Journey to Emmaus - Advertising Poster

Here is a poster you can print up to help advertise our Passion Play. We noticed form the commetns at Christmas that most of the people who attended The Living Christmas Tree - Dreaming of a White Christmas, came because of a personal invitation. Billboards, newspaper, radio and door hangers were a part of the reason for a packed house each night, but it was the personal invitation that got most people here.

You can click on the poster and it should open up to the size of an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. Just perfect for your printer. If you want a larger size send me an e-mail and I can send you one for 11 x 17.

Rehearsal Schedule for Passion Play 2010 - Journey to Emmaus

Getting Ready

Preparations for The Passion Play are under way!

The set arrived today...

And costumes are assigned...

Do you know your music???!!!

Rehearsals and Goats

In case you missed the e-mail from today, March 30.

two quick things…

1. Wednesday's rehearsal will start at 6:00. This may rush you a little,
but it will keep us from staying as late. Yeah.

2. Some of you had told me about goats you know - or at least someone who
has goats. I didn't write these things down because I thought I had all of
the goats I need. But I could actually use about two more goats, so remind
me of the goats you know.

See you Wednesday!

Hahahaha! Then I got a reply to my e-mail that said,

"Do you really want me to name all of the old goats I know?" Hahahaha!

Nope.

Time to Advertise

The Passion Play is just a few weeks away. It's time for you to print up a poster and hang it in your cubicle or wherever you boss will allow - lunch room, front door, car window (just make sure you can still see out). You should be able to click on the picture to get a large version of it and then hit "print" on the ol' computer keyboard.

Old MacLyndel Had a Farm

EIEIO

And on this farm he had a horse (trough). EIEIO

Then we'll baptize here,

and baptize there,

dunk 'em here, dunk 'em there,

every body's wet now.

Old MacLyndel had a farm. EIEIO

And on this farm he had some goats. EIEIO

With a baa, baa here

'cause the sheep's too big (and smelly)

Sell 'em here, run 'em out

What're they doing here in My Father's house?

Old MacLyndel had a farm. EIEIO

And on this farm he had a donkey. EIEIO

With a Jackson's back

'cause Brenda's gone

Here he comes down the aisle

Hope he doesn't kick now

Old MacLyndel had a farm. EIEIO!!!

Woohoo! Everything is getting in place for the Passion Play.

This post is dedicated to the trainers at LifeWay who told my lovely wife that blogs should EIEIO.

Make a Scene

I don't think I've ever REALLY "made a scene." You know, like in a restaurant when the service is less than wonderful or the food is burnt.
I wouldn't call what happened a few weeks ago a "scene", but I did embarrass our waiter a few Sundays ago. We went to Logans (YUMM) for Sunday lunch with some friends. Our waiter said, "You look familiar." (Actually he was about the third person that day to say that - hooray for being on TV every week - and he said that he had been to Hilldale before.)

Anyway... he was a big strong guy, so later when he brought us our sweet tea I asked him if he had ever done any acting. He hadn't, but wanted to know why I asked. I told him I needed a few more soldiers for the Passion Play. He seemed half-way interested, or at least flattered that I'd asked, but knew he would have to work those evenings.

So technically I didn't make a "scene", but some of those with me (including my lovely wife) were thinking they might come without me next time. I figured it didn't hurt to ask.

All of that to say, "I need YOU to make a scene." Or at least a scene rehearsal or two. Here's the schedule. (I had the scedule here, but it wouldn't enlarge. Notice that if you click it - up there at the top of this post - it will enlarge where you can read it.)

The yellow part is an explanation of the scenes. The Groups (A,B,C,&D) are choir members put together for ease of staging. You'll need to check your e-mail to see which group you are in. Those nights will not be long practices, but they are important because we will walk each group through the Passion Play so you know where to stand and what to do in each scene. I know you'll make every effort to be there. Thanks.

Notice the Sunday night rehearsals immediately following the evening worship service. The youth choir will join us for a short rehearsal each of those nights so we can mix them in with the adult choir and go through a scene.

It's going to be a great Passion Play this year. Thanks for being a part of it. If you are one of our readers from across the country or around the world, fly on over and see us - April 9-11.

Kids in the Passion Play

From Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: 1kid
Pronunciation: \ˈkid\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English kide, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kith kid
Date: 13th century
1 a: a young goat b: a young individual of various animals related to the goat

2 a: the flesh, fur, or skin of a kid b: something made of kid

3: a young person; especially : child —often used as a generalized reference to one especially younger or less experienced

From Lyndel Littleton-Worship Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church

1. a younger person who adds life and excitement to a passion play

2. a young goat who bleats at just the right time to bring a big smile to the audience

Comments from Friday's Performance

We had many nice comments about BtK HPP2008.

According to papers filled out Friday there were:

47 -- churches in attendance
11 -- wanting more information on Hilldale
29 -- reaffirming Christ's Lordship
5 -- first time turning away from sin to follow Jesus

Here are comments from Friday night:

My family really enjoyed your awesome play, as well as your basketball program.

I have enjoyed this play very much and this is friendliest church. Everyone is so
nice and friendly. God Bless each one of you.

Very Very Wonderful. Than you and may God Bless You All.

Really great job choir and all involved.

I am a cast member of Bow the Knee from Hillcrest in Hopkinsville. Absolutely Great Job
Enjoyed it very much.

Great Job – Thank you

Moved in my heart for Repentance

Excellent production, Praise God for your ministry in this community

God Bless you Hilldale for another year of how God has blessed you

I really enjoyed tonight’s performance. I am so very overwhelmed. Thank you

Thank you for the blessing of this production.

Great Message

The program was excellent. I truly enjoyed it so much

I truly enjoyed this awesome play

Tonight was awesome, thank You

A wonderful presentation, God bless all of your efforts

What a blessing, Thank you so very much for sharing Jesus in such a mighty way.

Thank you for a wonderful service

I want to be closer again to Christ

I prayed my Lord cleanse my heart of all the junk in my life. I rededicated my life to Christ.

Excellent Presentation

We enjoyed the play so much, great job everyone

Wonderful Worship Service
What a privilege to join in a blessed worship experience.

Very good production

You are a Blessing to so many, especially HIM

Fantastic Production, God is so Good

Great Job, Thank You

Enjoyed the play so much

Wonderful

Be encouraged in your walk with the Lord

Awesome

The Passion Play sure touched our hearts, Thank You, Glory to God

The Play was amazing

Awesome Play

I now believe in Jesus

Great presentation, Good Job Guys

Awesome

Thank you for this and the many other programs that you put on for everyone to attend.

You have a good looking church that seems to be very friendly as we were greeted several times by your members. May God Bless You

An excellent production and portrayal of the Glory of God. I pray this production brings
many more people to Christ.

Great Program

Absolutely Wonderful, Thank you so much

Great Job

I always receive such a blessing from your music. God has truly blessed your church with
lots of talent. May God continue to bless you daily.

Brenda's Story

Debbie Teague knows Brenda's story. Pull out your hankies...

To make a short story long . . . Roger and I purchased a very sweet female donkey named Brenda from a man in Ashland City because the donkey the church had been using was a jack (male) named Roger (ironic) that kept bucking our Jesus off. He was a very stubborn, temperamental donkey. Our horses did not like Brenda (or maybe they liked her too much because they would bite her and chase her) so we took her to a huge cattle farm down Gholson Road where she protected the newly born calves from being attacked by coyotes during the year when she wasn’t “working” at the Passion Play. This past summer, Mr. John Boyd Rhinehart, the owner of the farm died and the cattle were split and sold. The best we can find out is that one of the men that bought one of the halves of the herd took Brenda. We have contacted the men, but everyone denies having seen Brenda (although we have heard rumors otherwise). She was a wonderful donkey (very well-behaved in church) and we were sad that we never found out what happened to her. We have since ridden on that farm on horses and looked all over for her but did not find her (dead or alive).

Children and Youth and the Passion Play

Many have asked about children and youth singing with us or being in the Passion Play. Both childrena and youth are not only welcome, but they are encouraged to sing with us. However, there are a few stipulations. Here's the scoop (or rules).






1. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This can be mom or dad or grandma or any other adult that is in our Adult choir.

2. They can sing these songs with us:
One Day Every Knee Shall Bow
Miracle Man
Hosanna to the King

3. A parent or someone else will have to provide child care for times when children or youth are not singing with us. We will NOT provide childcare. We will not be able to make sure they get to wherever they need to go. They will not be allowed to roam the halls looking for their own entertainment.

Bottom line - I want your children and your youth to sing in the Passion Play. You will need to provide care for them when they are not singing.

Happy Groundhog's Day

If a Yankee rodent is to believed, we are in for six more weeks of Winter. But in my research, I've read that National Geographic claims that Phil is only right one out of every three times.

It's an old German tradiation which may even be pre-dated by the English who celebrate Candlemas Day on Feb. 2. Candlemas weather was supposed to predict the coming of Spring too, just like the groundhog. (this is where I could insert a long explanation about cross-quarter day celebrations and the winter solstice and the spring equinox... but I'll spare you)

Either way, whether we have six weeks of wintery weather or if the pear trees bloom by the end of February, working on the Passion Play (which is also six weeks away) will keep us warm and busy.

Thanks to everyone who was able to come to our "bonus" rehearsal this morning. We were able to sing through everything and work out some notes.

What Not to Wear

It's time to talk about costuming for the Passion Play - Bow the Knee.

As you've heard, but in case it hasn't sunk in, everyone in the choir will need to be in costume for the Passion Play. I have this recurring nightmare... The overture is just coming to an end, the curtain slowly rises and there...

on stage...

the entire choir...

is wearing tacky bathrobes!

I noticed this morning on the news, as they were doing a report on the war in Afghanistan, that most of the pictures from that part of the world seem to be filmed in dusty beige. So to be true to the area and the time, most of the costumes need to be in assorted camel, goat and sheep colors.

So what not to wear? bathrobes, bright colors, spandex, double knit, polyester.......

I need to know - we'll send around a paper Wednesday - if you already have a costume, if you can make one for yourself (There are many easy patterns in all of the pattern books at all the fabric places.) or if you need us to help you with a costume.

PPCD

PPCD - Passion Play Count Down - continues tonight as we move to 8 weeks before the Passion Play. So I know you'll all want to be in rehearsal tonight. The music is relatively easy to learn and it's all beautiful! We've added one more song - Remember Me. You probably have heard it before. Adding this song will let us add a "Last Supper" scene.

The Last Supper by Jacopo Bassano

I had asked some music minister friends of mine for suggestions and I really liked the one titled If You Want in the Picture Get on This Side of the Table. But I couldn't find the music to it.

Wednesday!

Here we are again, cruising through a Tuesday night. My lovely wife, Cheryl, is already asleep and I've grown bored with computer games, the New Hampshire election results are only interesting for so long, so naturally my thoughts have turned to Wednesday and, YEAH, Choir Rehearsal. I LOVE Wednesdays!

I really love the music in Bow the Knee too. If you missed rehearsal last week I hope you can join us tomorrow to hear this beautiful work.

And not only are the songs beautiful, the script is excellent. It looks at the last week of Jesus' life through the eyes of the Centurion - the one who had such great faith. You can read about him here - the story of the Centurion found in Matthew 8

There is all kinds of interesting information in tomorrow night's Inchoirer so be sure and pick up a copy. I'll post most of that info here on Thursday, but it's just not the same as reading it in person with all of your choir friends at 6:30 Wednesday night.

I'll be looking for you then!

Easter Preview

For those of you who don't have e-mail (or whose server blocks my e-inchoirers), here is a copy of something I just sent the choir. Of course, I suppose if you don't have e-mail then you probably don't check blogs either. Hello! It's 2008! You need e-mail!

“The Tree” was fantastic! I think I already mentioned that… but now my attention – our attention – needs to turn to Easter. As you’ve already heard from me, Easter is early this year! It can only be one day earlier and that can only happen when there is a full moon on March 21 when it is on a Saturday and then Easter will be on March 22. But the odds for that are rather astronomical. Well, I’ve distracted myself. The reason for this e-mail is to let you know that for everyone who can be here THIS Wednesday, we’ll have a sneak preview of Bow the Knee. This will be this year’s Passion Play.

For those of you who like to put things on your calendars here are some dates you need to know. (don’t worry, there will be more!)
March 13 – dress rehearsal
March 14-15 – evening performances
March 16 – afternoon performance