Dinner Theater

We had a great time. After all the fretting over the weather, the clouds broke around noon and we had clear skies and 50 degrees for the first show. The first seating was packed, including my "spare" table; seven o'clock wasn't very roomy either. The actors did a tremendous job; the food service staff, including choir singers as waiters were phenomenal.

Highlights:

"Jonathon's" spew at the first show

"Jess" bonking "Nathan" and "Rachel" on the head with an inflatable hammer when they got a little too off-the-hook

"Eli's" prayer at the manger scene

"Sarah's" "How-can-I-refuse-such-a-face" expression

Briggs and the baby donkey

Being together for a wonderful evening of food and fellowship

Impromptu Bells

'nuff said...

Next year, ladies...

Seasons of Joy 20 December 2009

BMPCNC will have a lessons and carols service at both services this coming Sunda 12/20. There ours will not be your standard issue L&C, I think the image below is still funny and on point. Keep an eye out this week for how we are developing out liturgy.


This CartoonChurch.com cartoon by Dave Walker originally appeared in the Church Times. View the source here.

Dinner Theater Update

All the actors have been working very hard. I am especially proud of Scott R and Annie H, the leads who have the bulk of the lines. I have two very clever and committed assistant directors who have managed to catch a vision for the production and are doing tremendous things to make this a meaningful and entertaining evening. The kitchen crew goes into hyper-drive this morning putting together a wonderful menu.

The only downer is worry about the weather. Early predictions had shown rain for Saturday. Throughout the week, that has been pushed further and further out. This morning the word is "rain, sleet and/or freezing rain on Sunday." We have a Plan B, but it's not nearly as neat as the original. The original location for the outdoor scene is thoroughly saturated with rain from the soakings we've had last month and this. So we were actually already on Plan B with an alternate place to have the crowd stand for the final scene. Looks like we won't have to worry about being outside at all. I think the last time I did this show I was worried about it being too warm for the actors in all their costume layers (that was in Richmond)!

Notes to know: we have a "real baby" to be the infant Jesus, Larkin A, granddaughter of our own Ruby W. Plus we have a miniature donkey, and it's yearling offspring.

Busy Day

How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?


A committee of 7 to stew about the need to change the bulbs and fret about the expense (for 7 months), a motorized $300 a day lift to hoist the hired contractor into place to do the work (plus his paid assistant on the ground), 4 people to move the pew cushions and drape the pews with plastic to keep dust off them, one person to dust the ceiling rafters since we're already in there making a mess anyway, and three willing brutes (including the Chief of Police for the Town of Montreat) from the committee hanging around to do anything else needed on the ground, and one organist to take pictures of the whole event.


Seriously.

Maryville College Choir

Make plans now to attend a concert performance by the Maryville College Choir at BMPCNC on Friday evening March 12 (time TBA). Under director Stacey Wilner the Concert Choir and a smaller ensemble, Off Kilter, will present a varied program of sacred and secular music. Check out more information here. More details as we get them nailed down. Save the date now!

Sweet organ in Scotland, there, guys!

Young Artist

Maia C. drew this picture of our church organ recently. It appeared one day on my office door. I had to share it! I especially like the "smokin' sounds" that our organ produces!

Thanks, Maia! This is awesome!

You can click on the image to get a larger view.