Godspell

   Yesterday was a bit crazy. I was supposed to go see Miss Abagail's Guide off-Broadway, but missed my train by 2 minutes then he next train was a bit late and I didn't line up with the right metro schedule, so I missed the show. Which promoted me to go to the Tkts booth in Time's Square, something I've never done more. The booth is sponsored by TDF and I usually order my tickets directly from them because they are cheap for subscribed clergy (www.tdf.org) But alas with little time, I ventured into the snaking line. While in line I was asked what I was going to see and I said that I had 3 options: Chicago, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Godspell. One of the attendants in line vigorously suggested Peter, but I ended up getting Godspell tickets a.) because it is closing today and b.) it was cheaper.
   And I was not disappointed. It is tied for the best show I've seen. Lots of thought provoking pieces that I will be using in future sermons. Two of which really struck me. First, the absolute excitement about baptism. When the water burst forth as a stream on the stage and the planks were uncovered, the characters jumped in. Jumped in. Splashed around. Had so much joy that they had to share. Do we feel that way about baptism today? Are we excited to welcome new people into our midsts? Are we excited about what baptism represents and do we yearn to share that with other people and watch their lives be transformed?
    Secondly, the power of the parable. I don't know what we've exactly made it into, but the parable isn't what it was before - a story. To be shared. To be acted out. To ask us to think deeply about life through our own context. While the Bible could be considered timeless, it only comes if we honor the different genres of scripture and treat the parable as a story to be placed in our own context. Perhaps that is what makes Godspell so good, the context changes over time and it makes the storytelling all the more powerful.
   So powerful in fact that people were moved to tears. I wanted to have an alter call at the end of it all (and I am not an alter call type pastor). Profound experience. Now how can that translate to church? How can our worship be moving and profound and life changing? How can our worship be filled with humor and love and joy that is transformative as a community? How? I don't know the answers, but I'm ready to jump into the waters and try. Amen!