Sunday, May 31, 2009

What a Weekend!






Awesome team effort this weekend upstairs and downstairs. Dalene directed Sam, Levi, and Sierra in a hilarious drama in the Heir Force room. Phil and Ryan were great in their grandpa drama with a set built by Adam Callender, backdrop filmed by Elle, and sound effects gathered from Jeff P! Great job, everyone!

Friday, May 29, 2009

For Those Who missed Out Last Night....

For Those Who missed Out Last Night....here's a virtual tour of our meeting!

-Phil opened with prayer.

-Then we got a sneek preview of the funny Heir Force Room drama for this weekend directed by Dalene and starring Sammy, Sierra, and Levi.




Then we got another sneek preview of the weekend drama starring Phil and Ryan called "The Nickel"




-Announcements:
1.)Improv Show Next Saturday Night June 6th at 7pm at Moran Elementary-fundraiser for local community theatre, starring Jen, Julie, Shelley, Dalene, Paul, Cody, and Tom! Come as an audience member and volunteer to come up and play with us! Family friendly, fun and unique, affordable, and helping support local arts! Win, win!
2.) Uncoming Series brainstorm online (see below "Online brianstorm" and next series is "Sandtraps" a series about communication with a golfing theme. E-mail any ideas.
3.)Next meeting is June 25th, we'll get to hear from those who didn't get to share this month. Last official meeting of the summer.
4.) Summer Creative Arts Picnic is Friday July 17th at Kim Stewart's House. More details to come! Mark the date on your calendars.
5.) Brad is looking for volunteers to play characters in a training he's putting together for all-stars teachers. He's trying to help them with their storytelling, dramatic and communication skills to enhance our kids classroon experience. (see below "Storytelling Boot Camp"

-And then came the best part: a series of captivating original monologs about how God intersects our lives.

Mary volunteered to go first and drew us in with her lullaby-like voice. She gave us a beautiful story of God's comfort in her life from losing her mother. How he showed up in the little things like lost coins and beautiful flowers... we also discovered she was the first female attorney in Elkhart County! Way to go, Mary! (P.S. Tom all of a sudden realized that he was her paperboy for years! Small world.)

Levi told us about the time he knew he was really a Christ follower instead of a keeper of a hand me down faith of his parents. He led someone to Christ on a mission trip and realized it's one thing to know Christ but them to share Him with someone else was a different story. Incredibly powerful and moving!

Julie gave us a beautifully honest piece about the many lessons she's learned from the instability of her earthly father and the constancy of her heavenly father. We were amazed when she said she thought it was all about fixing her father's issues, but then realized it was more about becoming a better daughter to him. A great example of how God redeems even the toughest situations.

Diane told us a great story about her "ethereal" mother and her helpful advice about the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We loved how she changed her posture and mannerisms when speaking like her mother. A great example of how you can listen for God's promting even in something as common as potty training your kiddos! : )

Leslie gave is a moving performance when she told us about a scary night when she was six months pregnant and said a prayer that filled her with peace that passes understanding. Her description of the Holy Spirit moving throughout her body to release all the fear, panic and tension was something I don't think we'll ever forget.

Shannon's sweet spirit shone through once again with her authentic confessional monolog about how hard it's been for her to find true friends. Even though high school was lonely, she admitted she was glad she never fell away from God due to peer pressure or did anything against her morals. Many of the parents of teenagers commented on how they hope their kids follow in her footsteps.

And then came Pauls' monolog....




As you can see from the reactions ans standing ovation, it was shockingly hysterical. I won't be able to give you all the hilarious details, but all I can offer is two words as a clue--fertility clinic.

Brad's brilliantly written monolog about God's love and a man's love in return kept us on the edge of our seats..all we could say was wow!

Lisa told us an adorably funny monolog about her first job interview and hire when she actually showed up at the wrong veterinary clinic and got hired on the spot!

Phil is an amzing storyteller and drew us in when he shared the true meaning of the word "leaving" when it comes to marriage and how listening to God's prompting can help your life in more ways than one.

Art is often very similar to therapy... I shared a monolog about how God is helping me survive parenthood. I told a story about an incident that happened to Lauren on the bus on the way home from school..still sad that it happened, but thankful for what God taught me through it. And also thankful for a great group of people to share it with.
-After that, we closed with prayer which included prayer for CHip and Diane in regards to their careers, Diane's uncle who is dying and her dad is who is still hopeing to lead him to Christ, Shannon's school, Fletch's move, Levi's summer as his parents head to Indonesia and he heads to college in the fall, and Paul's theatre class he's teaching this summer.
It was a great night, so sad many of you missed it, but we'll see you on June 25th!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Storytelling Boot Camp

Hey guys,
Respond here if you're interested in helping with Brad's training for the All-Star teachers. No dates have been set yet, but we'll keep you informed. More details coming soon!
Here's the basic outline of the characters he has in mind:

This would be a Training Session for Children's Ministry Story Tellers, Teachers and Small Groups leaders.
I. Opening: A host outlines the topics for the day and lays out a in brief the purpose of today's training.
We would need a Master of cerimonies a host if you will, We need a script written that lays out the points of the training session.

II. Voice
1. Doctor Seuss presents "The Monotone Speaking Snitch"
Need I person to play the "Snitch", Need a script to include the right and wrong way to use voice inflection

III. Body Language
Need a Doctor Seymour Doomor Professor of the unspoken word-Need script
While the Professor Speaks; 5 Mimes in the back ground use Body language to express what is being said by the professor.

IV. Connections - Reading your audience to adjust delivery. (The connection Zone)
Create a script of a Public Speaker with a Mock audience Give short Speech where the audience is lost by the speaker. Enter Rod Serling Then ……………..

V. Props - Skit based on Whose Line is it anyway
A. Drew Carry, Collin Mockery, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady, and Special Guest Then the Do "Props" scene - Drew will need a buzzer. Minor Script needed

VI. Bring it all together - Video Montague of the GCC Story Masters: Mark B, Mark W., Jason M. Rob W., Jeff B.

VII. Q.A session with the Actors and Dignitaries

VIII. Close with the Why and skills take away's, add a Notes page Purpose of Teaching kids about God.
Close with a Prayer

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Online Brainstorm

Hey guys!

We've been asked to prepare a five minute scene to accompany the final sermon in the One Prayer Series by Steven Furtick that would pair well with Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" song. We've been given total trust, total freedom to come up with our own characters and situation. So let's brainstorm together!

You can view the sermon here. (It's about 20 minutes.)
http://gallery.me.com/dustinmaust#100016/OnePrayer_09_StevenFurtick

So what do you think? What do you see? How can we utilize great art and create an outstanding live drama element that will point people in the right direction to be able to receive the truth in Steven Furticks's sermon? Let's throw out some ideas!

Monday, May 18, 2009

How's that Monolog coming?

Just a reminder of our next step together. Sharing great art from our own personal encounters with God:

The Assignment:
Write a short 1-2 minute monologue on one of the following topics:
1.) I know God has a sense of humor because of the time that…..(tell a humorous story of when God taught you a lesson)
2.) I know God is real because of the time that….(tell a story of a tough time in your life and how God helped you through it)
3.) I know God loves transforming people’s lives because He did it with me. (A before and after snapshot: Tell how you have grown or changed as a result of an experience/relationship with God.)

Tips:
A.) Keep in mind basic plot structure:Exposition-inciting moment-rising action-climax, falling action-resolution (lesson learned)
B.) Bookends: If you had to sum it all up in one sentence or one metaphor, what would it be? Begin and end there.

Can't wait to see them! I'll be sharing a monolog about 'The Incident on the Bus" Intrigued? See you May 28th! : )

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Financial Peace Dramas Still Rockin'!


This past Monday, Sherry and Tom, directed by Dalene, rocked out another great drama in their ongoing saga of a couple going through the class. Way to go, guys!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Looking Forward to May 28th!

Just a quick note that I'm looking forward to the May 28th meeting! Can't wait to see and experience all of your monologs. Again, feel free to ask for editing help if you need it from Dalene or me. We'd love to help you out! See you all May 28th at 6pm for kids and 7pm for adults in the Heir Force Room.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Sneak Preview

Lost from Granger Community on Vimeo.








Trust me, you won't want to miss this weekend! Here are some great photos from Mark B for a sneak preview of our drama/dance element that includes Ted, Amy, Kelly, Paul, Hannah, Dc, Ben and many other new faces from the emerging dance team! A great moment before an even greater moment when Mark B calls people forward to accept Christ from the first time!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Summer Opportunity!



Sad Journey classes are cancelled for the summer? Well, good news! Five Star has offered the drama team an incredible summer opportunity! They would like the above skit/dance performed on their salvation night of their summer camps for middle school kids in the public schools! You'll actually get to see something similar to this but with our own spin this weekend for our call to salvation week starring Ted, DC and Amy! We'd most likely have a few rehearsals the first week of June and then the performance dates are below. A big ask, but let me know if you're interested! What a powerful element! (And don't worry guys, no purple sashes-we'll modify. : ) )

Grissom & John Young - Wed. June 10th
Schmucker - Wed. June 17th
Westside & Goshen - Wed. June 24th
Discovery & Brown - Wed. July 8th
Sturgis & Pierre Moran - Wed. July 15th
Elkhart Central - Wed. July 22nd
*All evening sessions start at 7:45 pm

Taking Christ thourgh powerful art into the no-no zone of public school grounds--How fun will this be?! I'm in! Who else is interested?

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Carboard Testimonies

Cardboard Testimonies from Granger Community on Vimeo.














Goofballs....

You know the drama team, we can't take ourselves too seriously! : )


Special thanks to those on the team that participated in the cardboard testimonies element this weekend. It never gets old seeing/hearing stories of God's work in people's lives. Through the rehearsals and the services, I've cried several times. Our God is a God of transformations, so join me in thanking those who gave up their weekends to illustrate that truth. Thanks, Dalene, Diane, Billie, Fletch, Jen, Julie, Brad, Rose, Janet and Bruce, Josh, and Kasie!


"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Saturday, May 2, 2009

The Three Blue-migos


Mark, Jeff and Dale (one of our rockin' drummers from the band) did an amazing job creating a fun prelude environment and a cool element for this week of Sync! Great job, guys!