Go light your world

 Participants: 4 groups – representing different religions and one or two narrators.

There are no dialogues in this skit; only  background narrations and songs. You can use real candles or candle lights for this program. Please switch off the main lights and keep dim lights for this program.

Narrator:“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.”

This Light is the source of energy

This Light made the day and the night

Men delighted in this light;

But this Light was only a shadow, just a shadow of the real LIGHT!

Centuries after, John said:"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

But men are still searching for this light. They somehow knew that God is the real Light and is the way to Life. They chanted mantras again and again, in different ways, in different places, in different languages.

(here the first group carrying lanterns without fire, comes in chanting a song-use appropriate costume (easily removable- like scarf or shawl) to depict the group)

ASATHOMA SATH GAMAYA

THAMASOMA JYOTHIR GAMAYA

MRUTHYORMA AMRUTHAM GAMAYA

(please search the net for tune; you can add matching background music for these verses)

(As they chant the mantras, they also try to light up their candles)

Narrator:Asathoma sathgamaya – means "Lead me from untruth to truth"

            Thamasoma jyothirgamaya – "Lead me from darkness to light"

            Mruthyorma amruthamgamaya – "Lead me from death to immortality"

For ages many have chanted these mantras …. But they could not change their status. They still are in utter darkness and untruth that leads them to eternal death…

Here comes another group who agrees that God is Light. Let’s listen to what they are saying.

(the second group comes chanting the following words, carrying a book in their hands and wearing white caps to depict the group)

“Allahu nooruissamavathi valarlu – Allahuakbar, Allahuakbar”

(add a matching background music for this)

Meaning of what they say is “God is the light of heavens and earth”. But have they experienced the real light in their lives? Just by saying that God is Light, no one can enter into that light. Though they follow many traditional rituals, they also live in the darkness of this world, continue the works of darkness and die in darkness.

Some others say their leader was enlightened… but the followers still wait for the light to turn upon them..

(the third group comes chanting another mantra; each of them carry a prayer wheel in their hands -  use appropriate costume (easily removable- like scarf or shawl) to depict the group)

Om amogha

Vairocana mahāmudrā

manipadma jvāla

pravarttayahūm

(please search the net for tune; you can add matching background music for these verses)

Narrator:The meaning of what they chant is: “Turn over to me the jewel, lotus, and radiant light.” They try their own ways to get enlightened, they meditate for long hours, turn the prayer wheel believing that more they rotate the more they pray; they repeat the same manthra for hours in their temples…but in vain.

Here comes some others who have real light with them, but hidden and kept for themselves…..they are not willing to share it to others.

(The fourth group comes in with one lamp lighten, but covered; they also carry Bible in their hands)

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.

(please search the net for tune; you can add matching background music for these verses)

(after being seated, they start meditating the Bible in their dim light)

Narrator:All religions agree that God is Light and their followers are desperate to acquire this light. They try different ways and methods to acquire and fulfill their desire for light. But only a few experienced that light in their life. But we see them not shining as they ought to. They prefer shining among themselves. They boast in their doctrines, their traditions and in their possessions. They forget that Christ Himself is the Light, who sheds the light upon them.

Just as the moon reflects Sunlight on the earth, every Christian ought to reflect God’s light on others who wander in the darkness; we need to spread this light on others, leading them and showing them the real Light.

Listen to what Lord Jesus says:“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone.” (Echos)

(listening these words, Christian leader thinks for a while, looks around as the above verse echoes, he places the candle on a stand so that it will give light to others; his fellowmen are delighted and comes near him, lightens their candle)

Narrator:See, there is a candle in every soul; some are brightly burning but some are cold. We need to ignite it and carry it out to the darkness, seek out the hopeless and confused and let us spread this light to the whole world.

(Christians goes to other groups and gives them light; they also turn their candles on and removes their old costumes)

Music starts- (please search the net for tune of this song)

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning some dark and cold

There is a spirit who brings the fire

Ignites a candle and makes his home

Carry your candle run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle - go light your world

(children from other groups comes to the Christians and lit their candles; each of them

help others to light up their candles; soon the hall becomes illuminated)

(You may give candles to all children of the Sunday school, and invite them to the stage as the song goes on. Together they can make a good illumination in the hall)

Frustrated brother see how he's tried to

Light his own candle some other way

See now our sister she's been robbed and lied to

And still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely the tired and worn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle -go light your world

We are the family whose hearts are blazing

Lets raise our candles and light up the sky

Pray to our father in the name of Jesus

Make us a beacon in darkest hours

Carry your candle run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless deceived and poor

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle - go light your world