Edmond, Oklahoma, Church of Christ stages large-cast Vacation Bible School drama

The Edmond Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, begins preparing its Vacation Bible School nine months in advance, according to Chara Watson, who directs the 25-minute dramas that open four nights of Bible lessons, crafts and snacks for children from age 3 through fifth grade. The congregation has about 1,100 members.

The production relies on a cast of 50, including some teens and some people age 80 and up. Meredith Graham, who has volunteered with the church’s VBS for five years, said many cast members work full time and come straight from their jobs to daily practice that runs until 10 p.m. She said many church and youth group members also help with setup, teardown, decorating, design, sewing and cleaning costumes.

The performances are a four-part, a cappella musical that uses repurposed pop songs, Disney anthems and songbook selections. The story is told to children and, as the article notes, to many of their parents, who often stay for the shows. This year’s theme, “Esther: For a Time Like This,” marked the church’s 30th VBS. The producers follow a seven-year plan that covers the lives of David, Joseph, Esther, Daniel and Moses, along with two years on the life and crucifixion of Christ, before the cycle begins again for a new group of children.

Watson, an Edmond church member and fine arts director at nearby Oklahoma Christian Academy, was directing the drama for her ninth year. She holds a master’s degree in communication and storytelling studies from East Tennessee State University and has written the scripts for the past decade. Her father, Phil Sanders, is a longtime minister and host of the national TV ministry “In Search of the Lord’s Way,” which the Edmond church sponsors. Sanders played Lazarus in the drama a few years ago.

The book of Esther tells of Hadassah, a young Jewish woman living in Persia among the exiles after the Babylonian captivity. She is unwillingly made queen and must risk her life to save her people from genocide (Proverbs 31:8-9). Watson said the earlier version of the drama included lighter moments, such as a middle-aged King Xerxes singing a Taylor Swift song. For this year’s production she rewrote the script with a more serious tone, casting a younger, less confident King Xerxes who falls under the influence of the manipulative adviser Haman. She also highlighted the social, economic and cultural differences between the exiled Israelites and their Persian neighbors.

Watson said the core theme stayed the same: “Essentially, the idea is that God sees us and prepares us for whatever he wants us to be able to do.” She added that while a storyteller shapes meaning through how a story is told, “the listener is also going to find their own meaning.” Nearly 300 children attended this year’s VBS, and the article reports that they took away different lessons. One young attendee said she loved Queen Esther because she was brave and trusted God, and another said the nightly snacks were the favorite part.

Among the adult volunteers, TJ Norman, 35, played one of the eunuchs who tried to assassinate King Xerxes, a plot uncovered by Mordecai. It was Norman’s eighth year performing. He said, “The friendships here are awesome,” adding that in a large congregation he would not otherwise meet many of the people he has come to know.

Source: Read the original report