Okay, not exactly, but I clearly remember being part of my first youth musical back in high school. I couldn't sing very well and I sure couldn't dance, but John and Janet Scarcella – our Methodist church's Music Director and Pianist – made me feel like I could when we did "Godspell" as our youth musical. The church turned out for our performances and supported us on when we took it on the road. That inspiration contributed to my coming back as a college graduate and helping lead our Jr. High youth at my home church as a volunteer. A few years later I answered a call to ordained ministry.
That was my "bigger picture." I was discipled by my home church until I found my way and discerned my calling. FUMC Plano, we have the privilege of doing the same for another great group of youth - OUR very own Crossfire Youth.
Their "Godspell" is calledThe Bigger Picture, an original youth musical written, produced and directed by our own L. Kim Ross and Robin Kaufman Anderson – a very rare thing in youth circles. Our youth have been working very hard and are doing a terrific job with this production and deserve our full support as a church.
We value the importance of youth work as so central to the ministry of the local church that we are offering The Bigger Picture as THE worship experience at 9 a.m. this Sunday and it will last an hour and a half! I encourage you to come then and better still, come to the dinner, live auction Sunday afternoon before the encore performance at 7. My church's presence and support shaped the trajectory of my life. Yours will do the same for a young person here. Moreover, you will be blessed and inspired by their witness. If you can't come, give a donation to the Crossfire Youth Choir to help cover the expense of their summer tour.
Thank you in advance for your support; it makes all the difference. May God bless our youth, their witness and us who love them.
