Summer Series: The Gospel According to Broadway
Jesus often taught using parables – stories that helped folks understand God’s grace and love in ways that were relevant to first century hearers. Through these stories, he made clear what the Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven, looks like. Which is to say that Christianity and storytelling are intrinsically connected.
In fact, oral tradition has always been an important way of passing on information from one generation to another. It’s our stories that matter!
Modern day musical theater can do this in much the same way. Musicals often take complex ideas and present them using stories that make sense to hearers in the 21st century. In fact, it is said that going to the theater is reminiscent of going to church without being “preachy!”
This summer, we are engaging in a summer worship series that will take us on a journey to Broadway! We will be highlighting musicals that:
- come from a variety of eras and historical perspectives;
- are culturally and geographically distinct;
- attempt to break taboos and norms;
- teach us about the importance of relationships and community.
Join us for an important summer series that will take on deep and significant topics with levity and love!
June 18 – The Color Purple
How do we persevere in the face of struggle and find the God inside ourselves?
June 25 – Kinky Boots
What does innovation look like in today’s world? It may mean challenging old assumptions and finding the courage to forge new relationships.
July 2 – Hamilton
When you die, who will tell your story? What legacy will you leave behind?
July 9 – The Sound of Music
Reflections on fascism: 1938 & 2023
July 16 – Ragtime
What is the American dream? Has the tune changed since the turn of the 20th century?
July 23 – Parade
This 2023 Tony Award Winner for Best Revival of a Musical also won the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 1999. Let’s discover why the world needed this story revived…
July 30 – Carousel
Who’s in and who’s out? A deeper dive into this classic as we see that not all communities are as they appear on the surface.
August 6 – West Side Story
Conceived as a musical update of “Romeo and Juliet,” West Side Story explores the devastating consequences of racism to people and communities.
August 13 – South Pacific
“You’ve got to be carefully taught” … how does social conditioning impact and perpetuate racism?
August 20 – Jesus Christ Superstar – 50 years later
How Andrew Lloyd Webber changed the game when it came to telling the story of Jesus.
August 27 – The Lion King
Remember who you are, the future depends upon it!
September 3 (Labor Day weekend) – Come From Away
Can the people of Gander, Newfoundland accommodate 6,800 unexpected visitors as their planes, banned from US airspace, land at Gander’s airport in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks?