Everywhere one looks, there's a new list of the best or worst of this or that from the year that just ended. Here's my list of my nine most memorable shows of 2014 in no particular order:
Easter Sunday at Bridgton Alliance Church. While our church was without a pastor, I had several opportunities to preach, including Easter morning. I know that's not really a show, but it was a huge honor. Actually, I did do an illusion as part of the children's message part way through the service. I did the raising of Lazarus illusion (but adapted the patter for the resurrection of Jesus). The memorable part of this was I had tried the same illusion in the same venue the week before for Palm Sunday, and, to my embarrassment, it didn't work. On Easter, I nailed it.
LOL's show at the Fold Family Ministry in Lyndonville, Vermont. This is a home for troubled teenage girls. The closing routine was interactive, as the girls brought bandanas with their spiritual struggles written on and by them in marker, and hung them on a large wooden cross. Many of the girls were visibly moved. then we all went into their school building and socialized for an hour or more.
SPARK week show at the Bridgton library. SPARK is a town wide outreach our church puts on, and we did a show on the town library patio. Not only did many people from town come out to see it, but Rose and I ended up on the front page of the local newspaper. The next weekend, a coworker of my brother from southern New Hampshire was in Bridgton for the weekend, saw the article, and brought it back to Amherst to show David.
Teen Challenge, Fitchburg, Ma. Another home for troubled teen girls, but this time,, Rose and I did the show instead of the LOL team. We've always loved this gig each year,, but this time was special. It was so beautiful to see Rose and the girls from TC interacting after the show just like any other kids. They played with the rabbit, sat in the grass, and talked (probably about boys.)
The Bus Stop Atheist. This full musical production in Portland's finest venue - Merrill Auditorium - was a thrill to be part of. I was only in two scenes for maybe four or five minutes, and all I did was a three ball routine, but it was a lot of fun. Also, my friend Alan was the playwright and composer.
Youth group in Spanish Harlem. Naomi, our 20 year old, has been doing her internship with this church for the last two years. On Fridays, a high school in the neighborhood provides the facilities for a neighborhood open gym, and in October, we were able to go with Naomi to be part of it. There were maybe 30 teens present, and part way through the evening, we did our show. It was so special to be part of Naomi's ministry project. And the teens loved it.
Chapel at Nyack College. This is where Naomi is currently a senior, and we were invited to do our show for their Thanksgiving week chapel. The auditorium was a beautiful venue, the worship team were terrific, and it was so fun to be ministering in the same setting as AB Simpson taught many years ago. And when I brought Naomi up on stage to juggle machetes, her classmates went wild!
Local benefit concert. This show just a few weeks ago had us as the opening act for a local band. It was a fund raiser for a family whose youngest son is dealing with leukemia. It seemed like the whole town was there, they enjoyed the show, respected the Gospel message, and Brian, a new believer from our church was part of the band. Doing this was a huge encouragement to him.
LOL at a girls' retreat in Windham. LOL had 17 members at the time, and only 12 came. Three of the absences were unexpected. Multiple changes were needed, some as close as 15 minutes before show time. Every kid present rose to the occasion, and it was terrific. Rose showed real leadership as she helped classmates learn parts in minutes.
2014 was a great year, and I can't wait to see what God has for us in 2015.