Church: Dedication of a New Church Building

Jason -- (enters carrying clipboard) And this is where we're going to have the dedication ceremony.

Calvin -- (follows) Wow! What a beautiful building! You've done a great job!

Jason -- Thank you. We're all working a lot of overtime to put on the finishing touches and get it ready in time for the dedication.

Calvin -- Have you decided what you're going to do for the dedication?

Jason -- We think we're going to hire a production consultant.

Calvin -- A production consultant?

Jason -- Yes. I hear she's very good. She'll be here any minute.

Calvin -- (turns to exit) Well, then I'll just be on my way.

Jason -- No, please, stay. I may need your expertise too.

Calvin -- (turns) My expertise? For what?

Jason -- Well, this production consultant has planned some of the biggest, flashiest events in Hollywood. But we want to be sure that whatever we do is Biblically sound.

Calvin -- I see.

Jason -- Oh, here she comes now.

C.B. -- (enters hurriedly talking into cell phone) Yes, I'm at the church now. It's a pretty small building by our standards. (passes by Calvin and Jason looking at the rafters) The production should be a piece of cake. Call you later. (puts away phone) Gilman?

Gilman -- (follows closely on C.B.'s heels, manipulating a palm pilot) Yes, C.B.?

C.B. -- We'll need a cherry picker in here to hang some spot lights from the rafters. What's the tallest cherry picker we can get that will fit through those doors. (points to main doors, makes a circuit around stage)

Gilman -- (looks at palm pilot) I'm checking, C.B..

C.B. -- Well don't take all day. I'm a very busy person.

Gilman -- I know, C.B.. Yes, here it is, C.B.. We can rent a cherry picker with a 28-foot reach and it will fit through those doors.

C.B. -- That will have to do. They haven't given us much time to do the set-up, Gilman, you'd better order two cherry pickers.

Gilman -- Right away, C.B..

Jason -- Cherry pickers?

C.B. -- (turns to Jason) Who are you? Do you work here?

Jason -- Yes. I was the one who called you. (extends hand) I'm....

C.B. -- (turns away) You should have told me about the low ceilings.

Jason -- Low ceilings? I thought the ceilings were quite high.

C.B. -- No way there's enough clearance for fireworks.

Jason -- Fireworks?!

C.B. -- Cancel the fireworks, Gilman.

Gilman -- Cancel the fireworks. Got it, C.B..

Jason -- You weren't really planning on having fireworks in here, were you?

C.B. -- Oh, don't tell me this is going to be a low-budget production.

Jason -- Well, I was less interested in the cost than I was in making sure that the dedication was Biblically sound.

C.B. -- Authenticity is the hallmark of my productions. You needn't worry about that. We've done a complete review of the Bible. (points) Where does that door lead? (points to side door)

Jason -- That leads to the fellowship hall.

C.B. -- Good. That's where we'll bring in the sacrificial animals.

Jason -- Sacrificial animals?!

C.B. -- Gilman, make a note of it.

Gilman -- Got it down, C.B..

Jason -- You're not really going to sacrifice animals here, are you?

C.B. -- Yes, there was only one dedication of a new building in the Bible and that's the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. You did say you wanted to be authentic, didn't you?

Jason -- Well, yes. But...

C.B. -- (puts thumbs and fingers into the shape of a frame and sweeps hands around auditorium as if shooting a movie) Okay, we'll bring the animals in through those doors and down the outside aisle, then we'll bring them up here (points to floor at C) and slaughter them.

Gilman -- Very good, C.B..

Jason -- You're going to slaughter animals right here?!

C.B. -- Yes, then the priest cuts the animals into pieces and burns them on the altar, here (points to floor or altar at UC)

Jason -- You're going to set a fire INDOORS?

C.B. -- Yes. Then, the priest sprinkles the blood from the animals on all the people.

Jason -- You can't sprinkle people with blood!

C.B. -- I thought we covered this. You said you wanted this dedication to be authentic.

Jason -- Well, I did. But, the blood will stain the carpets?! What about the smoke damage?!

C.B. -- (sigh) You don't really want this to be authentic, do you?

Gilman -- Doesn't sound like it to me.

Jason -- (to Calvin) Help me out here.

Calvin -- I think what she's trying to say is that you're being a little old fashioned.

C.B. -- Old fashioned?! It's YOU people who insisted on authenticity!

Calvin -- When I say old fashioned, I mean that the temple dedication was in the Old Testament. The Old Testament ceremonies no longer apply to people who have put their trust in Jesus.

C.B. -- If you're talking about the NEW Testament, you can forget it. There were no buildings dedicated in the New Testament. Isn't that right, Gilman?

Gilman -- Right you are, C.B., not a single building dedicated in the New Testament.

Calvin -- What I mean is that Jesus himself is the fulfillment of those Old Testament ceremonies.

C.B. -- Tick, tock, tick, tock. I'm a very busy person. Can you get to the point?

Calvin -- For instance, the Book of Hebrews says that Jesus blood was spilled once for all time. Jesus blood has already cleansed us of all our sins. So, animal sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood are no longer necessary.

C.B. -- Is that true, Gilman?

Gilman -- (studies Palm Pilot) By gully, she's right, C.B..

C.B. -- So, that means we have to strike the animal sacrifices. (points to Gilman)

Gilman -- Strike the animal sacrifices. Got it, C.B..

C.B. -- But that means we won't be able to burn them up.

Gilman -- Strike the fire on the alter. Got it, C.B..

C.B. -- But fire is so dramatic! Can't we set just a little itsy bitsy fire?

Calvin -- I'm sorry, but fire is a symbol of judgment. And those of us who put our trust in Jesus will not go through the judgment.

Jason -- Well, it looks like we won't have to worry about blood stains on the carpet or smoke damage.

C.B. -- But you've just ruined my whole production!

Gilman -- Ruined!

C.B. -- Gilman, cancel the cherry pickers and the spot lights.

Gilman -- Got it, C.B.. (follows C.B. to exit)

C.B. -- (dials cell phone) Hello, J.R.? Yeah this is C.B.. (exits) That church dedication I told you about turned out to be a dud. Let's do lunch and talk about the Chicago project.

Jason -- (follows for two steps) Wait! Where are you going? Surely, there must be SOMEthing we can do that's Biblical and authentic! (sigh) Now what are we going to do?!

Calvin -- How about if we merely thank God.

Jason -- (exited) Yes! Yes! We could thank God ...For saving us from blood stains and smoke damage!

Calvin -- (follows) If it wasn't for Jesus, blood stains and smoke damage would be the least of our worries.

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