Mary and Martha

Drama Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:
Students will experience through drama the story of Mary and Martha and be able to respond to questions regarding the events as they unfold. Students will be able to experience how Mary and Martha felt using charades.

Scripture Reference:
Luke 10:38-42.

Key Verse:
Luke 10:40 “Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!’” (CEV)

Bible Background Note:
Jesus’ encounter with Martha and Mary, as recorded in these verses, is part of a larger series of reflections on how to be a good disciple. In these verses in Luke, Mary is the one who models hospitality for her honored guest.

Concepts:

• God wants us to have a good attitude.
• God has given us different talents to help others.
• Do the best you can and don’t worry about what others are doing.
• Don’t worry about little things.
  
  

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will explore ‘fairness’ and ‘unfairness’.
• Students will experience through drama the story of Mary and Martha and be able to respond to questions regarding the events as they unfold.
• Students will be able to experience how Mary and Martha felt using charades.

Supplies List:

• table
• bowl
• wooden spoon
• chair and/or mat
• beret
• megaphone
• roll of red fabric
• costumes and headdresses

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.

Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Introductions:

Welcome the kids and introduce yourself.
Start the lesson time with prayer.

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Bible Story:
Spend some time on the scripture passages referenced above. Highlight parts of the scripture that reinforce the lesson concepts (listed at beginning of this lesson plan) that are demonstrated in these passages.

Application:

Part 1 - Drama

1. Decide who is going to play the 5 characters (Mary, Martha, Jesus, Narrator, and Director).
2. Have other children set up the set (see script for set details).
3. Have the scripts for the 5 characters highlighted with their part, the rest of the kids can be the audience and follow along with their unhighlighted scripts.

If the group consists of some nonreaders, you can act as Narrator and read the entire script while kids act out the scene.

Make sure that the director yells out “FREEZE” and the actors hold their position. This is where the audience will get involved.

The director (or you as workshop leader) can ask for responses to the questions posed in the script. Don’t spend too much time on these questions, or you will not have time to do the charades.

After the Drama:

Discussion:
Ask the kids, “Since both Martha and Mary have this close friendship with Jesus, what problem develops in the story?” or “Someone was not happy about the way things were going after Jesus arrived. Who was that? Why was she not pleased?”

[The idea of “it’s not fair” will probably come up! Children recognize feelings of unfairness all too well. This activity is to help them focus on some of their experiences, and therefore relate to Martha and Mary’s situations more personally.]

Part 2 - Charades

• Divide the group into teams of 3 or 4.
• Give them five to ten minutes to name some “I don’t think it’s fair….” experiences from their own lives and to prepare a charade type presentation for the whole group.

[Their experience can deal with siblings, parents, friends, school, teachers, or neighbors. Have them take turns presenting the charades for the group to guess what is happening.]

With the younger kids, have some cards with possible charade suggestions or pictures that suggest possible “unfair” situations.

Alternative to Charades
You may decide that instead of doing the charades you may want to simply repeat the drama scene and have 5 different kids play the roles.

Reflection Time:
Shepherds will pass out the journals and pencils/markers. The children should spend a few minutes reflecting upon the morning’s lesson –some might write about the “unfair” situation they thought of for the charade, write about what they do for ‘quiet time’, write down the Key Scripture Verse for this workshop.

Closing:

1. Have the kids name something that worries or bothers them, like Martha worried about all the things that had to be done to be a good hostess for Jesus. Have them take this worry and “throw it” into the center of your prayer circle.
2. Say the Key Verse together. (see above). You may want to have this verse printed on a banner and hung in the room, write it on the white board in the room, or have it on slips of paper that each child can read and take with them.
3. Pray! Ask the kids if they have any prayer requests. Thank God for being with us at all times. Ask God to hear and help with all the ‘worries’ that were shared and ‘thrown’ into the prayer circle. Pray for all those who are busy and bothered – help us to stop and take time to listen for and to God.

References:
Along the Road With Jesus, The Storyteller Series, Christian Board of Publication, 1994.

SCRIPT: MARY, MARTHA AND JESUS

A short drama for 5 characters

Set: place a table with a bowl and wooden spoon to one side and a chair and a mat or two chairs to the other side. The set requires just enough room for Martha to stand and Mary and Jesus to sit. Martha will also need a roll of red fabric. Provide Mary, Martha, and Jesus with robes and headdresses. The director will need a beret and a megaphone or rolled paper cone.

Narrator: Jesus and the disciples had been traveling. Jesus entered a certain village named Bethany where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Martha (rolls out the red carpet for Jesus to enter the house): Welcome, Jesus. Please have a seat. My sister Mary and I are very glad that you are here. Make yourself at home, while I tend to dinner.

(Jesus sits on one of the chairs while Mary sits on the floor at Jesus’ feet. Martha picks up the pot and spoon and stirs.)

Narrator: Martha’s sister Mary lived with her. Usually she helped Martha, but today Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teachings and stories. Meanwhile Martha was busy getting the meal ready.

Martha (goes over to Jesus): Teacher, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself. Tell her then to help me.

Director: FREEZE! (Call “freeze” through your megaphone. The players will stop and the you ask the audience):
1.What do you think happened next?
2.What do you think Jesus should say to Mary? To Martha?

After a brief discussion with Workshop Leader, audience and actors, the play resumes with Martha repeating her last line.

Martha (goes over to Jesus): Teacher, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself. Tell her then to help me.

Jesus: Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered by many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away.

Director: FREEZE!
1. What did Mary choose?
2. What to you think Jesus meant?

Narrator: Jesus was saying that it is all right to be busy, but that there are times when we need to sit quietly and listen to him. Jesus may also mean that there are times when we also need to give, like Martha, but we also need times to receive, like Mary.

This lesson plan is copyrighted and belongs to the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian, Cary North Carolina. It may be used for non-profit uses only.

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