Three churches present Tercentennial Musical.

A group of Brethren from Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, Bedford (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon, Pa., worked together to perform an original one-act musical by Frank Ramirez and Steve Engle titled "The Three Visions of Israel Poulson, Senior."

The musical was commissioned by Robert Neff to be presented on Oct. 18 at the annual Good Samaritan Banquet of The Village at Morrison's Cove, a Church of the Brethren retirement community in Martinsburg, Pa. The musical also recognized the 300th Anniversary--or tercentennial--of the Church of the Brethren as a way of looking forward into the future of caring ministries in the church.

The event dramatized the difference between cheerful and grumpy workers, an old fiddle that symbolized a tired-out sermon, and the terror of being weighed in the balance at the Last Trump. "The Three Visions" is based on reminiscences of the 19th century Brethren historian and book collector Abraham Harley Cassel about Israel Poulson, Sr., (1770-1856) who was pastor of the Amwell, New Jersey, congregation.

Scripts and accompaniment CDs can be made available to congregations who wish to perform the 25-minute show. Contact Frank Ramirez at frankramirez@embarqmail.com or Steve Engle at englemedia@juno.com.

Source: 12/31/2008 Newsline