|
Drama Drash performed Lots of Tro uble in the Citadel before a lively audience at New Life Fellowship in Lawton, Oklahoma. The New Lifers really got into the have-a-good-time-spirit of Purim and were a delight to perform to! The evening began with a wonderful introduction by the pastor, Dr. Robert Dowell--who sees and appreciates the Drama Drash vision of unity in the Body of Messiah! Brother Rodney Doggett opened the show with prayer, and Drama Drash joined the congregation in a joyful song of worship, "Lord You are Welcome."
It would seem that the Lord graciously took us up on our invitation, because the Holy Spirit filled the auditorium. One of the "perks" of serving the Lord is that the blessings pour back on the servants as well as those being served. Both the teaching and performance were very well received by the New Life audience, who booed Haman even before his name was mentioned! They also joined the cast in the "Can't Touch This" dance at the end. What a powerful evening!
Afterwards, Pastor Dowell blessed each member of the cast with a copy of his Goal Setting Course called "Achieving Your Goals." The congregation--corporately and individually blessed Drama Drash with an exceedingly generous love offering and with invitations to return very soon.
Doctor Robert Dowell and his wife, Alicia, and all the New Life Family welcomed the Drama Drash ministers like old friends--we are, in fact. Artistic Director, Shirley Harkins earned her Masters in Biblical Study and Theology through the New Life Bible School and performing at her alma mater was a tremendous honor. Pastor Dowell is a fine shepherd of the New Life flock and a conscienctious steward of the church's resources--a truly anointed leader. Special thanks also to Sister Elizabeth Craine, Minister Jeanette Davis, Elder Phillip Davis, Elder Anthony Aldridge, and Bro. Philip Muse who assisted us in setting up and with sound. Everyone was such a blessing!
All the Drama Drash ministers felt the love inside the sanctuary, even before the congregation arrived. The building is literally redolent with the Spirit of Love! We look foreward to another faithful alliance with this anointed Body and her satellite congregation, New Life Victory Center in Wichita Falls, TX. Thanks again to the New Life family--we can't wait to minister to you again!
Remember Drama Drash's upcoming performance at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Lawton, OK--Do This in Memory of Me--a dramatic reenactment of the Lord's Supper compared to the modern Passover Seder. Don't miss this life-changing performance. A meal will be served. Admission is free but your seats must be reserved at (580)355-5757. And watch the billboard for the next Bible Investigator adventure, Ten Little Lost Tribes!
|
|
|
The congregational family of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Lawton, OK, pastored by Terry Koehn, welcomed Drama Drash Ministries Sunday, March 16th, for a performance of Lots of Trouble in the Citadel, a cheeky melodrama based on the biblical book of Esther. The show was preceded with a teaching about Purim.
Pastor Koehn was a remarkably gracious host and Drama Drash is very grateful for his help and involvement.
There was a lot of trouble in the Drama Drash family, when early morning on the 16th, Debra, who was cast to play the part of Zeresh, Haman's wife, took ill unexpectedly. In a rather Esther-esque fashion, Emily courageously stepped in and quickly learned the lines for that evening's performance. She did great.
The rest of the cast included Natalie as Esther, Wayne #1 as Ahasuerus, Shirley as Haman, Pastor Mike as Hatach, and Justin and Tecorey as the murderous conspirators, Bigthan and Teresh.
The audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the teaching and performance--especially the children, who even questioned the cast during the show! The response from the audience was lively--cheers for the heroic Mordecai and boos for Haman.
Hamantashen was served after the performance.
Drama Drash will present an encore performance of Lots of Trouble in the Citadel at 7PN on March 19th at New Life Fellowship, also in Lawton, shepherded by Dr. Robert Dowell. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
Don't forget Do This in Memory of Me, a dramatized Passover, also taking place at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Lawton. Watch the billboard for dates, times, and venues of future Drama Drash productions!
|
|
|
1/09/08
Peace to your homes and families!
Well done, Cast and Crew! The A Marriage Made in Heaven DVD is "in the can," but we don't want to rest on our laurels too long. After all, the glory is God's, and we were greatly blessed to be in the bullpen when He was casting this project. It was hard work, but many happy memories and sweet friendships were forged.
What a blessing to see cast members supporting each other's ministries--staying in contact almost a year after filming. Many thanks to all of you for your unselfish dedication, patience, prayers, and support of A Marriage Made in Heaven. We are reaping the blessings in fellowship. I pray that the Father keeps the Drama Drash family together until our Messiah returns!
I am recovering from surgery and using my time at home to work on the latest script--another Bible Investigator adventure--Ten Little Lost Tribes. I hope to be in rehearsal in early February. We'll need LOTS of men and a strong actor to play the Bible Detective--a line heavy role.
We have been invited to perform a dramatized Passover at St. Paul Methodist in Lawton. I will need 12 men and all you'll have to do is lay down and eat. Wayne #1 will portray Jesus in this reenactment of the Last Passover that He celebrated with His disciples. Wayne is already learning the blessings in Hebrew--and poor guy--he is being asked to sing again.
These two very exciting projects should keep us busy until summer. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for another show!! In the meantime, the launch of our new website is exciting, isn't it? I hope that you are all pleased. Any suggestions to make this site more effective in ministering to the Body of Messiah will be most appreciated. We are pleased not only to make Drama Drash available to congregations in Texoma, but that Christian drama ministires from all over can access our royalty free scripts for production in their own communitties! THAT is exciting!!
Pray for each other, that God will protect us as we go about this ministry. Keep in mind that every performance is a sacrifice of worship. May the Holy Father richly bless you with health, happiness, and a hunger for His word in 2008!!
Peace and Blessing
Shirley
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:4-6 NAS
|
|
|
1/31/09
Peace to your homes and families,
Where has January gone??? Time flies when you're racing against the clock, and we are in our ministry to call the church to holiness and unity before the return of Messiah. So much to do--I wish I could quit my job and do Drama Drash full time, but for now, this is the way God wants things so we'll just have to work around His schedule, Amen??
Please ask your pastors or ministry leaders to present A Marriage Made in Heaven live or on film to their congregations--maybe even open the event to the surrounding communities--not limited to the Texoma area. I will travel within reason, but if you want to present A Marriage Made in Heaven at your church--in Lawton or in Timbuktu, please contact me @ sjh@ dramadrash.org. Lets get the message out!
I'm considering a few Christian film festivals--one rather HUGE event in San Antonio on October sounds great! As God wills, I will be attending this festival, and maybe others. Anyone wanting to travel with us are more than welcome! Let's have us a convoy. Sounds like a fun trip, too. October 23-25, 2008.
We have been invited to return to Immanuel Baptist Church in Lawton to perform The Mating Game as a sanctuary skit. Natalie, Wayne, Daniel, and Justin will be on hand to reprise their roles, but Ben is AWOL (More about that in a minute). Drama Drash welcomes a talented new member of the family named Dee who will step into Ben's big shoes as The Mating Game host, Slim Merengue. The performance is scheduled for February 24th during the regular worship service--which I think is 10:30, but I'll get the right time for you later. Come out and support Natalie, Daniel, Wayen, Justin, and Peter!!
I'm currently in talks with Paster Terry Koehn at St. Paul's Methodist Church to present a dramatized Passover. We haven't set a firm date for that, but Passover this year is April 20th, so you can expect the performance at that time. The dramatization will be audience participation with an actual Passover meal. Pastor Terry plans to invite a couple other congregations for this very exciting event. WE NEED MEN! 12 to be exact--to portray the disciples. Contact Shirley if your're available and interested in taking part.
After that, we're looking to perform the next Bible Investigator Adventure: Ten Little Lost Tribes--probably in June. This will be Drama Drash's most ambitious production yet, and again, WE NEED MEN. The Bible Investigator is a line heavy part but fun and easy to learn. The other parts are "cameos" but some of the greatest prophets and kings in Israel's history!! Please contact Shirley if you are interested in taking part in this production. We need crew and lobby help, too!
About Ben--Ben, Tania, BJ, and Damara are currently at Fort Lewis in Washington State. Ben reenlisted in the US Army and is bravely serving his country. We're proud of Ben and wish the family well, but we will miss you! They left a house here in Lawton, so prayfully they will return to us. God speed and bless!
Alright, dear friends and faithful supporters of Drama Drash--always a pleasure to visit with you all. Don't forget The Mating Game on the 24th. Hope to see some of you there!
Peace and Blessing
Shirley
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:15-23 NAS
|
|
|
We're on a Roll!
3/2/08
Peace to your homes and congregations!
February was a very successful month for Drama Drash with two live performances of Christian Drama; both in the "homes of old friends." Immanuel Baptist, who hosted Lots of Trouble in the Citadel last year, welcomed us back to perform The Mating Game. We also returned to Bethel Assembly of God and did The Mating Game before FUEL, the only independent youth church in Oklahoma, that meets in Bethel's activity center every Tuesday evening. Fuel is pastored by Al Christian and Drama Drash's own Pastor Mike! Both performances were a huge success.
I had to miss the Fuel performance--maybe God is teaching me a lesson in trusting the Drama Drash baby to other worthy arms. I had the proverbial note from home--a medical procedure that landed me in the hospital over night. The cast, with Tina standing in for me did super in my absence, and I'm proud of everyone for working so hard to make the performance a success.
While at Immanuel, I had an opportunity to visit with members of the congregation afterward, and was blessed in the laying on of hands I received for upcoming and continueing treatment for my back ailments. God is SO GOOD! What a blessing to be among faithful prayer warriors! Thank you, Immanuel Baptist. I pray for an opportunity to visit there very soon again.
And speaking of that . . . It seems our sanctuary plays and skits seem to be a hot item this year. Please ask the Father to bless your long winded artistic director with ideas for shorter Christian scripts, which can be easily performed in the sanctuary setting.
We're on for March and April at St. Paul's Methodist, and I think this is the beginning of another faithful friendship. I very much enjoyed visiting with Pastor Terry Koehn. On March 16th, Drama Drash will present Lots of Trouble in the Citadel at 6PM in St. Paul's Sanctuary. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
We'll be back at St. Paul's at 5:30PM on April 20th for Do This in Memory of Me--a dramatized Passover with the Last Supper side-by-side with the traditional Jewish seder. Sure to bless young and old. This Passover Seder is audience participation and a meal will be served. Do This in Memory of Me is also open to the public and admission is free, but you will have to RSVP at (580) 355-5757.
We're still negotiating on a venue for Ten Little Lost Tribes and I'll tell you more about that next month. Keep in mind that we need several male actors to fill the cast of thousands!
Well my dears, be blessed! Thank you for your prayers and support! Let me leave you with some verses given to me recently by a dear friend and sister in Messiah . . .
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget non of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:1-5 NAS
|
|
|
