"Angels Everywhere" raises ministry education funds.

The musical "Angels Everywhere: A True Story of the Brethren" by Frank Ramirez and Steve Engle, raised $8,024.96 for Middle Pennsylvania District for use in ministry education. The project was developed in response to criticism that arose when the district raised money by selling sandwich tickets through fast food outlets, Ramirez reported. The effort was headed by Eleanor Fix, pastor of Cherry Lane Church of the Brethren in Clearville, Pa.

"Angels Everywhere" is the story of Catharine Hummer, a Brethren teenager who claimed she saw angels in 1762. Ramirez, pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and a prolific writer for Brethren Press and "Messenger" magazine, has been studying the story since 1997. He wrote the first draft of the script and lyrics and asked Steve Engle, a Church of the Brethren author, songwriter, and ventriloquist, to join the project. Engle wrote the music and contributed to both the script and lyrics.

"Angels Everywhere" was performed Oct. 9 at Roaring Spring Church of the Brethren, Nov. 20 at Everett Church of the Brethren, and Dec. 4 at Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren. Each congregation provided a meal as part of a dinner theater package. In addition, excerpts were presented at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren as part of an annual enrichment program. Over 600 came to see the musical. The intergenerational cast included 22 performers from five congregations in the district. The company hopes to arrange a tour of several more congregations in the spring of 2005 and 2006, Ramirez said.

The Hummer incident was the source of much controversy, Ramirez said, and prompted discussion at the Annual Meeting of 1763. "The Annual Meeting decision was a crucial one," he added, "speaking more to the need for Brethren to speak together in love than actually settling the matter. As Alexander Mack Jr. put it, 'Therefore, dear brethren, let us watch and be careful, and above all preserve love, for thus one preserves light.'"

A soundtrack CD of the musical is planned and should be available in early 2005. For performance and CD information call Ramirez at 814-652-2634.

Source: 12/31/2004 Newsline