ASUMC's God On Broadway series was a bit shattered this year.
It began beautifully, and on schedule, with "The Phantom Of the Opera", as I had already written.
Then came the blustery bully, stomping up the coast and crashing the best-made plans all to pieces.
Life was out of kilter for me (and many others) for almost a week.
I had actually gone to the church on the 9th of October, making a three-block detour around downed trees to get there. I had known the service would not be the Broadway piece scheduled, but that would be okay. I just wanted to be there.
I was the only one there.
I had been greeted with the message "No service Sunday" on the marquee when I had finally arrived.
Sigh.
The next three Sundays went as Reverend Billy Hester had originally planned. "The Sound of Music" was to be skipped for now, but would definitely be rescheduled.
Sunday, October 16th, presented us with "Hello, Dolly!" Truly, I had thought I was only familiar with the title tune, but I was wrong! "It Only Takes A Moment" was a reminder of having watched this many years ago with Mama.
My favorite part of the service, besides Don Cohen's song, was the singing of a new hymn. The title song's lyrics were modified, in light of the turmoil caused by the hurricane. "Hello, Savannah" was our joyful response to our beautiful town still standing! Where am I? Look far right, by the piano, behind the man in the white shirt. See that long, graying hair on that swaying woman? That would be me!
Here are the lyrics.
Hello, Sava-nnah....well, hello, Sava-nnah
It's so nice to be with you where we belong.
You're lookin' swell, Sava-nnah,
we can tell, Sava-nnah,
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...
you're still goin' strong!
We saw the trees swayin'......as it kept rainin'...
Yes, we know that Matthew tried to do you in.
But...you stayed strong, Sava-nnah,
Found you a brand new song, Sava-nnah!
Savannah will always find a way again!
Hello Sava-nnah....well, hello, Sava-nnah
It's so nice to be with you where we belong.
You're lookin' swell, Sava-nnah,
we can tell, Sava-nnah,
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...
you're still goin' strong!
We saw the trees swayin'......as it kept rainin'...
Yes, we know that Matthew tried to do you in.
But...you stayed strong, Sava-nnah,
Found you a brand new song, Sava-nnah
Savannah will always find a way!
Savannah will always find a way!
Savannah will always find a way again!
Afterward, it was good to swap stories about the hurricane in the social hall. Everyone's tale was different, but they all ended the same way... we had survived to live another day.
i thank You, God!
Sunday, October 23rd, was full of "Cats" of all sizes and shapes! "Memory" was so beautifully done, both vocally and artistically. But I must say that the most fun piece was having Pongo and Freckles do the announcements! Hilarious!
Sunday, October 30th, brought what had been intended as the concluding production for this year's God On Broadway series. "Peter Pan" bid us to never grow up, to never lose our child-like wonder of the world we know and love.
My favorite part? I must admit, I had two of them! The first favorite bit was the announcements, done by the Captain Hook and his pirates! Yo, ho, me maties! But Tinkerbell certainly gave those boys a run for the money - literally, as she spoke of stewardship! Helen Downing was perfect as the real Tinkerbell: aged, plump, grandmotherly, as someone centuries old should look!
Now, October was over... but we still had a God On Broadway service to be held. However, it could not be the first Sunday in November, as that was All Saints Day.
No worries!
We were treated to "The Sound Of Music" on this second Sunday in November! What a smorgasbord of songs and productions! "The Morning Hymn" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" featured the choir only! "Do Re Mi" was a puppetry feature from the Creative Kids!
And the announcements? Well, they were done in song, of course! "My Favorite (Asbury) Things" listed them quite nicely!
(smile)
But my very favorite part was during the offertory. Billy's sister, Wendy, who had played Maria on stage years ago, came on to sing "The Sound Of Music". Then, she was joined by Billy and his wife, Cheri. Then came their cousins, John Hester (with my stepsister, Jean, and my niece, Molly!) and Kim Johnson (with husband, Steve)! And then... my favorite part!... Billy and Wendy's mom and aunt came to the stage!
Wow, wow, WOW!!!
But that was not the last "wow!" moment, as we call them here.
No, that came with the very last song, the song where the entire congregation sings together. And that song?
"Edelweiss".
"Bless my homeland forever", it implores.
What a timely message during these post-election woes.
If not for the hurricane's interruption to the schedule, this message would have been a month too early.
If not for the hurricane's effect on the Reverend's planned sermon order, we might not have been able to acknowledge the proffering of hope and healing in such a simple song.
There are no coincidences, right?
i thank You, God.
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