This Lent, the people of Two Rivers United Methodist Church are encouraged to participate in a new discipline. Starting on Ash Wednesday, people are encourage to participate in this photo journal. There is a theme for each week from Wednesday to Wednesday. Over the course of the week, people can take pictures and post them on Facebook, Instragram, Pinterest, or Twitter. All pictures posted should include the hashtag #TRYLent.
Each weekly theme coincides with the sermon that will be given at Two Rivers on the Sunday of the week. This way, pictures that are posted before Sunday can be shared at worship. Then, after the worship experience, people can continue to ponder the theme for the week for a few days before moving on. Each major theme is a song from the musical Godspell. Under the main theme are several smaller ideas that you can capture over the course of the week.
Each Sunday in Lent Pastor Robb will be talking about a song, theme, or story from the musical Godspell. Two Rivers and The Center for Living Arts are working all through Lent on producing the musical on Palm Sunday at 4 p.m.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time when everyone has the opportunity to reflect, repent, and encourage renewal in their spiritual lives.
Everyone is invited to begin their Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday worship at 6:30p.m. on February 18 at Two Rivers. Everyone will have the opportunity to take the sign of the cross in ashes as a representation of repentance and a commitment in allowing God’s work of renewal in their lives.
Two Rivers United Methodist Church and the Center For Living Arts are teaming up for a special 4:00 p.m. Palm Sunday presentation of Stephen Schwartz’s Godspell. The musical, directed by and starring Dino Hayz as Jesus, sets the gospels of Matthew and Luke to music, skits, and heartwarming fun.
The cast of 32 is made up of longtime members of Two Rivers, some new to the Two Rivers family, and veterans of The Center for Living Arts. Tom Vaccaro, a well-known face in the Quad Cities theater community, is a leading player in the show. Pastor Robb McCoy, choir director Mark Swessinger, and children’s choir director Tammy Baugh are all a part of the cast as well.
“You might see another show with more talent. You probably will see another show that is more polished,” said McCoy. “You will not see a show where the cast is having more fun.”
Godspell is not a narrative in the classic sense, and cannot really be described as a passion play. It is an event. It is the coming together of a community of people, right out of the congregation of those gathered. As the community comes together, they plea for salvation with “God Save the People.” They long to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly in “Day by Day.” There is bitter sadness as Jesus’ most devoted follower slowly turns on him as he sings “On the Willows.” Finally, in the rocking, driving climax of the story, Jesus is crucified. After his death, silence falls over the sanctuary until it is finally broken by the lone voice proclaiming, “Love Live God.”.
The performance has an added significance because it will be on Palm Sunday. Serving as a great way to start the holiest week of the Christian year, the performance of Godspell will end with an invitation to experience the rest of Two Rivers Church’s Holy Week services, including a service on Thursday at 6:30, a chance for self-guided reflection on Friday from 3-6 p.m., an Easter sunrise service at 6:30, and the full Easter worship service at 9:30 a.m. on April 5.
DIno Hayz (left) stars in and directs “Godspell.” The cast includes 32 people of varying ages and experience levels. The show promises to be a wonderful way to celebrate Palm Sunday, and a powerful start to Holy Week.
The Center for Living Arts (centerforlivingarts.org) is located at 2008 4th Avenue in Rock Island. Just a few blocks from Two Rivers, Dino and Tina Hayz produce several children and youth musicals a year. This spring they are currently working on a youth production of West Side Story and a children’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. West Side Story will show at The Center in April. Joseph will show on May 1-2 at The Center, and will be at Two Rivers on May 8-9. More is coming about this growing relationship between Two Rivers United Methodist Church and The Center for Living Arts.
This Lent, the people of Two Rivers United Methodist Church are encouraged to participate in a new discipline. Starting on Ash Wednesday, people are encourage to participate in this photo journal. There is a theme for each week from Wednesday to Wednesday. Over the course of the week, people can take pictures and post them on Facebook, Instragram, Pinterest, or Twitter. All pictures posted should include the hashtag #TRYLent.
