This sketch uses two puppets one of which is a donkey called Derek and the other a girl or lady.
It can also be performed with just one puppet character the donkey and a girl or a lady.

Jackie.
Hello everyone and welcome to this special harvest service. I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Derek the Donkey. He has travelled a long way to be here today, actually cutting short his holiday at the Mark Warner Donkey sanctuary in the Med. Here he is, Derek donkey

Derek.
Hello everyone. Its great to be here. Actually I am glad to get off that plane and stretch my legs. Its all very well flying with these no frills airways but they treat you like animals!

Jackie.
Well you’re here now and its lovely to see you. When I called you I was really pleased that you wanted to get back for this. I didn’t realise that Harvest was so important to you.

Derek.
Yes of course it is. All those oats and hay and corn and wheat. A feast for any donkey. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I know (name of local town) is surrounded by fields so I expect the good people of (church where you are performing) will have been very generous. So, where is it then ? I’ll get stuck in right away!

Jackie.
Oh dear Derek, I think you have got a bit muddled about Harvest. 

Derek.
No I haven’t its about farmers and fields and ploughs and oats and corn and wheat and seeds and…………….

Jackie.
Stop a minute Derek, you've only got part of the picture. Yes Harvest is about thanking God for all the food we have and yes lots of it does come from fields but Its about more than that. Its about thanking God for all of his blessings to us. For everything He gives us. Children can you help Derek to think about other things we can thank God for? (or grown ups?)

Derek.
Oh I see, its about saying thank you. Sorry, I missed the point didn’t I? Well I would love to thank God for all the lovely things he has given me and then ask Him for more, more, more!
I can spend all this year enjoying all those lovely blessings and look forward to next year when I can thank him again.

Jackie.
Actually Derek we can thank God every day, not just at harvest. But what really makes God happy is when we share what he has given us with others. Some people don’t have as much as we do, so God wants us to share so that they can enjoy those things too. That’s why we are thinking about (the people who are going to be getting the harvest gifts) who need us to share with them today.

Derek.
Oh who are they then?

Jackie.
Well some people are not as fortunate as us.  They don't have as much money and don't always have the opportunities that we have.  So it's good to be able to help them especially at this time of the year.

Derek.
That’s really sad. They must be really sad too when they don't always have enough.  Do you know Jackie I am very good at reading.

Jackie.
Are you Derek.

Derek.
Yes I can read all the labels on the tins of food, Carrots for donkeys and Special donkey apple pie filling.

Jackie.
Oh Derek you are very naughty.  Does anybody here think that they are good at reading.

Play signs game with the congregation.  Have various warning signs made up and get the children to say what they read.  Point out that it's very difficult and dangerous for people if they don't know how to read.

After the game.

Derek.
Well, I can see now how hard it is if you can’t read. 

Jackie.
Yes Derek it's very difficult and can be dangerous if people can't read.  In this church we are giving food to people at Harvest but in some other churches they are sending pens and pencils and books to teach people how to read.  They also send coloured pencils and crayons to make the children very happy.

Derek.
That's a great idea Jackie and it's just reminded me of something.  Did you know God likes colouring and painting? Well we know a song about God painting. Can we sing it now?

Jackie.
That’s a good idea Derek. What's it called?

Derek.
Who paints the sky into glorious day?

COPYRIGHT © 2005 Jackie Fowler...This script is protected by copyright law. I believe however that this script is a blessing from God and is meant to be shared with others. Authorisation is given by the author, Jackie Fowler, to print off this script for non-commercial use, provided that all material remains complete and intact in its original form. Reprinting for resale, in any form, is prohibited.