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Local churches use plays, musicals and choir presentations to spread the meaning of Christmas and faith.
By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published December 18, 2004
INVERNESS - If you are looking for some meaningful holiday activities, several local churches will be hosting events that will emphasize the spiritual side of Christmas.
At 7 p.m. today and Sunday, the First United Methodist Church of Inverness, 3896 S Pleasant Grove Road, will present a musical drama written by Paul McCusker, A Time for Christmas.
The story relates a modern Scrooge who is mysteriously transported in time to various places in Christmas history. The musical, directed by John Edel, is both contemporary and traditional in this free family event.
The cast is large with about 30 actors, ranging in age from 5 to 85, and nearly 50 choir members. The main characters are played by Tom Morgan, Steve Crandall and Kelly Lapp.
Maria and Bob Spence are the drama directors for the production.
"This is a very large endeavor," Mrs. Spence said. "We have an excellent crew and a lot of helpers. The story is very touching and it all comes together with beautiful music.
"We even had a choir member, who has heard this story 8 or 10 times in rehearsal, in tears the other night. And that is the goal of the Drama Ministry Team and the Music Team: to touch people's hearts and bring people into the church and possibly have them come back."
The story is about a cynical businessman named Bill who doesn't celebrate Christmas.
"He has an assistant, Mary, who is trying to get him to stop work," Mrs. Spence said. "It's Christmas Eve. But he's very busy trying to get his accounts straight."
That night a magical character appears who takes Bill on a trip back through time.
"He is taken to Bethlehem the night the star appears and (the angel) Gabriel speaks, supposedly the night Christ was born. Then he takes him to a London church where the pastor and people are arrested for having a prayer service."
Bill is then transported to a medieval castle to see how Christmas was celebrated in those times.
"My husband built this paper mache boar's head for the feast and we have a dance group that performs," Mrs. Spence said.
The next stop for Bill is a London orphanage.
"That is very much like it's right out of Dickens," Mrs. Spence said. "The children's choir participates in this and they're going to steal the show as the orphans. They're hungry and they don't have a Christmas, and they're wondering why they're celebrating when they don't have anything. It's very, very touching."
On his final stop, Bill goes to a modern day church where there is a nativity scene. "Mary" is a part of the scene and sings O Holy Night along with an angel.
"It's a very beautiful scene and it does touch Bill's heart and he realizes that he's been missing something," Mrs. Spence said. "The story culminates with Bill realizing that he's missing out, that something is wrong here and that he needs to learn about the spirit of Christmas. Mary says to him, "I think you mean the Spirit of Christ."'
A love offering will be taken during the program. For information, call 726-2522.
North Oak Baptist Church, N Citrus Springs and N Elkcam boulevards, will present One King, a contemporary musical that melds the birth of Christ with his mission, at 7 p.m. today.
Beginning at the manger and ending at the empty tomb, the story is accented by a colorful banner presentation and worship experience led by the 40-voice church choir and children's choir.
Kathie Stewart is the director.
"The center focus of our program, which is a narration blended with music, tells the entire story of Christ," Mrs. Stewart said. "That's usually not something that is depicted much at Christmas.
"Most folks like to kind of stay around the manger scene, but our church is of the firm belief that we've got to move away from the manager. And while this is a time to celebrate his birth, we've got to spread the news about his death and his resurrection," she said. "I think a lot of people are going to miss heaven because they don't understand why he came and what he did for them, and if they don't understand that, they can't have a relationship with God."
The song that is the climax of the musical asks, "Which king will you serve?"
"Then it goes on and talks about what the real King has done for us," Mrs. Stewart said.
The production has some traditional Christmas carols incorporated with the other music. There are two narrators who provide the dramatic reading.
"In the finale, there will be a banner presentation," Mrs. Stewart said. "They're the size of a door and they depict the names of Christ. At the end, he is pronounced as the One King. I believe it will be pretty impactful. It's the Gospel wrapped in Christmas paper. Our prayer is that people will come because they are seeking something enjoyable for Christmas, but while they're there, they'll hear the truth."
The church will also present a free musical drama, Christmas from Scratch, by the Children's Choir at 6 p.m. Sunday.
"Twenty little scruffy homeless kids can make a pretty terrific Christmas out of leftover decorations and cardboard boxes, and that's just what they do in this production," Mrs. Stewart said. "When a kid named Scratch comes on the scene and shows them how, they find themselves able to celebrate Christmas even though they don't have anything. This program is always a real heart puller."
The director of the 45-minute program is Donna Lofley and Scratch is played by Devan Lofley. Members of the choir range from kindergarten to sixth grade.
"I'm hoping that not only will people come and enjoy the play," Mrs. Lofley said, "but also that it will be an important lesson for the kids to learn. That it's not about all these gifts they're getting. It's about more than that."
Call 489-1688 or 746-1500.
The Inverness Church of God, 416 U.S. Highway 41 S, will host an outdoor Christmas festival beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday. The free event runs about two hours and will feature live skits and songs by the church choir, praise and motion dancing by the dance team, a Christmas carol sing-along and the reading of the Christmas story. Refreshments include baked goodies and hot apple cider, tea and coffee.
Karen Compostella performs in some of the skits and musical numbers.
"We just encourage everyone to bring their families and their lawn chairs and blankets and jackets and spread out in front of the Family Life Center, where we have a stage set up," Compostella said. "This year, we've invited other Churches of God in the district to join us and perform also. So if you are driving by and see it, just pull in and join us. It will help people get back to what Christmas is really all about, being together with great fellowship, great food and enjoying the holiday season for what it's meant to be, being together as neighbors and celebrating the birth of Jesus."
Call 726-4524.
The Christmas cantata A Night to Remember will be presented at 6 p.m. Sunday by the choir of First Baptist Church of Hernando, 3790 E Parson's Point Road. Call 726-6734.
The cantata Arise, Shine! Your Light Has Come will be presented by the combined choirs during the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday at the First Christian Church of Homosassa Springs, 7030 W Grover Cleveland Blvd. Call 628-5556.
Then Jesus Came cantata and drama will be presented at the 10:15 a.m. worship service Sunday at Heritage Baptist Church, 2 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills. Call 746-6171.
The Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church of Crystal River, 1501 SE U.S. 19, will present a cantata, How Great Our Joy, at the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday. The Chancel Bell Choir, under the direction of Patti Williams, will present a program in Rainbow Springs at 6 p.m. Sunday. The event is open to the public and helps support the park in Rainbow Springs. For more information, call Williams at 795-0197.
[Last modified December 18, 2004, 00:08:20]
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