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”Take a Load Off"Based on Matthew 11:25-30

©2013 Allee Wengert (www.alcames.org). Conditions for use: (1) If you use all or parts of this script in any form, please consider sending a suggested $25 donation check made out to "The ROCK" to the following address: Ascension Lutheran Church, 2400 Bloomington Road, Ames, IA 50010. Reference the script title in the memo on the check. (2) Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. (3) You may reproduce this script for internal use, but all copies must contain this copyright statement.

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Cast:Cast:

John Sawyer/JohannesJames JoeAndrew SamMary AnneeLuke ChandlerJesus Zach

John: John: Hey Dad?Hey Dad?

James: James: Yeah, what’s up?Yeah, what’s up?

John: John: I, um, well I quit the I, um, well I quit the team.team.

James: James: What? Why?What? Why?

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John: John: I have so much going I have so much going on with graduation coming up. on with graduation coming up. Homework, tests and work. I’m Homework, tests and work. I’m worn out.worn out.

James: James: I’m worn out too I’m worn out too John but you don’t see me John but you don’t see me quitting my job to hang out quitting my job to hang out with my friends.with my friends.

John: John: Dad! That’s not why I Dad! That’s not why I quit! I’m-quit! I’m-

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James: James: I don’t want to hear I don’t want to hear your excuses. Your life is not your excuses. Your life is not that hard. Your mother and I that hard. Your mother and I have taken good care of you so have taken good care of you so stop complaining and get back stop complaining and get back on the team. I’m late for work, on the team. I’m late for work, we’ll talk tonight. we’ll talk tonight. (Takes three (Takes three steps and freezes.)steps and freezes.)

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John: John: Why does he have to be Why does he have to be that way? If he would just that way? If he would just listen he would understand! It listen he would understand! It might not seem like a lot to might not seem like a lot to him but if he were in my shoes him but if he were in my shoes he would be tired too.he would be tired too.

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Jesus: Jesus: John, let me help you John, let me help you with that.with that.

John: John: Huh? Oh no, I don’t Huh? Oh no, I don’t want to burden you with all want to burden you with all this.this.

Jesus: Jesus: Come on. Come on. (John hands (John hands him a weight.) him a weight.) There we go. There we go. See? Isn’t that much better? See? Isn’t that much better? (They hug.) (They hug.) Go on now, have a Go on now, have a good day at school.good day at school.

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(John exits)(John exits)

James: James: That kid. I guess we That kid. I guess we shouldn’t have spoiled him so shouldn’t have spoiled him so much. much. (Shakes head.) (Shakes head.) He has a He has a lot of growing up to do. He’s so lot of growing up to do. He’s so tired. He’s seventeen! I don’t tired. He’s seventeen! I don’t get it.get it.

Luke: Luke: Hey James. Running a Hey James. Running a little late this morning?little late this morning?

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James: James: You’ve got kids. You’ve got kids. How do you keep yourself from How do you keep yourself from knocking their heads knocking their heads together?together?

Luke: Luke: Ha! Chocolate.Ha! Chocolate.

James: James: Chocolate?Chocolate?

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Luke: Luke: Not for the kids, for us Not for the kids, for us parents. Especially for women. parents. Especially for women. They aren’t as complicated as They aren’t as complicated as men think. All they really want men think. All they really want is chocolate.is chocolate.

James: James: I’ll remember that.I’ll remember that.

Luke: Luke: Hey, can you pray for Hey, can you pray for Martha and I?Martha and I?

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James: James: Things still rocky on Things still rocky on the homefront?the homefront?

Luke: Luke: They’re getting better. I They’re getting better. I suppose some problems are suppose some problems are more complex than chocolate.more complex than chocolate.

James: James: I’ll keep praying I’ll keep praying Luke. Luke.

Luke: Luke: Thanks James.Thanks James.

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(James takes three steps and (James takes three steps and freezes. Luke sighs and bows freezes. Luke sighs and bows his head.)his head.)

Jesus: Jesus: Oh Luke. Let me take Oh Luke. Let me take that from you. Come on now, that from you. Come on now, give it up. See? I’ve got plenty give it up. See? I’ve got plenty of room. of room. (Luke gives Jesus (Luke gives Jesus weight and they hug.) weight and they hug.) That’s That’s better. Now, go enjoy your better. Now, go enjoy your coffee!coffee!

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James: James: People have real People have real problems in their lives and my problems in their lives and my son is sitting at home mad son is sitting at home mad because he doesn’t have because he doesn’t have enough free time. I can’t wait enough free time. I can’t wait to tell my dad about this one. to tell my dad about this one. Luke, I’ll be back. I’m going to Luke, I’ll be back. I’m going to run to the hospital to take my run to the hospital to take my dad breakfast.dad breakfast.

Luke: Luke: See you in a bit.See you in a bit.

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James: James: Morning Dad! I Morning Dad! I brought doughnuts.brought doughnuts.

Andrew: Andrew: Don’t let your Don’t let your mother know. She’ll have a fit. mother know. She’ll have a fit. (Coughs.)(Coughs.)

James: James: I won’t. How are you I won’t. How are you today?today?

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Andrew: Andrew: Better than Better than yesterday. I can’t shake this yesterday. I can’t shake this cough though. I’m telling you cough though. I’m telling you son, this getting old business son, this getting old business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

James: James: Be happy you’re Be happy you’re getting better.getting better.

Andrew: Andrew: What are you What are you talking about?talking about?

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James: James: You said you’re You said you’re feeling better than you were feeling better than you were yesterday.yesterday.

Andrew: Andrew: No I didn’t. Will you No I didn’t. Will you tell your sister to bring me a tell your sister to bring me a blanket?blanket?

James: James: Dad, Rachel lives in Dad, Rachel lives in California, remember? She got California, remember? She got a new job there.a new job there.

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Andrew: Andrew: Oh that’s right. I Oh that’s right. I knew that. I don’t know about knew that. I don’t know about you but I am more than ready you but I am more than ready for dinner. You sticking for dinner. You sticking around?around?

James: James: I wish I could Dad, I wish I could Dad, but I have to get back to the but I have to get back to the office. I’ll call you tonight office. I’ll call you tonight okay?okay?

Andrew: Andrew: I look forward to it I look forward to it son. son.

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(James walks away and (James walks away and freezes.)freezes.)

Andrew: Andrew: This old mind of This old mind of mine doesn’t work quite right mine doesn’t work quite right any moreany more. (Shakes his head . (Shakes his head then sees Jesus.)then sees Jesus.) Hello there Hello there old friend!old friend!

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Jesus: Jesus: Hello Andrew. I know Hello Andrew. I know things have been harder for things have been harder for you lately, but I have a few you lately, but I have a few more jobs for you. So in the more jobs for you. So in the meantime, let me take thismeantime, let me take this. . (Takes weight.) (Takes weight.) Hang in there Hang in there friend, I’m right here.friend, I’m right here.

James: James: (Answers cell (Answers cell phone.) phone.) Hi Mary. Hi Mary.

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Mary: Mary: James! What did you James! What did you say to John?say to John?

James: James: I told him not to I told him not to quit the team. He’s feeling quit the team. He’s feeling sorry for himself over nothing. sorry for himself over nothing. If he takes a look around he If he takes a look around he can see that people are dealing can see that people are dealing with real problems.with real problems.

Mary: Mary: John is seventeen. This John is seventeen. This is his life. And what’s going on is his life. And what’s going on in his life is significant to him.in his life is significant to him.

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James: James: I remember what its I remember what its like to be seventeen. But I’m like to be seventeen. But I’m way passed that now. My way passed that now. My company is struggling to company is struggling to survive in this economy, our survive in this economy, our best friends’ marriage is rocky, best friends’ marriage is rocky, my father is sick, my tie is too my father is sick, my tie is too tight and my son is upset he’s tight and my son is upset he’s busy.busy.

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Mary: Mary: James, you need to take James, you need to take a load off. You can’t carry this a load off. You can’t carry this alone. I can’t carry it for you. alone. I can’t carry it for you. Give it to Jesus. He wants it. Give it to Jesus. He wants it. You just have to give it up. You just have to give it up. Now I have to get back to Now I have to get back to work. I love youwork. I love you

James: James: Love you too. Love you too. (Hangs up.) (Hangs up.) She makes it She makes it sound so easy. I would love to sound so easy. I would love to not have to carry all this not have to carry all this weight! weight!

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Jesus: Jesus: Then give it up James! Then give it up James! Don’t you think it’s about time Don’t you think it’s about time to take a break? Come to me, to take a break? Come to me, you are weary and burdened. I you are weary and burdened. I will give you rest for my yoke will give you rest for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.is easy and my burden is light.

(James slowly hands Jesus (James slowly hands Jesus many weights. He takes a deep many weights. He takes a deep breathe and hugs Jesus.)breathe and hugs Jesus.)

James: James: Much better. Much better.