Christmas will be on us soon and it is not too early to get prepared. Whether you are using drama, music, adults, or children the more organized the less hair you will pull out in December!
Here are a few tips:
Create a flow chart of responsibility -- There can only be one director per event. Decide who that is. This person makes the final decisions about colors, volume or whatever.
-- Other positions include: Asst Director, Stage Manager, Music Director, Lighting Director, Set Designer, Publicity Chair, Costumer. As soon as possible arrange for people to fill these position. Spread the responsibility.
-- Create a practice schedule from now until performance. Go over it with the pastor, music leaders, SS Superintendent, etc to make sure there are no conflicts.
-- Set an expectation of completion date for ALL responsibilities. Let people know NOW when you expect props, set, costumes, memorized lines, memorized song movements, songs, etc. Leave nothing to chance. People are procrastinators. ALL elements should be ready at least one week before performance. Stop the last minute rush!
-- Talk up the program now to the church. This is an opportunity to evangelize. Some people never come to church unless it is a holiday. Take advantage of this.
-- Try to do the program more than one night. Some visitors may have conflicts with a single date. This opens up the opportunities.
-- Perform pieces for the congregation during the last couple of weeks. This builds excitement and anticipation.
-- Have an after-performance meet and greet. Nothing fancy, cookies and drinks. ESSENTIAL!
I highly recommend you get two books from my website. One is free and the other is only $10.00
The Director's Notebook - FREE!
You Want ME To Be In Charge? - $10.00
These will help you immensely. Go to http://www.christiandramaresources.com/
Friday, October 09, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
David Bernard - New Superintendent
First of all, let me say congratulations to Bro. Bernard and best wishes to him. I pray that he follows the guidelines of Mark 10:42-45. His scholarship speaks for itself and the few times I have met him he always appeared sober and diligent. I pray that his wisdom matches his intellegence.
Please DO NOT construe this post as a criticism of Bro. Bernard. I have none. His election only served as springboard for this commentary.
I am not a political animal. My general feelings for politicals is sadness and animosiity. The push and shove of men for self glory is both irritating and contrary to the work of God. Why cannot preachers in the same town, city, county, even state get along? My general sense, in talking to pastors across the nation, is a proprietary attitude toward the people in their community. I am amazed at supposed men of God who are fearful of other works in their community!
Is every citizen in said city saved? Why must there only be one church in a community of 10,000? Of 5,000? Do we not want a refuge of holiness on every street corner? Count the number of churches from other denominations in your community. They have muliple assemblies. They each thrive or die by the will of God. IF you are called to that city then God will keep that work. If you are there for your own gratification then you are doomed to failure by your own ego whether or not there is another Apostolic work nearby. We should be encouraging more laborers to the fields not marking our territory like mongrel dogs! IT IS NOT OUR TERRITORY! Are you working for tithes or God?
There is an old joke about lawyers. One western town had only one lawyer in town and he was starving. No business. One day a second lawyer moved to the town and hung his shingle. Soon both grew rich!
Though that example is negative, the same can be said of our churches. Let others hang their shingles nearby. It will create an atmosphere of growth! Preach from your pulpit the message you believe. Preach it strongly and with conviction. Jesus knows where the colts are tied to walls. And as they are loosened they will be brought to Jesus and He will do a work.
Will people jump from church to church? Yes, let them. Pray that they find the assembly that best suits their needs. Do the work that God called you to do and He will reward you accordingly. But casting your eye on the church across the way that has different standards, doctrines and mores will only expose your envy. But as Gamaliel said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
I am not a pastor so I understand if you look on this post with scorn and deride my ignorance. And if I have offended any, I apologize. But I weep at the thought of brothers not in unity. It harms our children, our teens and ourselves. Please teach your saints to wash their neighbor's window, to mow neighbor's their lawns and to shovel their neighbor's walks. Teach them to give the shirts off of their backs, not the venom of their selfrighteousness.
Should we change our holiness and doctrine to accommadate the community? NO, a resounding NO! But please, pastors, teach your saints to embrace Mark 10:42-45 as well. Teach them to be servants.
Sometimes I am afraid that Jesus is sitting on a hillside in heaven repeating to us the words he spoke in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Please DO NOT construe this post as a criticism of Bro. Bernard. I have none. His election only served as springboard for this commentary.
I am not a political animal. My general feelings for politicals is sadness and animosiity. The push and shove of men for self glory is both irritating and contrary to the work of God. Why cannot preachers in the same town, city, county, even state get along? My general sense, in talking to pastors across the nation, is a proprietary attitude toward the people in their community. I am amazed at supposed men of God who are fearful of other works in their community!
Is every citizen in said city saved? Why must there only be one church in a community of 10,000? Of 5,000? Do we not want a refuge of holiness on every street corner? Count the number of churches from other denominations in your community. They have muliple assemblies. They each thrive or die by the will of God. IF you are called to that city then God will keep that work. If you are there for your own gratification then you are doomed to failure by your own ego whether or not there is another Apostolic work nearby. We should be encouraging more laborers to the fields not marking our territory like mongrel dogs! IT IS NOT OUR TERRITORY! Are you working for tithes or God?
There is an old joke about lawyers. One western town had only one lawyer in town and he was starving. No business. One day a second lawyer moved to the town and hung his shingle. Soon both grew rich!
Though that example is negative, the same can be said of our churches. Let others hang their shingles nearby. It will create an atmosphere of growth! Preach from your pulpit the message you believe. Preach it strongly and with conviction. Jesus knows where the colts are tied to walls. And as they are loosened they will be brought to Jesus and He will do a work.
Will people jump from church to church? Yes, let them. Pray that they find the assembly that best suits their needs. Do the work that God called you to do and He will reward you accordingly. But casting your eye on the church across the way that has different standards, doctrines and mores will only expose your envy. But as Gamaliel said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
I am not a pastor so I understand if you look on this post with scorn and deride my ignorance. And if I have offended any, I apologize. But I weep at the thought of brothers not in unity. It harms our children, our teens and ourselves. Please teach your saints to wash their neighbor's window, to mow neighbor's their lawns and to shovel their neighbor's walks. Teach them to give the shirts off of their backs, not the venom of their selfrighteousness.
Should we change our holiness and doctrine to accommadate the community? NO, a resounding NO! But please, pastors, teach your saints to embrace Mark 10:42-45 as well. Teach them to be servants.
Sometimes I am afraid that Jesus is sitting on a hillside in heaven repeating to us the words he spoke in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
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