McHenry County Blog

That’s the bumper sticker that I saw at the new Centegra medical office building behind the Crystal Lake Dominick’s yesterday.

A car loaded with peace bumper stickers was parked next to me.

Befitting the peacefulness of the owner, the windows were open.

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Jesus, Love Your Enemies, Message of the Day

This is one of the items made by the little tykes at the First Methodist Church of Crystal Lake’ Vacation Bible School.

About 320 children attended last week from 9-noon.


Is what this flag says.

Labels: First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Flag, Jesus, Vacation Bible School

It's what it reminded me of.

Jesus' walking on water.

The story is told in Matthew, Chapter 14, verses 22-33:

"Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake while He sent the people home. Afterward He went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

"About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they screamed in terror, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'It is all right,' He said, 'I am here. Do not be afraid.'"

'Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to you by walking on water.'

“'All right, come,' Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

"Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed him. 'You do not have much faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?' And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped...

"After they had crossed the lake, they landed.

Maybe if the Disciples had had a sign warning them that Jesus was about to walk on water they would not have been so startled.

I see two pretty simple messages here:

• Don't be afraid and


• Step out in faith. Sometimes you have to get out of the boat.

This photograph was shot by Diane Meyer in St. Louis near the Arch. She writes Respublica, a blog that has lots of photos.

Labels: Diane Meyer, Jesus, Message of the Day, Respublica, Walking on Water

Here's one good any day of the week:

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Jesus, Message of the Day

Stuck on a winter window are these stickers:

Labels: Car Window Sticker, Jesus, Message of the Day

Today we have another guitar-themed tee shirt from Disney World.

I didn’t figure it out at first. I just saw the “Pick Jesus” and asked permission to take the girl’s picture.

Later I figured out that the shape of the background is that of a guitar pick.

It says,

Beneath is "Romans 10:13."

Labels: Guitar, Jesus, Message of the Day, T-Shirt, Tee Shirt

I found this tee shirt at a Walk to Emmmaus training session in Rockford this September.

First I saw these verses from Philippians 2:10-11. That’s because I was standing in back of the guy wearing it trying to get some food:


When he turned around, I saw what you see and asked what it meant.

He said it was “Jesus” in Hebrew.

Underneath the Bible verses is "GOOD SHEPHERD YOUTH."

Labels: Jesus, Message of the Day, Philippians 2:10-11, T-Shirt, Tee Shirt, Walk to Emmaus

Here’s the second Christian tee shirt that I found on a boy while I was lined up getting pork chops at State Senator Chirs Lauzen’s Porky Picnic.

It looks like a take-off of those tee shirts that belong to athletic departments.

It says,

At the bottom is a reference to First Corinthians 6:20

For those of you who don’t read McHenry County Blog with your Bibles in front of you, here’s what that verse says,

“Each person should remain in the life situation for which he was called.”

The boy was worried that his shirt has a stain on it.

I’m sure that won’t matter to God.

Labels: Chris Lauzen, Jesus, Message of the Day, T-Shirt, Tee Shirt

I guess I didn’t notice the front of this tee shirt when I took what was on back.

It wasn’t until I had walked around that I figured out that the couple sitting at the front table in the big tent at State Senator Chris Lauzen’s Porky Picnic had on identical tee shirts.

On the front was this message:

There is a wooden cross with an American flag flying behind it.

And Mike Evans left his name tag on.

He is not afraid to proclaim his belief in Jesus Christ.

I presume the wearer of the duplicate tee shirt I featured last week is his wife

Labels: Chris Lauzen, Jesus, Message of the Day, Tee Shirt

Look at this tee shirt I recently found.

I saw the back first.

It said,

“Coming Soon”

Then the girl turned around and on the front I saw,

“Jesus”

That's a Protect Marriage Illinois yard sign in the background. I found her at State Senator Chris Lauzen's Porky Picnic.

Labels: Jesus, Message of the Day, Second Coming, Tee Shirt

Actually this ad ran on Easter Sunday.

And the store that ran it was closed.

Each year Hobby Lobby, based in Oklahoma, runs an ad about Jesus’ having risen from the dead.

And, if you pay attention in the store of handicrafts and imports from around the world, you will hear Christian music on the overhead speakers.

I don’t remember hearing words, but I do remember hearing the music in church or on K-LOVE out of Elgin or on WBMI-FM out of Chicago.

Listen next time you are in the store.

Maybe you will hear it, too.

Labels: Hobby Lobby, Jesus, Newspaper ad, Ressurection

This cross with its accompanying symbols of Christ’s passion was found in The Pointe, part of Crystal Lake’s Immanuel Lutheran Church’s ministry.

There's the dice symbolizing how the Roman soldiers decided who would get Jesus' cloak.

The spikes symbolize how He was attached to the cross.

I think I see a sponge symbolizing how he was offered vinegar to quench his thirst.

Does the purple cloth represent Christ's royalty?

I saw it after the conclusion of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s City Hall candidates’ luncheon on Tuesday.

And, Jesus, of course, is missing.

He has arisen with the promise of new life for us all.

Labels: Christ, Cross, Crystal Lake, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jesus, The Pointe

Yesterday, we saw that Hannah, inquisitive child of the 1st Century still searching for the Messiah and finding, instead, her family...who is looking for their wandering daughter.

“Speaking of a child, have you seen my sister Hannah?

"She’s been roaming the countryside for nearly three years. Every time we get her home she runs off again,” Hannah’s sister Joanna asks.

Hannah hears Jesus is coming on a donkey, but might be on foot ”by this point in the procession.”

“He’s an amazing man of humility. He has so much power, yet doesn’t flaunt it around.”

Hannah’s sister is skeptical of Jesus:

"If he came to save the world, why wouldn’t he just save it?"

“Maybe he’s saving it one person at a time,” is her friend’s reply.

Then, Hannah realizes that her father is in the crowd, too.

So, she stays on the ground, hoping he doesn’t notice her.

But, he does.

“Do I dare ask why you are crawling around a crowd of people?” asks her father, Elijah.

After a long pause to gather her thoughts, Hannah answers,

"Father, I think Jesus is the Messiah."

“Why don’t you just be yourself,” her father asks.

“Quit hiding, quite pretending to know him when you don’t, quit tying to find out from other people what he’s like.”

Hannah is surprised that her father sounds like a believer.

“I never said I didn’t,” he replies, criticizing her for missing what has happened to her family, including her little niece Deborah’s illness.

Jesus is sighted.

Shouts of

“Hosanna. Hosanna!"

and

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"

are heard.

“Aunt Hannah, please pick me up.”

Hannah does and continues talking to her father as Jesus gets closer and closer.

Hannah keeps rattling off questions to her father, oblivious to her father’s watching Jesus take the little girl’s hands and blessing her.

“Aunt Hannah, did you see? He held my hands.

"He prayed for me. Now I know I will be all better. I won’t be sick anymore.”

Jesus seems to touch everyone as he moves rapidly along the parade route, even Hannah's skeptical sister.

It reminded me of a politician trying to keep up with his car at a 4th of July parade where the parade organizers were trying to move the entries along faster than one could walk comfortably.

1999's Gala Parade in Crystal Lake, to be specific.

Jesus is gone before Hannah realizes she has missed him.

Hannah’s father says, “Look with your heart, Hannah. He will be there.”

"Why couldn’t I just be ready?

"Like Deborah was…she knew, she trusted, she watched…

"Hosanna, Hossana in the highest.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Getting sadder,

"Hosanna.

"Hosanna.

"If only I could have been like Deborah."

Then, Hannah sings the “Beautiful One” chorus.

And gets excited.

Maybe I can still be like her!

““Maybe it’s not too late for me!” she exclaims as she runs after Jesus.

In his benediction, Pastor David Seyller said,

"Lay down the palm branches; cease the shouting.

"Let our noisy hosannas dissipate in the air.

"Return the donkey and the colt to the stable.

"The parade is over; the procession is at an end.

"Watch the crowd disperse…to their homes, to their lives…for some, they disperse to carry out a sinister plot against the Son of David.

"Watch and wait.

"Go now into this holiest of weeks, with God as your guide.

"Go in anticipation. Go in Peace. Amen"

Hannah will return to the stage of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake for Good Friday’s 7:30 PM service and on Easter Sunday at 11 o'clock. The church is located at the corner of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Will Hannah finally find Jesus?

Will you?

= = = = =
Tonight at 6 at Crystal Lake's Methodist Church, the musical extravaganza of the year will be presented.

The cantata will feature 12 monologues about the disciples and their time with Jesus at the Last Supper. This cantata is a 35-minute program that is meant to present a true picture of the Last Supper, which was a celebration of the Passover Feast. It will be directed by the Director of Traditional Worship Katrina Jackson and will have an orchestra. The anthems sung in the cantata are interspersed throughout the program to underscore the Biblical truths presented by the disciples, to augment their monologues, and to focus on pivotal events in the Biblical story not covered by the drama.
= = = = =
The Palm Sunday cast of Hannah consisted of Logan Fraser, first year teacher at Cary-Grove High School, as Hannah; Hannah Cook as Abilgail; Stacy Cook as Rehab, Gina Daleo as Sapphira; Becca Elston as Anna; Katie Elston as Sarah; Grace Pontius as Deborah (niece of Hannah); Marland Goll as Elijah, the father of Hannah; Linda Hill as the blond woman healed by touching Jesus' robe; and Kristan Brandt as the dark-haired skeptical sister of Hannah. Jesus was played by Tim Pontius.

The dancers were Samantha Elston and Kelly Poling.

Extras including Al and Nancy Bland, Suanne Fraser, Charlie Morgret, Kirstin Sexson, Michele and Steven Skinner.

All the pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Crystal Lake, David Seyller, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Jesus, Logan Fraser, Renee Schulz

In last week’s 11 o’clock service at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Hannah continued her search for Jesus.

She will again on Sunday, but I didn't want to ruin my suspense, so I didn't ask where.

It started in the wilderness three years ago when she met a man whom she first saw on a cliff shouting to no one visible to her about not tempting the Lord. After coming down from the mountain, He told her about the meaning of life, but Hannah didn’t understand His words or that she had met Jesus.

Hannah next searched in Nazareth, His hometown, meeting His fun-loving half sister, among others, who called Him “a goody two shoes” for having changed the Temple wine the kids had replaced with water back to wine.

Then, it was onto Bethany, where Hannah tried to insinuate herself with Jesus’ friends at a party celebrating Lazarus’ return from the grave. (“He was really dead.”) She so wanted to be part of the “in crowd.”

Next, Hannah just misses Jesus turn over the tables of the moneychangers and vendors in the Temple, where it is clear that others are searching for the meaning of Jesus' ministry. (“He looked right through me.”)

Last Sunday, Hannah decided to draw Jesus to her with a deal he could not refuse for a boat.

You see, she had heard that he was coming to the Sea of Galilee to preach and that he had started using boats so that more people could see and hear him.

“I believe it started because He’s got those disciples that are fishermen. I don’t know if He couldn’t really get anyone else at first, so he asked this bunch of fishermen to be His disciples.”

Anyway, as the crowd grew, “Well, one of those fishermen disciples just told Him to get into a boat.”

So, Hannah decides to supply the next boat. She sets up a

“Hannah’s Boat for Rent”

stall.

And, there’s a

“Special if your name begins with J”:

“10 silver coins – 3 hours.”

“We’re going to call it ‘J-Day.’”

Hannah doesn’t want Jesus to think she isn’t busy, so she sets up a

“Take a number for service”

pad.

But, she’s willing to deal.

“And, of course I can negotiate. I was voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed by Negotiation’ by my Temple group,” she says.

“I’ll negotiate a trade…I’ll let Him use my boat for a few hours if we can maybe go to dinner or just sit down for a chat.

In search for Jesus, Hannah tells the congregation, “…every time, I’ve been, what is the phrase you use, ‘A Day Late and a Dollar Short.’

“Yes, I feel like I’m failing miserably, but I feel the need to meet and know Jesus SO badly.”

Hannah sees a crowd of people starting to gather along the shoreline.

She sits behind her booth and waits.

She reads a magazine. (You have to enlarge the photograph by clicking on it to read the titles of the articles in this first century "Enquirer.")

And waits.

As Jeremy Camp’s song,

“I Wait for the Lord,”

is sung.

She waits for business.

Not just any business, but a visit from Jesus.

She takes a lunch break.

And waits.

The day passes slowly.

She lowers the rental price from 10 to 8 silver coins.

The song,

“Get on the Boat”

plays.


She rips off a couple of numbers from the "Take a Number of Service" pad so Jesus will think she is busier than she is.

She is getting tired.

Really tired.

Exhausted.

The way waiting for something to happen exhausts one.

She yawns.

Hannah waits some more.

The afternoon doesn't fly by.

Hannah moves a chair in the direction where she sees the crowd and stands on it.

Hannah moves the chair closer to the crowd.

“I don’t believe it. He’s there.

“And, he’s on a boat.

“Where did he get the boat?

“I have the boat.

“I’d just give it to him if He’d just spend some time with me. All I want is to talk to him.

“I think he sees me. He looks shorter than I thought.

“He looks so tired. Really tired.

“I think he just waved at me.

“I can hear him.

“I think he’s talking to me.”

And the tableau ends as she leaves the stage.

Pastor Dave Seyller delivered a short message about how people cannot serve two masters.

He pointed out that we cannot entice Jesus with discounts.

We can’t bargain with Him.

“Too many people are searching for Jesus in all the wrong places, instead of searching within oneself.”

The service was shorter than usual, but I didn't find anyone who felt short-changed.

The Methodist Church in Crystal Lake is located at the intersection of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues, both of which intersect with Route 14.

= = = = =
All the photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

The blond in all of the pictures is first year Cary-Grove High School teacher Logan Fraser. Author and director of today's skit, officially titled, "Trying to Buy Jesus - Boat for Rent," Jeannie Patterson can be send advancing the clock's hands. The woman with Logan Fraser in the top picture is Lori Morrow, who played Jesus' half-sister in the second playlet of the series. Directly below that picture is SueAnn Fraser, Logan's mother-in-law. Logan's father Dave Hill is seen singing.

Labels: Dave Hill, David Seyller, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Galilee, Hannah, Jeannie Patterson, Jesus, Logan Fraser

Here’s one that refers to Christ’s occupation before he went into ministry.

It says,

My Boss is a
Jewish Carpenter

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Jesus, Message of the Day

“This is the fourth week that poor child has been searching,” explained Renee Schulz, author and director of last week’s sketch about Hannah’s quest for the meaning of life.

"In her first attempt, during a one and one-half day fast in which she got “really hungry,” she encountered Jesus in the wilderness at the end of his 40-day fast. Of course, she didn’t know whom she was talking to.

Next, she traveled to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth to talk to his friends and neighbors.

Bethany was next. Hannah crashed a party celebrating Lazarus’ rising from the dead.

Last Sunday at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, she was in Jerusalem, having just missed in her fourth attempt to find Jesus.

He has just driven the money changer out of the Temple after becoming enraged at the desecration of His Father’s house.

The place was a mess.

Relatives of the stall keepers are cleaning up when Hannah arrives.

But first Pastor Heath set the stage.

“Sometimes God has to do something to shake our foundations…You know God has to knock us upside down…to get out attention.

“Maybe you need to get a little deeper to see who this Jesus really is.”

Hannah talks with some of the girls doing the clean-up.

“I think Jesus was just trying to tell us something,“ she says.

“Maybe he just has a bad fig,” a girl replies.

“I’ve been searching for Jesus for three years,” Hannah inserts.

Hannah is pleased with Jesus’s display of anger.

“So, what’s with the anger?” she asks. “Now he’s starting to look like a king. I like it...

"You two are probably too busy googling over some Peter, Paul or Andrew,” Hannah observes in typical anachronistic manner, using a modern broom to do some kung fu kingly moves before she is warned that they could get her kicked out of the Temple.

Deliverer of the serious message of the day, Rebekah, played magnificently by Suuann Fraser, asks,

Did you see him look at me?…He looked right through me.

While Rebekah is being reflective, her husband Benjamin, a stall keeper played by Brad Meador, is reflecting, too:

A day’s wages lost!

Conversing with Rebekah, Hannah says, “I’m very happy for you.”

“I feel like I could be a new woman,” Rebekah muses... “somehow I don’t feel trapped anymore.

“I feel like it opened a doorway for me to know God.

“Is it possible?

"Could God want to know someone like me?"

“I guess I’ve been tying to find a savior on my own terms,” Hannah realizes.

Then, Hannah sings a song from Nichole Nordema's album "Brave":

What if there’s more?

The first verse proposes that Jesus

was just another nice guy...What if He takes His place

In history with all the prophets

And the kings who taught us love

And came in peace,

But then the story ends?

The first part of the chorus delivers the message,

But what if you're wrong?

What if there's more?

Sunday, March 25, 2007, you can take the next step with Hannah as she tries to discover "if there is more."

The service will be held at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake. It is located at the intersection of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues, both of which intersect Route 14 at traffic signals. Crystal Lake Avenue also crosses Route 31 east of town.

= = = = =

Renee Schulz is in the photo on the top right.

In the top picture of the play, you can see Gabby Sexson on the left and Courtney Wilnewic on the right.

Pastor Heath is next, on the right hand side of the page.

Hannah is again played by first year Cary-Grove High School teacher Logan Fraser. the first shot of her has her holding a broom above her head right after the stall keeper tells her if she didn't behave she might get kicked out of the Temple.

Fraser co-stars with her real life mother-in-law, Suanne Fraser, who plays Rebekah.

Rebecca's "husband" Benjamin, the stall keeper, is Brad Meador.

The three girls are played by Courtney Wilnewic, Gabby Sexson and Jenni Meador.

Jenni Meador, Rebekah's daughter is seen comforting her daughter below the credit line, as is Logan Fraser singing, "What if," in front of what was on the projection screens during the skit.

All photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Crystal Lake., First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Hannah, Jesus, Logan Fraser, Money changers, Renee Schulz, Temple

Our lead character Hannah first encountered Jesus in the desert at the end of his 40-day fast. He was on a mountain shouting, seemingly at nothing.

Hannah thought him mad as he yelled at no one she could see about not putting “God to the test.”

Then, she heard advice about her search for the meaning of life, but she didn’t understand that His references were to Himself.

A week later, at the 11 o’clock service of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake—billed as “the most contemporary" of the four weekend services—Hannah had journeyed to Nazareth.

There she met Jesus’ fun-loving half-sister, an older woman who had watched Jesus grow up, a carpentry customer blaming the now-left Jesus for his unfinished table and chairs, plus two priests, one reacting with sincere interest, the other with distain at Jesus’ synagogue claim.

Now, our anachronistic traveler is at a party in Bethany given to celebrate Lazarus’ return from the dead.

First seen wearing large sun glasses and a light trench coat over her more traditional robe, Hannah is trying her best to fit in without being noticed, but having trouble.

She really wants to be accepted and the party really moves when she stops talking to the audience and, later, between snatches of party conversation with those who have been invited.

You see, she doesn’t know anybody.

Everyone else seems to be good friends with everyone else.

There’s Mary and her sister Martha.

And, of course, their brother, Lazarus, the guest of honor.

Simon is present, too.

As is Simeon.

And Elizabeth and her husband Rufus.

And two little girls are passing out flowers, when they are not taking grapes from the banquet table.


We sense all are talking about the miracle that Jesus has performed.

As Hannah points out to those in the congregation, after three days in the grave, everyone knew “he was really dead.”

Hannah brings us up to date and gives a clue as to her mission.

“This Jesus has got to be somebody amazing. These people know Jesus.”

And Hannah clearly wants to know people who know Jesus.

So much that when asked who she came with, she mentions someone whose name she has heard, but whom she has not met.

Hannah gets introduced to some of the revelers.

There are some raised eyebrows, but Hannah is not rejected.

Throughout the scene, when Hannah stops talking, there is rapid shuffling of everyone else around the stage to the refrain of

“What’s the buzz.

“Tell me what’s happening.”

I was told it was from “Jesus, Christ, Superstar.”

Finally, she meets Simon, a male latecomer about her age.

“I think this guy could be the Messiah,” he confides to Hannah.

After he has introduced Hannah around, the group parys before eating. Still Hannah is an outsider.

The tableau ends with the rock oldie lyrics,

“I’m in with the in-crowd.

“I know what the in-crowd knows.”

It occurs to me that snippets of "Lonely Girl" would might have worked through most of the party, because Hannah certainly was out-of-place at the party of family and friends.

Sunday, March 18th at 11, Hannah continues her search for Jesus on the stage of the Methodist Church at the intersection of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Both streets cross Route 14.

Will her next destination be Jerusalem?

= = = = =
All images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

The playlet was written and directed by Jeannie Patterson.

Hannah was played by Logan Fraser, a first year teacher at Cary-Grove High School.

In the top photo, Hannah is shown with her sunglasses and trench coat. Behind are flower girls Katie & Becca Elston.

Simeon (brother to Rufus), played by Merle Patterson, is seen talking with black haired woman Kristin Brandt. Renee Schultz can be seen behind. Schultz played one of the those attending the party.

In the next crowd scene, Hannah has gotten comfortable enough to take off her sunglasses.

Below left, black haired woman Kristin Brandt, playing Mary, hugs Linda Hill, portraying Elizabeth. Hill is Logan's mother.

Logan's father, David Hill, portraying Rufus (married to Elizabeth in the sketch, as in real life), can be seen introducing Hannah to Simeon farther down to the right.

Right below, Hannah meets latecomer Ryan Dunn, playing Simon.

As the group prays before eating, Hannah is still on the outside looking in.

The whole cast follows:

• Hannah - Logan Hill
• Simeon (brother to Rufus) - Merle Patterson
• Anna (young party helper) - Samantha Elston
• Athena (young party organizer) - Tamera Heath
• Simon - Ryan Dunn
• Mary - Kristin Brandt (dark haired girl)
• Martha - Megan Suchy
• Lazarus - Marlin Goll
• Elizabeth (married to Rufus) - Linda Hill
• Rufus (married to Elizabeth, brother to Simeon, friend of Simon) - Dave Hill
• Party attendees - Pastor Heath, Renee Schulz, Smantha, Katie and Becca Elston (the later two the flower girls)

Top photo in the credits below the line shows Tamera Heath talking to Merle Patterson.

In the bottom picture are four of the cast members waiting for the service to begin. From right to left, they are Pastor Health, her daughter Tamera, who led the blessing before the meal, Merle Patterson and Renee Schultz. Behind is a partially blocked Jeannie Patterson.

Labels: Bethany, Crystal Lake, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Hannah, Jeannie Patterson, Jesus, Lazarus

A most unusual way to present Lent, the time leading up to Easter.

For the weeks of Lent at the 11 AM Sunday service at First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, members will be following “Hannah” as she seeks Jesus.

Two weeks ago, Hannah was in the wilderness, having fasted all of one and one-half days. She was searching for the meaning of life and was really hungry. She meets Jesus, who had been in the wilderness for 40 days. Jesus doesn’t identify himself, however.

First she sees him on top of mountain talking loudly, but only we in the audience know to whom. Jesus is being tempted by the Devil.

Hannah thinks He is going to jump and urges Him not to.

When he comes down, she asks questions and he replies with what I am sure are direct quotes from elsewhere in the Bible.

Of course, she doesn’t understand what Jesus is saying and, while contemplating what He has said, He leaves the scene.

Hannah throughout the series is portrayed by Logan Fraser, a first-year teacher at Cary-Grove High School. Jesus is Tim Pontius. I didn’t have my camera at church for the first colloquy, but last week when Hannah goes looking for Jesus in his hometown, Nazareth, I did.

Can you imagine the Fugue for Tinhorns from “Guys and Dolls?”

Hannah meets five characters. Each has a refrain to sing after delivering a message about Jesus.

First is the mother in the village who has watched Jesus grow up.

“Shoulda of stayed home,” Wendy Miller sings, carrying her basket.

Next comes Jesus' half-sister, played by Lori Morrow. She relates how Jesus was “no fun” as a kid. He was 'a goody two shoes,'” the barefoot lass explains.
(You can tell I enjoyed the anachronisms.)

After the other kids replaced the synagogue’s wine jugs with water, she says, Jesus changed it into wine.

"No fun!"

A man who had engaged Joseph and his sons to build him a table and four chairs is the next person Hannah runs into to.

Portrayed by Brian Morrow, he has a contract that he says has not been fulfilled because Jesus left town.

His refrain is, “Paid cash.”

And, he’s an angry, unsatisfied customer.

Perhaps the funniest part of the tableau is his unrolling his scroll, which reaches the floor and then some.

Next, Hannah is off to the synagogue, where she meets two priests. One is played by her father, David Hill (the taller of the two), and the other by Terry Santos.

As the conversation develops, the taller of the two priests, Logan’s real life father is quite critical of Jesus.

Want to bet he turns out to be a Pharisee?

The shorter of the two, Santos, thinks Jesus is worth listening to.

It was quite something to hear.

The play ends with Hannah setting off the Jerusalem.

In the next episode, "Have You Seen Him at Lazarus' House?" Hanna is trying to find Jesus at Lazarus' house after he has been raised from the dead.

The Methodist Church, located at the intersection of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues, both of which cross Route 14, has four services—5 PM on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning at 8, 9:30 and 11.

The next episode of Hannah’s journey will be presented only at the 11 o'clock service.

Contemporary Worship Director Jayson Hemphill wrote the first two vignettes.

Labels: Crystal Lake, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, Hannah, Jayson Hemphill, Jesus, Lent, Logan Fraser

Today I’m been thinking about my friend Mark Engstrom.

He died the summer before last.

He was my carpenter.

Boy, could he create molding.

He loved to work with his hands probably as much as his Master, Jesus, did.

The only thing he loved more than carpentry and his Lord was his kids Tabatha and Luke.

I was first reminded of Mark when I was writing the first draft of the annual Christmas letter. Tabatha accompanied my son, who is the same age, and us to Great Wolf Lodge for a couple of days at its enormous water park.

Then I read the Sun-Times interview of Chris Gardner, upon 1 year of whose homeless year life the movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” is based.

I was put off by his quote in the headline,

Jesus loves me. He only likes you.

I read it anyway.

Tucked away in the bottom of the article were these two paragraphs:

"My stepfather always said, ‘I ain’t your daddy. You ain’t got no daddy.’ Too many men are in so much pain. So many have a hole in their soul in the shape of the father who wasn’t there. Way back then I promised myself that when I had kids, I would be there.

"People ask me what’s my secret. I tell them, ‘Jesus loves me. He only likes you.’ I am his boy. I pray every day, all day. So much I can’t get my work done. Now I realize I am working with Jesus on speed dial."

Mark prayed constantly, too, but not with the same monetary results. He also did not fulfill his dream to become a Presbyterian minister again.

He was there for his kids, however.

From taking the work truck on camping vacations with them to giving a farmer $15 to let Luke learn how to drive a tractor and teaching Luke how to use a nail gun and building bedrooms for Tabatha and Luke in a rented and really large basement near Crystal Lake and making sure everyone came to Tabatha's 5th birthday party at the little house off Bard Road he couldn't earn enough money to keep.

Right through the transcontinental train trip (a lifelong dream of his) to Washington state on which he was on oxygen as his brain tumor behind his then sightless eye was squishing the life out of him. Right through the 25 minutes of spirited Dixieland he played on piano in hospital gown for the other patients at the hospice and his family where he died.

Mark was there for his kids.

The second Sun-Times article that caught my eye was about how kids and seniors are most likely to be hungry.

That brought to mind that Mark sometimes had to get food from the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Sometimes it would be because people had stiffed him after he had painted or done carpentry work. Sometimes it would be because he hadn’t been able to find a customer for his skills. I’m sure his kids ate some of that food.

So, let me refer you to my article last Saturday in which the purpose of the Crystal Lake Food Pantry is laid out, complete with the high percentage of clients who are children.

The Food Pantry will be moving to the old Helping Paws building between Christmas and New Year’s and its contract with the Salvation Army says the space now occupied must be cleaned out by the end of the year.

If you have a day off during that week, why not give the Steve Newton a call at 815-459-9435? A couple of hours would be a big help.

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Yes, that's the color of our kitchen. Mark and my wife picked it out. Remember, I'm color blind.

Mark is teaching his son Luke to use a nail gun in the first picture. I took this photo of Tabatha at the 5th birthday party Mark threw for her. The two, as well as the picture of all three are from 2001. Luke surely looks tired.

Labels: Carpenter, Chris Gardner, Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Jesus, Luke Engstrom, Mark Engstrom, Molding. Great Wolf Lodge, Tabatha Engstrom