Noah's Dilemma

STAGE SET UP

Remove everything from the stage (including the pulpit, all chairs - everything except the piano). Have two small end tables ready to set up (Nancy was going to try to bring table clothes) and two nice, large (5 gallon) punch bowls (Nancy was going to try to bring another one from home) and 6 pitchers of water (and 4 pitchers to refill the pitchers) - ready to carry out from the minister’s office.

PROPS

Worship Associate

Arrange w/ Tom to get two tables (with table clothes) and two nice (5 gallon) ‘punch bowls’ and 6 pitchers of water (3 on each table)

Noah

Tool belt

God of Love

Tie-dye shirt, maybe garland of flowers to wear in hair

God of Morality

Small squares of ‘SHOULD’s to pass out

God of Vengence

Lightning Bolt

Neighbor

Small hose (all the water drained out) and a garden hat

Animals

variety of costumes

GATHERING HYMN ‘Blue Boat Home’ by Peter Meyer

STORY PART I

<<Scene begins with an empty stage…. No pulpit, no table, chairs on the chancel. Screen down for the hymns and covenant>>

Narrator: A long, long time ago, in a far away land, there lived a very clever, very caring person by the name of Noah.

<<Noah comes out with a toolbelt on, scratching his head, appearing to think deep thoughts>>

You may have heard Noah’s story – about the ark and the animals. But there are parts that don’t always get told. So, it is important to tell it again.

In that time, in that place, everyone knew Noah.

<<Noah waves and shakes hands with people>>

He wasn’t rich or powerful, particularly. Just a very nice person with whom everyone got along well… even though they didn’t always get along with each other. But, aside from that, Noah was a builder. A builder who had this crazy dream of creating a place where everyone got along. Where all kinds of different people could come together and share what they had and get what they need. To create a place where people cared instead of competed. Where they encouraged instead of argued.

The time and place where Noah lived wasn’t all that different from what we know now. People fought with each other then. They were stubborn. They sulked and they brooded.

They often insisted they were right and everyone else was wrong.

And Noah had a problem with this. He believed there was a better way. “If only I could build a place where people listened to each other. Learned from each other. Respected each other, despite differences in skin color, or money, or lifestyle.” Noah wanted to build community. A special kind of community, much like the one we are trying to build here.

Noah wasn’t sure how he could bring everyone together – really together – but he was determined that hell or HIGH WATER he was going to… wait a minute… High Water…. Hmmmm….

<<Noah wanders momentarily off chancel. Chancel remains empty.>>

Meanwhile, as Noah pondered, God was looking down upon the world and noticing the same divisive behavior that Noah had run into. This troubled God. But just like the people who were divided down on earth, God was also divided. Literally.

See, back in those days God did not get things done by a single decision. God was a committee.

<<All three Gods shuffle to the center in a clump>>

And, as a committee, God held multiple perspectives and opinions and carried on elaborate arguments. There was the God of Love –

<<God of Love comes into view from stage right (minister’s office) and smiles beneficently – all other Gods are still>>

– who arranged and distributed all the flowers in the world and wanted everyone to listen more, come to the table, be more patient and giving and helpful.

<<God of Love moves to center stage and is still>>

There was the God of Morality who understood the many ways things SHOULD happen...

<<God of Morality steps out and looks stern and authoritative>>

…and so, to remind people, he handed out SHOULDs. “… People SHOULD be honest… Should show up on time… SHOULD pledge generously to their church…

<<God of Morality moves over next to God of Love and is still>>

And then there was the God of Vengeance and Anger…

<<God of Vengeance steps out and looks angry and ready to lash out>>

…whose favorite part of the God-like responsibilities was the smiting and smoting part. She had her lightening and wasn’t afraid to use it!

<<God of Vengeance watchfully/angrily steps over with the other two Gods. All the Gods, at this point, enter into an elaborate discussion where they are all talking / yelling (silently) at once. They shuffle as a clump next to Noah and all begin yelling (silently) at Noah>>

They all tried to talk to Noah and tell him what to do.

<<Gods continue wildly gesturing toward Noah…>>

But, with all the arguing and disagreeing and contradictions Noah became more confused than ever.

<<Noah walks away exasperated from the clump of Gods who fall still with concerned expressions>>

Noah had a dilemma. And so Noah did what he always did.

<<Noah walks to the side of the stage next to Neighbor - ALL the Gods shuffle off stage left. Neighbor is standing holding a hose appearing to water the plants>>

He went over to talk to his neighbor, who always seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. His neighbor was patient and kind and offered wise counsel. On this particular day, Noah found her outside watering her garden while her family ran around the yard. They talked. And though they couldn’t solve the problem right away, Noah felt better knowing there was someone who understood. So he went off believing - more than ever – that somethingmust be done.

<<Noah and Neighbor leave the stage>>

CHALICE LIGHTING

Worship Associate: Join me as together, we light the chalice with these words.

“Here, together, we lift up our common hope that the presence of love within each of us is greater than the turmoil around us and that our courage will be a beacon to those searching for a brighter path.”

STORY PART II

Narrator:

<<Stage empty>>

There came a time as God was gazing down on the land and the people who lived there, that God noticed that a Grateful Dead concert was coming up. It was about the time of Noah that the band had first gotten together. And the God of Love…

<<God of Love comes onto the stage with a tie-dye shirt>>

…knew they wouldn’t be around forever. So she just had to go check it out. So she got on her tie-dyed outfit and took the big party bus down to the show.

<<God of Love exits off stage>>

<<God of Morality and god of Vengeance walk on stage talking>>

While she was away, the God of Morality and the God of Vengeance got into a discussion. They decided that no one was really behaving like they SHOULD… the world was going to hell in a hand-basket and they figured what they really ought to do is to just wipe out the whole thing and start over. They figured that a great big flood ought to do the trick. So they decided that they would make it rain. Forty days and forty nights should suffice, they figured.

With plans in hand, they called Noah over to let him know what they decided.

<<Noah joins the God of Morality and the God of Vengeance for a talk>>

Noah was a little surprised. And pretty alarmed. He shook his head in disbelief and thought to himself: the worse people acted, the worse God seemed to act and vice versa. He listened to the plan they laid out and reminded God that if the entire world was wiped out, there would be no one around to take care of creation. And no one to worship Them. The Gods scratched their heads and said they would think about it some more. Meanwhile, Noah had an idea. He asked if he might be given enough time to build an ark – just in case. The Gods agreed and off he went.

<<God of Morality and Vengeance exit stage and Noah walks toward Neighbor>>

With more of a dilemma than ever, Noah went over to talk to his neighbor.

<<Noah and Neighbor talking – taking turns making wild gestures>>

Noah found his neighbor and vented for some time while she listened. They commiserated. They consoled. They shook their heads and waved their arms. And then, wanting to do something productive, they got out some plans and drew a bunch of pictures on paper. They scratched their heads, gnashed their teeth and crunched some numbers. And, at the end of the day, they had a plan worked out. So, they put their pencils away and Noah hurried down to get a bunch of materials and began work on the biggest, most impressive ark anyone had ever seen – which – actually wasn’t hard because no one, at that time, had ever SEEN an ark. Noah’s neighbor, not being much of a builder volunteered to look after the children. And so she did what good educators do… She grabbed the kids and took them all down to the Grateful Dead show. Just as it started to rain.

COMMUNITY REIGNS

<<Rev. Greg and Kathleen lead the congregation in rain making. This will take about 2-3 minutes. Rev. Greg will signal to Danny. to begin piano…>>

<<Piano begins to play Wade in the Water” gently, slowly, underneath. Noah is on stage building>>

Narrator: It rained and it rained. And Noah built and built. After only a few days, with the help of his family, he finished the ark. He put it up on blocks, higher than anything else around so when the water rose up, it would carry the ark and all the inhabitants away to safety. And when Noah finally put the last nail in the ark, and it was ready to go, he noticed that the water had already started to rise. So he went off to find the animals who would go with them. To any who were reluctant, he reminded them that if they chose not to go, they would have to learn how to swim real fast.

HYMN – Wade in the Water <<Zanaida leads…. >>

STORY PART III

Narrator:

<<Noah on stage scratching her head…>>

The next thing Noah had to do was very difficult – finding two of every living thing. So he asked his wife and his neighbor for help…

<<Noah waves for her wife and neighbor (Jacki and Kathleen) to join him…>>

…and all together they looked high and low for the people and the animals who would go on the ark.

<<All three go out into the congregation with hands at forehead, searching…>>

They asked everyone who had even the slightest interest. They were especially eager to go about getting the most stubborn of animals… telling them that they would be the heartiest stock to start a new community.

<<All three go among children dressed as animals and choir members and take turns picking a few at a time, pulling them out of their seats and guiding them toward the stage>>

They got the rhinos to go – the kind that sometimes aren’t interested in listening to others but instead just like to pound their own agenda forward. They got the giraffes on board – the ones that always thought they were head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. They got the monkeys to get on board – the ones who are rarely interested in doing any work because they are always playing around. They got the mice to come – the ones who were too timid to say anything except when they squeaked in terror because the elephants weren’t watching where they were going. They got the bees on board – who just buzzed around, busy as ever. They weren’t interested in anything around them, but they would spend endless hours repeating back everything they heard to the other animals. They got the butterflies on board – who just seemed to flit about, here and there, without a care in the world. They got the Owl on board who seemed like he knew the answer to everything, but when it came to doing something about it, always said “WHOOOO me?” “WHOOOO me?”

Noah and his wife went to the people and started to collect two of each. Two who were parents. Two of each color. Two of each gender. Two of every age. Two of each sexual orientation. Two of each political persuasion. Two of each class. Two of each theology. They collected two of every kind until every kind of animal and every kind of person was on the ark. Noah even tried to get the Unicorns on board – but they were having such a good time admiring their reflections on the shiny railings, they didn’t see where they were going and walked off the side of the ramp, fell into the mud and missed the boat.

<<All three attend to those up on the stage>>

That ought to do it, Noah thought. These are all just the right mix of animals to create the beloved community. All the animals looked behind them as they were getting on board and thought for a minute about what they were leaving behind. All that would be destroyed. But that thought only lasted a moment. “At least we will be saved,” they thought. “And that’s what really matters.”

When the last animal was on the ark, Noah went over to his neighbor and they spoke for a minute. They looked at some of the plans and they shook their heads in agreement. Then they looked at each other and they embraced.

<<Noah and Neighbor embrace, Neighbor exits and Noah and wife get on board>>

And Noah and his wife walked back to get on the ark.

Now, watching all this from above, the God of Morality couldn’t help but notice something.

<<God of Morality wanders on to the stage where everyone else is still>>

As some of the animals got on board, they looked a little uncertain. And in that uncertainty, they seemed to recognize something familiar in each other’s expression. He saw a few of them, in their uncertainty, trying to hold the door open for the animals behind them. Maybe they weren’t all that bad after all, He thought.

For a second He wondered. He knew it was their plan to wipe out all the other animals. But they might have simply been acting mean or spiteful to one another because they were unsure. Because they were overwhelmed and afraid. And He looked down upon the tiny ark and a tear came to His eye. And as He started to cry, it began to rain a little harder.

<<Piano begins to play “Peace Like a River” underneath>>

And, in a moment of uncertainty, the God of Morality walked over to the God of Love…

<<God of Love appears and God of Morality walks over to Her>>

…and He leaned against Her. The God of Love didn’t argue, or scold Him, or fight back or anything. She just pulled Him in close. And she wrapped Her great big loving arms around Him, holding him close and letting Him cry.

OFFERING

Worship Associate:

Sometimes there is an important intersection

between what we have to offer and what the world needs most.

Each week we take up a collection

to help provide love, understanding, connection, relationship –

between this congregation and an agency we partner with who helps extend our reach out into the world.

This week we give to the Hurricane Relief Fund organized through the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

Donations provide financial support to ____________.

Please, understand the need and give generously.

Will the ushers please come forward…

STORY PART IV

Narrator: Just as they closed the hatch, it seemed like it really started to rain. Hard. And it seemed like the wind came up because the tiny ark was tossed.

<<Piano plays 2 bars from Theme from Gilligan’s Island in the background>>

All the animals on board got very anxious. And because they were anxious, they started bickering and fighting. They saw how frustrating it was to be in such close quarters. Without any room to move, without bumping into the animal next to them. And for a while all you could hear in the ark was the sound of arguing, complaining, blaming and screaming.

<<Rev. Greg gets the congregation to join in screaming and bickering>>

But then one of the animals suddenly said something that made everyone stop. It was the wise old owl. He started soft. But his voice grew with conviction as he stuck his neck out and spoke. “Who?” he said. “Who?” “Who is not here right now?” “Who have we forgotten?” “Who got left behind?” “Who is our neighbor?”

And all the bickering stopped. Silence came over the ark. And all the animals started to think. They remembered the people and the animals back where they started. Everyone who didn’t get on the ark. They would be wiped out! They started to feel sorry for them. They knew the reason they chose to get on the ark was to find a better way. To help figure out a way to get along so they could avoid getting carried away. Then suddenly, they realized that unless they found the way to do it – right now - despite their differences - they would just build a new community with as much conflict and turmoil as they were leaving behind. Each animal, at that moment, started to consider what was being asked of them. What they could do to help. How they could turn from their old habits of discord and discontent. And even though they were still sad about everyone who didn’t get on the ark – who would perish in the great flood - they realized how important it was that they – right then and there - learned to get along. It was at that point that all the animals slowly began to change.

But they were not the only ones. God, too, began to change. The God of Vengeance and smiting and retaliation realized that there was a better way. That, certainly if the animals could find a way other than fighting and smiting, then God could as well.

<<Piano begins to play ??? softly and slowly underneath. Choir comes to the chancel steps.>>

Right then and there, the God of Vengeance signed up for an anger management class with a desire to make anger an option rather than a reflex. Like the example the animals had shown, God began to focus noton what the community owed her, but what she had to offer the community.

ANTHEM Love is the Doctrineby Steve Wight

COVENANT OF THE ARK

<<Noah and Noah’s Wife – Ron and Jacki - come up to the Chancel. We will do this on the side toward the Forbes Hall entry. While this segment is going on. Tom will bring out tables, table clothes, punch bowls, carafes and pitchers of water and two microphones (one for each table)>>

President: The ark that is the UU Community Church of Santa Monica is much like the community described in this story. We’re on a very important journey. It is a time of discernment and discovery. And it is is a time of turning.

Vice President: The changing tides that were part of Rev. Rebecca away will – hopefully – in a few years, bring a new settled minister to this community. What kind of leader – and what we must do to prepare – those are the decisions now before us.

President: It is a special time. And such times call for special people. Rev. Greg Ward is among those ministers who has chosen a career of serving communities in times of transition. He has unique experience and training suited for congregations in our situation. He’s here for this time to help us articulate who we are, where we’re going and what we need to do to be the kind of church great ministers want to come to. He comes with a suitcase to remind us that his time is temporary. He too, is on a journey. Or, as he likes to say – he comes here ‘pre-fired’.

Vice President: In that backpack, Rev. Greg has brought

- A mirror to help us see where we’ve been and who we are

- A small vial to contain all our tears of joy and sorrow (use water cooler bottle)

- Some hot air to fill our sails

- A special lens to help us see what’s around us and to steer clear of rocks

- And a compass to help us chart our course

President. Rev. Greg will leave the backpack here in the sanctuary so that we may be mindful of the spiritual lessons of impermanence – reminding us to treat this time as precious and not take it for granted. In exchange we will give him keys to the ark – and with it – access to our hearts and hopes and dreams. These, too, are precious and can’t be taken for granted. These we exchange for this time of transition. Rev. Greg, we are glad you are here.

<<Ron / Jacki and Rev. Greg exchange backpack and keys>>

WATER COMMUNION CEREMONY

Rev. Greg: Thanks. I have brought one more thing. This water. This water – which I have carried with me for the 20 years since my ordination. I have poured into it water from every church I’ve served including my home church which dedicated me into its care over 50 years ago. This water has been poured onto the foreheads of babies coming into this world and onto the memorial stones of those faithful servants who leave it.

Now I pour it into this community. And with it, the wish that I pour in which is for ‘CONNECTIONS.’

Rev. Kikanza:

What of yourself do you hope to pour into this community?

Perhaps EXPERIENCE. Maybe ORGANIZATION. Or ACCEPTANCE.

Maybe you offer

‘POSITIVE ENERGY’ or ‘APPRECIATION’ or ‘LISTENING’ or ‘HOPE.’

Maybe ‘TRUTH,’ or ‘JUSTICE,’ or ‘IMAGINATION,’ or ‘HUMOR.’

We ask that as people pour themselves into this community,

we listen to the many wonderful gifts that are here among us.

We will record them so we can remind ourselves

of the many gifts we have here.

Rev. Greg: I’m going to ask that we start from the front – with the choir to show us how – coming down the center aisle and with ‘this’ side pouring / speaking with me and ‘that’ side pouring with Kikanza. After you’re done, return to your seat through the side aisles.

<<Piano plays variations on 95 - “Peace Like A River” slowly, softly underneath>>

<<Rev. Greg and DRE will work table 1. Kikanza and Jackiwill work table 2. They will hold the microphone (don’t hand over your microphone to anyone) while people pour their water and say their ONE word. We will alternate people speaking (Table 1 - Table 2) to move people through quickly. >>

<<Someone will record the pledges for the 9:00 am service. Someone else will record the pledges for the 11:00 am service>>

STORY EPILOGUE

Narrator: The rains finally came to an end and the boat stopped rocking. Thinking that peace was finally returning to the earth, the animals of the choir sent out a bird…

<<A dove emerges from the audience>>

…of peace – who really thought of himself as an elephant – to see if there was a place they could settle and build a new community. The dove came back with a twig to show that dry land had appeared. But the dove also had an expression of surprise. “Hey you guys!! You’ve got to check this out,” said the dove.

<<Noah comes up and grabs hands with people on stage and everyone peers out at the congregation>>

So, slowly, Noah and the animals crawled through the hatch and began to look around. There, they saw what they never expected. Something that took them all by surprise. Everything was just the way they it all was when they left! Noah’s neighbor and her children were standing there.

<<Neighbor jumps out, holding a hose, waves at Noah and he waves back>>

She was watering the garden. The people of the community in the background were still bickering. The house was still a mess. The dishes were still undone.

They all stood there for a moment, confused. After welcoming the animals home and helping them off the ark, Noah’s neighbor explained to everyone that they never actually went anywhere. It didn’t really rain for forty days. The waters never rose. The ark never left the blocks it had been resting on. For the last five weeks, Noah’s neighbor and her children took turns rocking the ark back and forth and spraying water from the hose over the top so they would think they were being carried away in a great flood. It had been sunny most of the time they were inside the ark. It was their plan all along to put the animals in a small place, telling them that their lives depended upon it, and then hoping they would learn how to get along.

And it worked. In that time they learned how to listen. How to cooperate. How to work together. How to sacrifice, become less selfish and more helpful. And they learned what they had to offer a community instead of just what they could get from it.

For a minute, they thought about everything that had happened and whether or not they should be angry. After all, Noah and her neighbor had played a great trick on them. All they had endured was in vein. There never was a flood. There never was a plan to wipe out the earth (Noah’s neighbor actually saw God at the Grateful Dead concert and told her about the plan to make it rain. The God of Love made sure that never happened.)

But it didn’t take long for the animals to realize that it wasn’t really in vein. The world was still in danger of being wiped out. Not by a flood of water, but by a flood of impatience. And arrogance. And selfishness. And they realized that even without the flood, whether or not the world would perish still all depended on them. On whether they would be able to teach the others in the community around them what they had learned during their time on the ark. How to get along with one another. How to love. How to listen and to understand.

<<Piano begins to play “Wade in the Water” slowly and softly underneath>>

And that is what they began to do. They knew it would take a long time. But they knew it was worth it. So, from that day forward, that is how they lived their lives. Going out of their way to practice peace and kindness and consideration. And as they did, they lifted their voices and sang this song.

HYMN – “Wade in the Water”

BENEDICTION

Rev. Greg: Reach out and grab the hand of someone close to you. As we extinguish the chalice,

<<Worship Associate extinguishes chalice and candles>>

we carry its light into our hearts and extend justice out with our hands and feet. May we be the people who radiate peace and justice to the world. If you’ve felt adrift, then tie yourself to this ark. If you come across others who feel lost, invite them to come aboard. Our best future depends on us learning to sail together. To summon the infinite Love within us and let it move us to be ambassadors wherever Love and Justice are needed.

Amen.

CHORAL BENEDICTION

GO IN PEACE TO BRING LOVE AND BUILD JUSTICE

(Worship Associate)

This service has ended, our service in the world continues…

Turn and greet someone near you -

find someone you haven’t met - or whose name you want to know -

and invite them into Forbes Hall for coffee and conversation.