A dramatic Advent reading

On your marks

Advent is the season when Christians get ready again to remember the coming of ‘the light of the world’. The arrival of this ‘light’ is signposted throughout the Bible. The following idea offers a way for groups to dramatise some of those key passages as a series of freeze frames that could become a tableau to use in a church service.

Get set

No special props are required for this idea. Although there are suggested actions for each Bible reference, encourage your group to use their imaginations and contribute their own ideas. Once you have created the piece together, you might like to offer this as a meditative contribution within an all-age service, using a narrator/narrators and some appropriate background music.

Depending on the size of your group and the space available, you could get individuals or groups to mime each key passage, or everyone could participate in them all.

Go!

Genesis 1:1-3

In the beginning, the earth was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness.

• Suggested movement: Cover over eyes and hunch up.

And God said, ‘Let there be light!’

• Suggested movement: Stretch out arms as if throwing light out on to the earth.

John 3:19-20

But some people chose darkness rather than light.

• Suggested movement: Make a statue of someone doing something cruel.

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light!

• Suggested movement: Point up into the distance in excitement.

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.

• Suggested movement: Thump the air.

John 8:12

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world!’

• Suggested movement: Trace a big world shape with your arms with hands a-quiver, as if glowing.

Matthew 5:14 and Philippians 2:15

Jesus said, ‘You are like lights for the whole world. Shine like stars among the people of this world.’

• Suggested movement: Make star shapes, holding hands.