a dirty look] Listen, let me run inside real quick – [Elizabeth runs out main doors, reenters with huge garbage bag]

Brian:

Oh no…

Erica:

What is that?

Elizabeth:

I was cleaning up from the overnight, and I found all of this stuff that people left…. [pulls objects out of the bag one at a time] Let’s see…. A sleeping bag, a soccer ball, a Halloween costume, a box of spaghetti, someone’s sock [makes face]…. Anyway, will you take this along for me? [Plops the bag on top of Brian’s box, he staggers and nearly falls over. Elizabeth quickly takes back the bag] Maybe I better come along. Where should we look next?

[Jonathan enters door by piano]

Jonathan:

[Calling] I see you found Star Street. Was this the right place?

Patrick:

[Calling back] No, but thanks for asking. [To the group] I’m tired. I say we go back to the office and see if we can get some help on this address.

Others:

Good idea.

[Jonathan exits. All bend down to pick up their various packages or have backs to the piano door except Brian]

[The angel (Lauren] enters through the piano door, carrying a star on a pole]

Brian:

[Looks at Lauren, looks back to the group] Hey guys, I hate to say it….

[All stand up, see Lauren]

Others:

We’re seeing things…. Oh my gosh, etc. etc.

Erica:

That must be the right one. Umm, hello!! [Erica tries to flag down Lauren, who has been making loops around the sanctuary until she is summoned. Everyone approaches the angel.]

Erica:

[somewhat pathetically] Please help us. We’re trying to find the Seekers Church, and we’ve been looking all morning. Do you know where we can find the Seekers?

[Lauren opens the banner: "Wherever three are gathered together in my name…"]

Erica:

I get it! The Seekers address is wherever the Seekers are gathered. Sometimes it’s a mission group at someone’s home, or at a Hope and a Home meeting. Sometimes it’s at an overnight at Wellspring or Rolling Ridge. Sometimes it's with Help the Homeless group in El Salvador with Dr. Guzman. Or at a Faith at Work board meeting. Or a School of Christian Living class.

Susanna, Sol, and Elizabeth:

Wow… The angel’s right…. We should have known. Etc., etc.

Brian:

Well, there’s three of you here now, so why don’t you sign for these packages? [He hands Susanna a clipboard, she signs her name. Sol opens the first package]

Sol:

It’s a computer! What are all these webs? [Tears off webs; reads note on computer screen] Visit the Seekers on-line at http://www.church of the savior.seekerscommunity. lloyd.wood.bergen-bartel……etc.etc.

Susanna:

[Opening her gift, pulling out stacks and stacks of colored paper] What is all this paper? [Pulls out baby piano] It’s a new piano for Seeker’s new home!

Elizabeth:

[Opening her gift, pulls out wall hanging] What is this? [Reads] "Top 10 reasons you know you’re a Seeker:

 

Erica:

I’m not going to ask.

Susanna:

Hey, let’s sing. Grab a hymnal [Everyone grabs a hymnal out of Susanna’s bag] Page 65, it’s my favorite! [Everyone opens a different hymnal, starts singing different songs] No, no, the one with the blue cover [Still singing different songs] With the blue pages.

Others:

Ohhh!

[All Sing "I Am the Church", invite congregation to join in, then sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas]

[All exit]

Cast

1st King – Patrick

2nd King – Brian

3rd King – Erica

1st Seeker – Susanna

2nd Seeker – Sol

3rd Seeker – Elizabeth

Starbucks Girl – Sarah

Banker – Elizabeth

Taxi driver – Jonathan

Angel – Lauren