Gayla's Magazine

I'm Dancing on My Coffin....

Our prop department is overflowing with blessings and it's time to reorganize it from top to bottom.  So the Director and I spend the day together redoing the entire room.  Gathering props for various dramas and illustrated sermons has been a systematic machine in place. But once in a while, purging and decisions have to be made, do we really need this?

Every shelf and locker is all labeled and  filled to the brim. What's in here? Puppets, hats, ropes, chains, props for any type of drama, make up, sound effect items, shoes, bible day type things, you name it.... I think it's here. There is even a giant lion up on top of one of the shelves.

We have a turning rack from a Cleaners that the costumes are hung from.  Some 350+ costumes are at our fingertips at the touch of a switch. Angelic, western, wedding, middle eastern, demons, biblical, kings and queens.... all sorts are here ready for use by our teachers and pastors.

We laughed and laughed about this..... Shelby is standing on a coffin holding pairs of angel wings.  She says,  "I'm dancing on my coffin", and the way she said it was so funny.  The paradox of life and death is apparent to both of us.  Death has no sting when a person is a Christian!  Jesus gives us wings..... above death. I think that is a sermon in it's self!

The large Kingly throne is used for many theatrical scenes in teaching Sunday school. It stays....

Shields are always useful and must be kept. Puppet stages, and clown things are stock around here.

Signs and ammo boxes....all get to stay.

Notice Goliath's foot above my head, hope he doesn't' 'step' on me!

Crosses, crowns, wigs, bags of 'vines' and foliage, wedding dresses, monkey suits, clown sets of costumes, full body suits, and many many other things get looked over and decided if they get to stay in the 'ministry' or need to go on to RMA. 
It's been a full day - the room is complete and next week maybe I will tackle the next area that needs a Fall reorganizing effort with another Director. 

The Footsteps of Jesus

Our children's drama held on Saturday is something special to see!  I think every church could do something like this for children.

Every classroom is set up with a different part of the Easter story and there is a guide that walks everyone through.  One of the cast speaks in every room and takes the part of the story describing Jesus and what was happening to him.  There are special lights, and sound effects in each room.  These pictures don't do it justice at all.  It was truly special!  Well done to everyone that works in the children's ministry!!! You have made a deep impact on every child that walked through. 

At the end we are taken inside the tomb, and the guide suddenly turns around and it's Jesus!  He talked with us, and such a sweet presence of the Lord came in the room.  It was very quiet and gentle, but his words were stirring and pierced the hearts of all there.

This drama lasted from 1 to 4 pm with a different showing every 30 minutes.
It was wonderful!  

The Lamb

The Lamb our multi-media worship experience was so awesome!  It was majestic, powerful and full of the anointing of the Lord.

The stage was set, the mountain of sin from the beginning of time represented, the Word of God read and a clear understanding of the Pass Over Lamb in place. 

The 'Behold the Lamb' song, takes center stage as they take down the doorway and turn it into the Cross in the interpretive dance.

Taking the words of the songs, 'Worthy is the Lamb' and making it personal becomes the role that I play.

 

'One Drop of Blood' is portrayed by the accuser of the brethren and the redeemed of the Lord.

 

Beautiful scenes and pictures of meaning for each song, plus words so the entire congregation could clearly understand the words, videos and sound effects all added to the message of the Cross and the Blood of the Lamb. I think this Drama had close to 75 slides at last count!! There are so many hours involved here that I can't even begin to tell you how long it has taken me to build this - weeks on end, even while traveling I have been working on it. But this Bishop's wife loves it!!

 

More songs - but I can't show you because my photographer was too overcome to remember to take the pictures!  But this is when Jesus reaches down through time into our personal lives and sees us through the Blood. Not what we are, but what He could be in us!  And when the Blood touches the mountain of sin in our lives, it is collapsed and instantly removed from our lives! 

 

The Revelation Song is so powerful and we sing with joy and love!

 

'When I Think About the Lord' brings another layer of worship.  I turn the cross into the present doorway  of 'NOW' and what it means today.  Standing in the doorway and knocking on the hearts is Jesus reaching for the souls of mankind.  Open today and let Jesus come in!

 

We begin the testimonies of our personal lives and it was so incredible to see!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so many many many more that I just don't have space to share with you!

 

It was a wonderful drama with more parts, but this just gives you an idea of our special Easter Sunday this year.

 

Happy Resurrection Morning to all my readers around the world!!! He is Risen!!

The Lamb

This year I felt the Lord wanted me to do something completely unique and out of the box.  My drama is called The Lamb and it is an audience interactive multi-media worship experience. 

Not the usual dramatical interpretation of Resurrection Morning, but rather a use of the Arts to describe spiritual concepts in praise and worship. I know.... you are probably saying, 'what'?  I will just have to show you after Easter Sunday! 

I pray the Lord will bless us with His Presence - He  is who I am longing to please with this.  

Bible Adventure is ready to build

 

I have lots of silk plants we can draw from. And old beat up pottery can be watched for .  Even a big old metal pot can be spray painted and used as a great prop.

 

I can even use just plain old rocks added here and there around the set. Some palm branches will cover any edges I want to hide on stage. Spray paint old metal buckets and they will fit right in.

 

This would be PERFECT to use. If I can just find one. Anybody got one they would like to donate?

 

And if I can find one of these I think even it could be useful on my stage set. Okay I have all my ideas lined out and drawn on paper.  Let's gather the troops and get things going.  It's going to be great! 

This Jerusalem street scene will be the backdrop on our children's stage for our Wednesday night Kidtricity Program.  With  lot's of planning and careful attention to detail I think we can transform this large room into a wonderful place set in another time.  To have a children'ministry that is exciting and alive and captures the children's attention, our teachers have to be inspired, enthusiastic and love what they do.  I hope that this Jerusalem market scene will do just that for both teachers and children. It's a Bible Adventure! Wanna come?

Bible Adventures for Kids 3

 

Look at how this awning is held.  I can get some old curtain rods and drape fabric across them for a similar effect. Take apart old metal lamps for the curved parts to glue on the curtain rods for additional effect. 

 

I think we still have the tattered shreds of an awning still hanging from after the hurricane.  It would be perfect to use!

 

Even an old tan blanket could look 'leathery' after a can of bronze spray paint is dusted over it! Not to worry we shall have awnings in our kids special stage for 2009!  Just wait till you see what we have created! I will be sure to show you. 

Bible Adventures for Kids 2

 

 

I am going to need old curtain rods (can spray paint if I need to) Just a rug thrown over one brings atmosphere. And old light fixtures that are worn out can be hung from the ceiling for special effects  Any old pottery can be painted to fit in well. I will use even a old broken table and fill it with old baskets with fruit and vegetables.  Our Bible Adventure stage set up is going to be very impressive to our kids.

 

I have access to lots of 'stuff' like this to use through our thrift store.  I think I know where an old brass room divider is that has nails pounded all around the edges. Perfect for this dramatical set. And I might can find a rusty brass lamp stand that would look middle eastern when I get done with it!

 

I have seen so many ideas I can use. Our kids program is going to jump!

Bible Adventures for Kids

 

Images can inspire and bring a new imaginative thought to life.  While on our recent family Christmas trip I saw so many things that were a springboard for fresh ideas for me.  2009 is going to be exciting with some different plans for children's ministry, choir plans and drama's for this pastor's wife!

 

 

 

 

 

What do all these things have to do with a preacher's wife? Keep looking......

 

 

Here's my idea. I am going to create the most fantastic new 'set' for our children's ministry for this year.  We are going to call it 'Bible Adventures' and the entire stage will look like a market street in old Jerusalem.  We will have brass pots, and old trunks, and carpets, and clay pots with old wooden pillars holding up awnings and chains holding back doorways with copper plates, big old used candles  and worn wooden bowls and baskets of all sizes...... I can go  on and on...... I am going to create a beautiful 'movie set' for the background for our Kidtricity Auditorium area.  Now can you see my inspiration?  Our kids and teachers are going to love it!

I am calling in everything I need in the next 2 weeks, and we will show you the results!  Can't wait to get started!

Extravagant Presence

 

Thought you might like to see some pictures from Extravagant Presence.  I am truly touched by what God did in this Drama - it was AWESOME. I stepped out on faith on this Drama, just trusting what God had put in my heart would come alive in the hearts of all those who would see it.  And it did. Writing this Drama came to me in pieces - but when it was all on paper - wow!!

   

  

 

 

I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire crowd.

 

 

 

   

 

It was majestic, powerful and very moving.  Using the Word of God and worshiping in the Spirit of God brought down a new dimension of praise!

Breakfast with Mary and Joseph

Breakfast with Mary and Joseph was a huge hit!  I have been praying for a new idea for our children's ministry to have a fresh way to teach children about the birth of Jesus - and so this idea was born. 

 

As the children came into the room, they were able to see Mary and Joseph and the Baby up close and personal.  They also could get their pictures made too!

 

As the children came in, Christmas children's music was playing and they were served a special pancakes and juice.  Coloring giant pages occupied the children who finished early.

 

Then from the youngest to the oldest the children were lined up getting ready to ask their personal question to Mary and Joseph. 

   

Each child had their little own point of view and their questions were surprising and some were funny - some were serious. Did Jesus have a dog? What is a virgin? What was Mary's IQ? If the Wisemen brought gifts, what did the shepherds bring for presents?

 

 

"If Jesus is the King of Kings, why was he not born in a Castle?

 

Mary and Joseph (Jessica and Lang) had to think on their feet to keep up with these kids!

 

 

The kids were perfect angels, had a good time and want to do this again - with different Bible characters.  Hmmmmm I think we are on to an innovative and fresh way to teach children the Word of God!  Makes this pastor's wife happy!