I had the privilege of producing A Time for Christmas with the help of an incredible cast and crew. This past year, our whole family was involved in the play. Melanie, my wife, headed up the stage crew, Markie, our 12 year old, was ON the stage crew, and our two daughters, Katie and Mollie were “orphans.” It was really awesome for my kids to interface with other people who love the Lord and are serving him by using their gifts. Markie had a blast on the stage crew. Our stage crew is made up of all kinds of fun people. When that curtain is closed and the scenes are being played out front in Bill or Mary’s apartment, there are all kinds of things happening on the stage! The play brought our family closer together and closer to the Lord. Doing something like this together is awesome because you are intentionally building memories together.
Feel free to share in this space how being involved in the play—either behind the scenes or out front as an actor has affected you. If you were one of our guests, feel free to share how the play spoke to your heart.
Chuck L. Betters, A Time for Christmas Producer
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I can't believe that I am nearly wrapping up my first year as the Campus Pastor at GRPC--Southern Kent. What a wonderful year it has been! Unfortunately, my year began on January 15th last year, so I was not able to see last year's production. While I am on Staff at GRPC, other than recruiting several families to come and witness this great production, I had no direct involvement with the production.
SIDE NOTE: For those of you who might not know this, the campus at Southern Kent is located approximately 50 miles south of Glasgow in Dover near Camden at 4000 S. DuPont Hwy., Suite 101, Dover, DE 19901. We broadcast the entire 11:00am Sunday worship service via live feed from the internet to a location in the Voshell Mills Shopping Mall on Rt. 13. The identical live GRPC Christmas Eve worship service and the worship service on the 23rd will be brought to the folks at Dover through this alternate location as well. For those of you who might be closer to Dover, please feel free to visit our alternate Southern Kent campus as well!
Back to the subject at hand! It was my privelage to attend the play with several folks from the campus at Southern Kent. I had heard from several people from the congregation at GRPC, that this play was a "Must See." I must admit, based upon the feedback I had heard regarding past performances, I did have high expectations.
When I arrived at the main campus during the opening weekend's performance, I was amazed at what I saw. The place was packed! Once I managed to find a seat in the back of the room, I found myself in awe as I witnessed the culmination of what must have been COUNTLESS hours of practice times and rehearsals.
Perhaps what impressed me the most (outside of Damon's outstanding performance as the lead--of course) was the children. It was amazing to note all of the gymnastic talents that were displayed particularly thoughout the orphanage scene.
In addition, much like many others I'm guessing, I was nearly moved to tears during the "Jesus Loves Me" song sung by the person who played the "Young Bill" role.
Wow, what great acting from such young people.
Perhaps the greatest lasting impression that AFTC made was reminding me of the significance of the Gospel message and the true meaning of Christmas.
If you have not yet put your trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have missed God's greatest gift of blessing to you during this Christmas season. Don't let your heart be hardened like Bill did initially. Turn to Christ and receive the free gift of eternal life. When you do, the true meaning of Christmas will live on in your heart and will overflow into the lives of others as a tremendous blessing of God's love.
May God grant you his greatest gift, the gift of Salvation this Christmas!
Thank you Cast and Crew of ATFC! What a wonderful job you did of displaying God's love to a hurting world! May he richly bless your efforts!
Bill, GRPC--Southern Kent
This was the second production I was involved in at GRPC. The first was "Uncle Phil's Diner". That was loads of fun and I knew I wanted to do another one. I feel so blessed to be at this church. There were two churches that my family were members of as a kid. The one we were at the longest had all kinds of drama and a lot of "clickness" in it and I remember how my dad would get
upset and make sarcastic comments and then we left there and went to another . We encountered some of the same things as before and in watching my dad I learned how to "judge" people in the church. That became crippling for me because it would set the tone for me to "NOT" find a church that was good enough when I moved to Delaware and by staying out of church I was not in close enough fellowship with God and I made some ungodly choices that still affect me now. After sitting under the teaching of Dr. Betters I have come to realize that the church is made up of a bunch of sinners just like me who are just trying on a daily basis to please God. I have met many kind , wonderful and helpful people here at GRPC and I truly feel like I am home and that is a great feeling.I hope to be involved in a lot of different things in the church in the years to come. Thanks to everyone who gave me a chance to play"grandma". I had a great time and hope we can do it again next year.
Marion Howell
This was my first year participating in ATFC and I loved every minute of it! I have been a part of Covenant Fellowship players for the past 3 years and recently performed in Uncle Phil’s Diner. Drama is a passion of mine and being a part of this play has been the highlight of the past few months. I had the opportunity to help choreograph two of the dance scenes and help paint the sets! I also was in the medieval scene and various others as an extra and so enjoyed the fellowship and encouragement from my fellow actors.
My favorite part of the play was when Bart told Bill about who Christ was. “Christ was sent to earth as a baby, he grew up among us. He was once loved and then hated. He was put to death on the cross for you Bill. Will you accept the message or reject it? What will you choose?” Then the “Mary Did You Know” song played with “Mary” and “Jesus” on stage. And at the end of the song, the soldier puts the hammer in “Bill’s” hands after simulating the crucifix and there is blood on his hands. This reminded me of the many, many times I sin every day and each sin was paid for by what Christ did for me on the cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. What an amazing Love! What Hope!
I tragically lost my brother this past October and despite being overwhelmed with grief, I was able to find peace in the constant reminder of God’s goodness and grace through the message given in ATFC. Even through great grief I was able to rejoice in the knowledge that I will one day see my brother again. Through great tragedy I find Joy. This, I know, sounds ludicrous! But that is what life with Christ is like for me. I have no strength on my own and it has been God’s strength that has been getting me through this holiday. I have also learned that true Christmas is not just one celebrated day of the year, but every day of the year can be just as joyful as the day we “officially” remember what God did for us by sending his Son to earth!! God sent his Son to give us Hope, to give us Life and to give us Peace even in great sorrow. Death is very much a part of this world, but with Christ in my life, the shadows are not so deep. ATFC truly has changed my life and I want to share it with everyone I can.
I pray that each one of you was able to enjoy ATFC!! I look forward to participating in ATFC again next year! May God bless you and touch your lives this Holiday season!
Jolene Harrison
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