The December Debate: Unwrapping the Truth Sabbath, December 26, 2026 Characters: •
NARRATOR: Sister Elisabeth
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AMERIE (Michelle): Faithful, patient, but firm newlywed wife.
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JASON (Mark): Her devoted husband, still adjusting to the Midwest cold.
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DELORIS (Sister April): Jason’s overbearing, Christmasobsessed mother from Florida.
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JASON JR. (12 -Carter), JACOB (9 -Andrew), JONATHAN (7 - Matthew): Jason’s high-energy sons.
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SAMONE (Ariel) & ALEX (Aiden): (On FaceTime/TV Screen) Enthusiastic Florida cousins.
NARRATOR: Welcome to Cleveland, Ohio, where the winters are freezing, but the family dynamics are burning hot. Meet Jason and Amerie—newlyweds of just six months. After a tragic loss, Jason found love again, embraced Amerie's biblical beliefs, and packed up his three young sons to move Page 1 of 7
from sunny Florida to the Midwest. Together, they’ve committed to keeping the Sabbath and the biblical feasts, leaving behind the traditions of the world. But today, the ultimate test arrives at their doorstep. Jason’s overbearing mother, Deloris, is flying in from Florida for a December visit. She is armed with winter coats, heavily wrapped Christmas presents, and a strict determination to bring the holiday spirit back to her grandsons. Outside, snow is falling. Inside, the house is cozy, clean, and completely devoid of tinsel, trees, or stockings. JASON rubs his hands together, wearing a heavy winter sweater. AMERIE is setting down a platter of biblical feast-inspired snacks. Get ready for... “The December Debate: Unwrapping the Truth.”
JASON SR. I never knew cold could literally bite your face off, Amerie. Is the thermostat broken? AMERIE (Smiling) Welcome to December in Cleveland, honey. Just think of it as a physical reminder of the warmth of the Sabbath. The front door BURSTS open. DELORIS enters like a festive hurricane, covered in snow, dragging two massive suitcases overflowing with brightly wrapped boxes. DELORIS Brrr! It is a frozen wasteland out here! No wonder there isn't any Christmas cheer on this street!
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JASON SR. (Sighing) Hi, Mom. Welcome to Ohio. DELORIS (Ignoring Jason, looking around the bare room) Not a single ornament? Not even a wreath? Jason, I knew you moved north, but I didn't think you moved to the twilight zone. AMERIE Hello, Mother Deloris. Come in, let me take your coat. We’re happy to have you for the week. DELORIS (Defensively) Thank you, Amerie. I brought some sunshine with me. And by sunshine, I mean presents! Deloris unloads three loudly wrapped boxes onto the coffee table. The boys, JASON JR. (12), JACOB (9), and JONATHAN (7), rush into the room. JONATHAN Grandma! JACOB You made it!
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DELORIS Look at my babies! Stripped of the joy of the season! Well, Grandma didn't forget you. Merry Christmas! (The boys stop in their tracks. They look at the gifts, then look at Jason Jr.) JASON JR. Uh, thanks Grandma, but we don't do Christmas anymore. Remember? We keep the biblical feast days now. DELORIS (Scoffing) Oh, please! A toy is a toy, no matter what day it is. Jason, tell them to open them. JASON SR. Mom, we talked about this before you flew out from Florida. Three years ago, I started learning the truth about the commandments. Amerie and I are raising the boys in the Word. No holidays of this world. DELORIS (Dramatically) It’s a holiday of Christ, Jason! Your poor late wife always threw the most beautiful pageants. Now you’ve uprooted these boys to the North Pole and canceled Christmas?
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AMERIE (Calmly, gently) Mother Deloris, we love Christ. That’s exactly why we look to the scriptures. The Bible doesn't command us to keep Christmas, but it does command us to keep the Sabbath and the holy feasts. We are just choosing obedience over tradition. DELORIS Tradition builds character! (Deloris looks at the tv. Turns it on and calls Samone & Alex. Two kid faces appear on screen.) SAMONE & ALEX (On Screen, screaming) Hey guys! We already got to open one gift! What did you guys get?! The three boys crowd around the TV, smiling at their cousins but completely unfazed. JACOB Hey Samone! Hey Alex! We didn't get anything today because it's just a regular Tuesday. JONATHAN But we got awesome gifts back in the fall during the Feast of Tabernacles! We camped out in a booth and everything!
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JASON JR. Yeah, and we don't have to wait for a pagan winter solstice to have fun. We get a holy celebration every single week on the Sabbath. SAMONE (On Screen, confused) Every week? Like... fifty times a year? JACOB Yep. No stress, no crowds at the mall, just family, rest, and God's word. DELORIS (Stammering) But... but what about the magic? The stocking stuffers? The reindeer? JASON SR. (Putting an arm around Amerie) Mom, the real magic is knowing we are walking in truth. It’s been a tough transition moving to Cleveland and changing our lives, but building our house on the commandments is worth it. JONATHAN Plus, Grandma, Dad said if you leave those gifts here, we're just gonna donate them to a shelter for people who actually need coats and gloves.
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Deloris looks at the boys, then at Jason and Amerie, who stand united and smiling. She sighs, her shoulders dropping. DELORIS Well... I suppose donating them isn't the worst idea. But you're still making me hot cocoa, Amerie. It's freezing in this state. AMERIE (Laughs) Deal. And we'll make it from scratch. (The boys wave to the IPAD (TV SCREEN). BOYS Sabbath peace, guys! Bye Florida!
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