Job Placement
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
57 Vignettes For Cycle A
Theme
Working for Jesus, as the disciples learned, takes humility.
Summary
Two applicants are applying for the position of Spiritual Life Director. Jesus interviews them both. His choice is surprising.
Playing Time: 5 minutes
Place: Job Placement Office
Props: None
Costumes: Contemporary
Time: The present
Cast: ELAINE -- secretary at Job Placement Office
LYLE -- an applicant
JANICE -- an applicant
JESUS
(IN A JOB PLACEMENT OFFICE, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE WAITING TO BE INTERVIEWED)
ELAINE: Now, you two are the applicants for the position of Spiritual Life Coordinator, correct? Good. Have you completed your dexterity test and the basic I.Q. test? (THE APPLICANTS NOD) Good. Now, the employer will be along most any minute. So be attentive. When I call your name please step up to the desk and answer His questions promptly and good luck to all of you.
JESUS: (ENTERS IN MODERN DRESS) Are the applicants ready?
ELAINE: Yes, they are. Oh, just one question.
JESUS: Yes?
ELAINE: Do you want to talk to the applicants together first or just see them individually?
JESUS: I'll just talk to them individually, thank you, Elaine.
ELAINE: Very good, sir.
JESUS: You may send the first person in.
ELAINE: (CROSSES TO FIRST APPLICANT) Mr. Boardman, you're first. (CROSSES TO JESUS) The first applicant, sir.
JESUS: You're Lyle Boardman?
LYLE: Yes, sir, that's me.
JESUS: Well, Mr. Boardman, let me see here. You were president of the student organization in your school.
LYLE: That's right. I was elected two years in a row.
JESUS: And how did you obtain that position?
LYLE: Sir?
JESUS: How is it you became president of your student organization?
LYLE: The students voted for me. Well, I campaigned, didn't I? I mean, it was a long and hard process. I was unknown that first year and I went to every campus meeting I could go to and spoke whenever I could and I distributed flyers and shook hands and promised a lot of things to the students.
JESUS: A lot of hard work, right?
LYLE: Right. I built up a fine organization in two years. The second campaign was easy. Our organization worked flawlessly.
JESUS: And what did you do as president?
LYLE: Do? I was the president -- the leader of the student body. I campaigned for lower prices in the bookstore. It was because of my efforts that we got a new food service in the student union building. I did a lot of good things for the students. It was good for my organization, too. We learned a lot.
JESUS: Would you classify yourself a leader?
LYLE: Definitely.
JESUS: I see. Did you get a chance to read the job description for this position?
LYLE: I certainly did.
JESUS: I see. And what did you think?
LYLE: Well, sir, I think you need someone to pull your organization together and I think I could easily do that job. I have had experience in my last two positions. It's just a matter of organization. I could do that. I have proven myself a leader and I could certainly be a leader in your organization. If I could be given the freedom to bring in some of my own people I could do some exciting things for you and your organization.
JESUS: I see. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Boardman.
LYLE: Thank you, sir. I'm sure I can do a great job for you. When can I expect to hear from you?
JESUS: Thank you, Mr. Boardman. I'll let you know.
LYLE: In a week? When will you be filling the position?
JESUS: I'll be in touch.
LYLE: Oh, well, then. Okay, well, uh, I'll contact your organization in a week just to see how the recruitment is progressing. (SHAKING JESUS' HAND) I have some other possibilities but I think I could really do something for your organization. Good-bye, then. (CROSSES TO WAITING AREA)
ELAINE: You're next, Miss Wilton.
JANICE: Oh, yes, thank you. (CROSSES TO JESUS)
JESUS: Miss Wilton.
JANICE: Yes, sir.
JESUS: I see you have some qualifications for this job.
JANICE: Well, not exactly. My employment counselor sent me here. I don't mind working, though.
JESUS: Good. Did you get a chance to read the job description?
JANICE: I glanced at it. I didn't really get a chance to study it.
JESUS: I see. You were a member of the committee to feed the poor.
JANICE: It was nice. But all I actually did was fill the paper bags with food and when the people filed past I would get to say a few things to them.
JESUS: Right. And what about that program today? Are you still working with the poor?
JANICE: No, the program was stopped. Lack of funds, I guess.
JESUS: Too bad.
JANICE: Yes, too bad. If you could have seen those people's faces when they picked up their bags -- I mean, well, -- there was some hope in their faces.
JESUS: And you miss that.
JANICE: I sure do.
JESUS: And how much did that position pay?
JANICE: I was a volunteer, sir.
JESUS: I see. Then you haven't really had a paying position in this area.
JANICE: No, sir. I had a job at the fast food restaurant, that's all.
JESUS: Did you like that job?
JANICE: I cleaned. That's all. But, yes. I liked it. I really did. I helped the people. You know, when they needed something I was there to help them.
JESUS: Dirty work, right?
JANICE: Well, yes, I guess it was, but I didn't mind that part of it. It was being of service that I liked.
JESUS: I see. Well, thank you, Miss Wilton. I'll be in touch.
JANICE: Thank you for your time and consideration, sir. (CROSSES TO OTHER AREA)
ELAINE: Sir?
JESUS: Elaine, I think I've made a decision.
ELAINE: So soon?
JESUS: It was easier to choose than I thought. Send in Mr. Boardman, would you, please.
ELAINE: Certainly, sir. Good choice. (CROSSES TO APPLICANTS) Mr. Boardman, would you go in again, please.
LYLE: (CROSSES TO JESUS) Yes, sir?
JESUS: I have made a decision on this position.
LYLE: Great!
JESUS: And I have decided to fill the position with a person other than yourself.
LYLE: What? Are you serious? Not that girl in there. Okay, okay. May I tell you something? I think you're making a mistake. (EXITS. TO ELAINE) I really didn't want that job anyway.
JESUS: Would you send in Miss Wilton.
ELAINE: Miss Wilton, would you go in, please. (JANICE CROSSES TO JESUS)
JANICE: Sir?
JESUS: I have decided to offer you the position of Spiritual Life Director.
JANICE: Well, I ...
JESUS: I think you can do the work.
JANICE: Well, I've never directed anything in my whole life.
JESUS: You enjoy serving. That's what the job is.
JANICE: I'll do my best.
JESUS: I'm sure you will. Thank you. (JANICE EXITS. TO ELAINE) I got the job!
ELAINE: (CROSSES TO JESUS) Well, you certainly had me fooled. I thought the first applicant would get the job.
JESUS: No, I was looking for something he hadn't even experienced yet.
ELAINE: What was that?
JESUS: Humility.
ELAINE: Well, I'm happy you found the person you wanted. As usual it's a pleasure working with you. Remember, call us when you want to fill some other positions, Jesus.
Working for Jesus, as the disciples learned, takes humility.
Summary
Two applicants are applying for the position of Spiritual Life Director. Jesus interviews them both. His choice is surprising.
Playing Time: 5 minutes
Place: Job Placement Office
Props: None
Costumes: Contemporary
Time: The present
Cast: ELAINE -- secretary at Job Placement Office
LYLE -- an applicant
JANICE -- an applicant
JESUS
(IN A JOB PLACEMENT OFFICE, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE WAITING TO BE INTERVIEWED)
ELAINE: Now, you two are the applicants for the position of Spiritual Life Coordinator, correct? Good. Have you completed your dexterity test and the basic I.Q. test? (THE APPLICANTS NOD) Good. Now, the employer will be along most any minute. So be attentive. When I call your name please step up to the desk and answer His questions promptly and good luck to all of you.
JESUS: (ENTERS IN MODERN DRESS) Are the applicants ready?
ELAINE: Yes, they are. Oh, just one question.
JESUS: Yes?
ELAINE: Do you want to talk to the applicants together first or just see them individually?
JESUS: I'll just talk to them individually, thank you, Elaine.
ELAINE: Very good, sir.
JESUS: You may send the first person in.
ELAINE: (CROSSES TO FIRST APPLICANT) Mr. Boardman, you're first. (CROSSES TO JESUS) The first applicant, sir.
JESUS: You're Lyle Boardman?
LYLE: Yes, sir, that's me.
JESUS: Well, Mr. Boardman, let me see here. You were president of the student organization in your school.
LYLE: That's right. I was elected two years in a row.
JESUS: And how did you obtain that position?
LYLE: Sir?
JESUS: How is it you became president of your student organization?
LYLE: The students voted for me. Well, I campaigned, didn't I? I mean, it was a long and hard process. I was unknown that first year and I went to every campus meeting I could go to and spoke whenever I could and I distributed flyers and shook hands and promised a lot of things to the students.
JESUS: A lot of hard work, right?
LYLE: Right. I built up a fine organization in two years. The second campaign was easy. Our organization worked flawlessly.
JESUS: And what did you do as president?
LYLE: Do? I was the president -- the leader of the student body. I campaigned for lower prices in the bookstore. It was because of my efforts that we got a new food service in the student union building. I did a lot of good things for the students. It was good for my organization, too. We learned a lot.
JESUS: Would you classify yourself a leader?
LYLE: Definitely.
JESUS: I see. Did you get a chance to read the job description for this position?
LYLE: I certainly did.
JESUS: I see. And what did you think?
LYLE: Well, sir, I think you need someone to pull your organization together and I think I could easily do that job. I have had experience in my last two positions. It's just a matter of organization. I could do that. I have proven myself a leader and I could certainly be a leader in your organization. If I could be given the freedom to bring in some of my own people I could do some exciting things for you and your organization.
JESUS: I see. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Boardman.
LYLE: Thank you, sir. I'm sure I can do a great job for you. When can I expect to hear from you?
JESUS: Thank you, Mr. Boardman. I'll let you know.
LYLE: In a week? When will you be filling the position?
JESUS: I'll be in touch.
LYLE: Oh, well, then. Okay, well, uh, I'll contact your organization in a week just to see how the recruitment is progressing. (SHAKING JESUS' HAND) I have some other possibilities but I think I could really do something for your organization. Good-bye, then. (CROSSES TO WAITING AREA)
ELAINE: You're next, Miss Wilton.
JANICE: Oh, yes, thank you. (CROSSES TO JESUS)
JESUS: Miss Wilton.
JANICE: Yes, sir.
JESUS: I see you have some qualifications for this job.
JANICE: Well, not exactly. My employment counselor sent me here. I don't mind working, though.
JESUS: Good. Did you get a chance to read the job description?
JANICE: I glanced at it. I didn't really get a chance to study it.
JESUS: I see. You were a member of the committee to feed the poor.
JANICE: It was nice. But all I actually did was fill the paper bags with food and when the people filed past I would get to say a few things to them.
JESUS: Right. And what about that program today? Are you still working with the poor?
JANICE: No, the program was stopped. Lack of funds, I guess.
JESUS: Too bad.
JANICE: Yes, too bad. If you could have seen those people's faces when they picked up their bags -- I mean, well, -- there was some hope in their faces.
JESUS: And you miss that.
JANICE: I sure do.
JESUS: And how much did that position pay?
JANICE: I was a volunteer, sir.
JESUS: I see. Then you haven't really had a paying position in this area.
JANICE: No, sir. I had a job at the fast food restaurant, that's all.
JESUS: Did you like that job?
JANICE: I cleaned. That's all. But, yes. I liked it. I really did. I helped the people. You know, when they needed something I was there to help them.
JESUS: Dirty work, right?
JANICE: Well, yes, I guess it was, but I didn't mind that part of it. It was being of service that I liked.
JESUS: I see. Well, thank you, Miss Wilton. I'll be in touch.
JANICE: Thank you for your time and consideration, sir. (CROSSES TO OTHER AREA)
ELAINE: Sir?
JESUS: Elaine, I think I've made a decision.
ELAINE: So soon?
JESUS: It was easier to choose than I thought. Send in Mr. Boardman, would you, please.
ELAINE: Certainly, sir. Good choice. (CROSSES TO APPLICANTS) Mr. Boardman, would you go in again, please.
LYLE: (CROSSES TO JESUS) Yes, sir?
JESUS: I have made a decision on this position.
LYLE: Great!
JESUS: And I have decided to fill the position with a person other than yourself.
LYLE: What? Are you serious? Not that girl in there. Okay, okay. May I tell you something? I think you're making a mistake. (EXITS. TO ELAINE) I really didn't want that job anyway.
JESUS: Would you send in Miss Wilton.
ELAINE: Miss Wilton, would you go in, please. (JANICE CROSSES TO JESUS)
JANICE: Sir?
JESUS: I have decided to offer you the position of Spiritual Life Director.
JANICE: Well, I ...
JESUS: I think you can do the work.
JANICE: Well, I've never directed anything in my whole life.
JESUS: You enjoy serving. That's what the job is.
JANICE: I'll do my best.
JESUS: I'm sure you will. Thank you. (JANICE EXITS. TO ELAINE) I got the job!
ELAINE: (CROSSES TO JESUS) Well, you certainly had me fooled. I thought the first applicant would get the job.
JESUS: No, I was looking for something he hadn't even experienced yet.
ELAINE: What was that?
JESUS: Humility.
ELAINE: Well, I'm happy you found the person you wanted. As usual it's a pleasure working with you. Remember, call us when you want to fill some other positions, Jesus.
