wfn.org | Bible Stories Come To Life In Humorous Skits

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

4-January-00 
00003 
 
    Bible Stories Come To Life In Humorous Skits 
 
    Scripture studies at "Dawn" celebration are punctuated by laughter 
 
    by Evan Silverstein 
 
INDIANAPOLIS - Hey, did you hear the one about Mary attending a Lamaze 
aerobic-dance class? 
 
    If not, you probably didn't attend morning Bible studies at the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s "The Dawn ... an Epiphany" youth and young 
adult celebration here Dec. 28-Jan.1 - and you certainly missed a few good 
laughs, as presenters made familiar Bible passages come to life through 
funny sketch humor and outlandish costumes. 
 
    The Biblical shtick came from the innovative minds and hearts of the 
Revs. Mark and Cheryl Goodman-Morris, pastors at Valley Presbyterian Church 
in Portola, Calif., and "Simple Gifts," their drama troupe of eight 
performers. The pastoral pair view the arts as a helpful tool in nudging 
people of all ages, but especially youngsters, toward a better 
understanding of the Bible. 
 
    "They're kind of like `Saturday Night Live' skits in the morning," said 
Mark Goodman-Morris, whose church is part of San Francisco Presbytery. "We 
will do anything it takes to make the Gospel real to these folks. We'll do 
whatever it takes to make the story fresh. Oftentimes, that's humor - and 
they'll remember those stories." 
 
    There was Mary as a valley girl - totally. There was Jacob wrestling 
the angel with the fanfare of a World Wrestling Federation celebrity. There 
were fluffy angels and biblical characters with cowboy hats. The 
Goodman-Morrises also led evening worship services, at one point unleashing 
a 15-foot Gabriel puppet that required three actors to operate. 
 
    The sessions at the Indianapolis Convention Center were like TV comedy 
skits, especially when a pregnant Mary attended a Lamaze aerobic-dance 
class where she bumped into cousin Elizabeth. The two exchange greetings, 
sounding like two bombastic New Yorkers arguing over a subway seat. The 
troupe, outfitted in hilariously inappropriate 1980s-vintage leg-warmers 
and beach ball-stuffed leotards, had the crowd roaring with laughter. 
 
    "What we really hope is that people's lives are changed," said Cheryl 
Goodman-Morris, "and that they're touched by seeing Mary (and other 
characters from the Bible) in a new way." 
 
    Many of the youngsters in the audience said they were affected by the 
lessons, and did take away a  better understanding of scripture. 
 
    "It was interesting, and funny," said Yavonne Howe, 12, of Davenport, 
Iowa, a member of West Park Presbyterian Church. "For the little kids who 
are a little younger than us, it put the Bible in a way they can understand 
it." 
 
    Some adults in the audience agreed, acknowledging that the mix of 
theatrics and humor was effective in bringing young people to a better 
understanding of Bible stories. 
 
    "It was nice to see how it can be brought to modern times, and it's 
still educational for the kids," said Rita Schroeder, 32, also a Davenport 
resident and West Park Presbyterian member. "They can understand it." 
 
    The odyssey of Biblical parodies started during the Goodman-Morrises' 
days as students at the Louisville (Ky.) Presbyterian Theological Seminary 
in the 1970s. In an April Fool's Day class they attended together, Mark and 
Cheryl were assigned to preach a dual sermon. They acted out the assignment 
silently as mime performers, telling without words the story of Jesus' 
healing of a deaf and dumb man. That effort was the genesis of their 
creative style of "preaching." 
 
    "It was then we knew that there was a tremendous power with symbols," 
said Cheryl. "So that's really been the whole of our ministry, of our 
preaching and especially of our drama, ever since. It's to help people see 
the scripture in new ways, through ... symbols, and through storytelling." 
 
    The Goodman-Morrises continued exploring the art of mime while serving 
as co-associate pastors of various congregations in southern California. 
Today, at Valley Presbyterian, which has about 350 members, they often 
incorporate creative elements, such as dance, mime or drama. 
 
    "Worship doesn't have to be `by the book,'" said Cheryl, a parish 
associate of theater arts at Valley Presbyterian who also operates the 
Portola Valley Theater Conservatory. "If you can do it through dance, 
through mime, through silence, all those things can be used." 
 
    Mark and Cheryl, who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary during 
"Dawn," took the name "Simple Gifts" from a Quaker hymn of the same name. 
 
    They are no strangers to PC(USA) events. The church has tapped their 
talents for three previous Presbyterian Youth Triennium events. One "Dawn" 
official said the troupe is exceptional at connecting with younger people. 
 
    "They understand that people learn in different ways, and that the 
majority of us learn visually and need to make a connection sight-wise," 
said Gina Yeager, the denomination's associate for youth ministry and 
director of worship and production for "The Dawn." 
 
    Kevin Klein, 13, of Omaha, Neb., agreed. 
 
    "I thought it made the worships more fun and more interesting to go 
to," said Klein, who attends Benson Presbyterian Church. "It helped me 
learn about Jacob and Esau and the angel."  

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