intricate and the rehearsals demand- ing, cast and crew fi nd time for playful traditions. T ere’s a group photo of the actors who portray Jesus in diff erent scenes, dubbed the “Jesi picture,” and an annual prank off ered by the cast of the “Last
Supper” scene at dress rehearsal. “T ey’ll dress up like pirates, or be passing around pizza boxes. It’s dif- ferent every year,” Bauer said. T e fun comes, she said, from
the way “people who wouldn’t come together any other way” become “a
giant family.” Paul Peel, a pastor of First,
describes the relationships among participants as “koinonia, a fellow- ship of the faithful,” and celebrates the way the ministry brings together children, youth and adults in an intergenerational ministry. But Peel insists that the gal-
lery is fi rst and foremost “First Lutheran’s giſt to the community.” Most of the audience attending the free presentation is comprised of non-members. “Sometimes people look for an
off ering basket,” Peel said. “We say, ‘No, this is a witness to you of our faith.’ ” When the time comes to present
“Jesus said to them again,‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’” JOHN 20:21
the gallery to a live audience, Wach said, “there’s so much emotion there. Before each performance we gather and the choir sings ‘I Love to Tell the Story.’ … [We remember that] we’re there for the same pur- pose: reliving the Passion.” Bauer’s favorite part of the
Be challenged in how you think about evangelism by attending labs and workshops!
experience, even more than the time shared with her kids and grandkids, is “to talk to someone aſt er they’ve seen it for the fi rst time … you see people with tears. People say, ‘I had no idea,’ or just ‘Wow.’ ” T is year, the 20th “Gallery of
Hear from The Lutheran Hour Speaker ®
Rev. Gregory Seltz, New York Times best-selling author Jon Acuff, founding director of FORGE Mission Training Network Alan Hirsch, and other nationally-recognized outreach experts!
Register today!
WWW.LHM.ORG/CONFERENCE 26
www.thelutheran.org
Featuring music from Our Savior Worship Band, The Erin Bode Group and the Detroit-based Selected of God Choir!
Living Art” will be off ered April 4-6, and First welcomes anyone to attend (www.fl
ccsc.org). “It’s a spiritual experience to be part of the great scenes of Jesus’ ministry,” Peel said. Wach puts it even more simply: “For me, it is my Easter.”
Author bio: Aelabouni is a freelance writer and a pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colo.
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