madurobob
Philosopher
My wife and 10 year old son attend the local UU church. My son has been rehearsing recently for his role in the holiday play, so I went with them to church today to see the play. It was written entirely by the middle school students in the church and acted by kids from 3 to 18. I want to share what I saw there.
The play opens with Mary and Joseph in the manger. They are not married and both are only 13. There is the usual parade of folks bringing gifts. God, a 17 year old girl in a toga, explains the situation and the gift of the baby she's given Mary.
We jump ahead three years. Joseph is an unemployed carpenter, Mary is at her wits end dealing with young Jesus. They pray for guidance. God comes, suggests foster parents and Mary and Joseph agree. God, disguised as a social worker, jumps forward 2000 years and introduces Jesus to his new foster parents; the homosexual couple of Perry Noel (dressed in white-fringed red coat) and The Grinch (who speaks only in rhyme). And, of course, the Grinch's dog Max (my son!).
Life is initially good for the new family. But there is tension when The Grinch, a tree hugging non-materialistic hippie cannot abide Perry Noel's constant showering of gifts on Jesus and his general obsession with material things. They decide to divorce. In court, the judge awards custody of Jesus to Perry Noel. Max lifts his leg and pees on the judge's desk.
Perry Noel and Jesus move to LA where Perry Noel plans to get Jesus into acting in commercials. But, after years of trying (Jesus is now 13) they find themselves racked with credit card debt and about to lose their home to debt collectors. Perry Noel only works one month a year delivering toys, afterall. They call The Grinch for Help and he agrees providing Perry Noel comes and visits three nearby houses.
They visit three houses, one in MeVille, one in YouVille and one in WhoVille. The YouVille family is syrupy sweet and cares nothing about material things or receiving gifts, but love giving gifts. The MeVille family is just the opposite. The WhoVille family is somewhere in between, enjoying material things in moderation and enjoying both giving and receiving gifts. Both Perry Noel and The Grinch see the errors of their ways and decide to give marriage another try. Jesus notices that Cindy Lou Who is "hot" and gets her number before they go. They start dating soon after.
At Jesus' bar mitzvah God returns and tells everyone Mary and Joseph are back on their feet and its time for Jesus to come back. She teleports everyone back to Nazareth in the year 13. Jesus is happy to meet his birth parents and agrees to stay with them. He asks Cindy Lou Who to marry him, but she politely declines pointing out she's only 13 and there is no internet in the year 13 and would prefer to live in her time/place. Jesus agrees this is best, but explains that his heart is broken, so he will remain forever a bachelor.
The Rabbi sing Jesus his bar mitzvah song - "Forever Young" and everyone joins in the chorus. The end. Huge applause.
So, I loved it... but, wow. Anyone seen anything like this in Church before? What are they feeding middle school kids these days?
The play opens with Mary and Joseph in the manger. They are not married and both are only 13. There is the usual parade of folks bringing gifts. God, a 17 year old girl in a toga, explains the situation and the gift of the baby she's given Mary.
We jump ahead three years. Joseph is an unemployed carpenter, Mary is at her wits end dealing with young Jesus. They pray for guidance. God comes, suggests foster parents and Mary and Joseph agree. God, disguised as a social worker, jumps forward 2000 years and introduces Jesus to his new foster parents; the homosexual couple of Perry Noel (dressed in white-fringed red coat) and The Grinch (who speaks only in rhyme). And, of course, the Grinch's dog Max (my son!).
Life is initially good for the new family. But there is tension when The Grinch, a tree hugging non-materialistic hippie cannot abide Perry Noel's constant showering of gifts on Jesus and his general obsession with material things. They decide to divorce. In court, the judge awards custody of Jesus to Perry Noel. Max lifts his leg and pees on the judge's desk.
Perry Noel and Jesus move to LA where Perry Noel plans to get Jesus into acting in commercials. But, after years of trying (Jesus is now 13) they find themselves racked with credit card debt and about to lose their home to debt collectors. Perry Noel only works one month a year delivering toys, afterall. They call The Grinch for Help and he agrees providing Perry Noel comes and visits three nearby houses.
They visit three houses, one in MeVille, one in YouVille and one in WhoVille. The YouVille family is syrupy sweet and cares nothing about material things or receiving gifts, but love giving gifts. The MeVille family is just the opposite. The WhoVille family is somewhere in between, enjoying material things in moderation and enjoying both giving and receiving gifts. Both Perry Noel and The Grinch see the errors of their ways and decide to give marriage another try. Jesus notices that Cindy Lou Who is "hot" and gets her number before they go. They start dating soon after.
At Jesus' bar mitzvah God returns and tells everyone Mary and Joseph are back on their feet and its time for Jesus to come back. She teleports everyone back to Nazareth in the year 13. Jesus is happy to meet his birth parents and agrees to stay with them. He asks Cindy Lou Who to marry him, but she politely declines pointing out she's only 13 and there is no internet in the year 13 and would prefer to live in her time/place. Jesus agrees this is best, but explains that his heart is broken, so he will remain forever a bachelor.
The Rabbi sing Jesus his bar mitzvah song - "Forever Young" and everyone joins in the chorus. The end. Huge applause.
So, I loved it... but, wow. Anyone seen anything like this in Church before? What are they feeding middle school kids these days?
. Unitarian Universalist maybe (google) ?