EXCELLENCE TAKES EXTRA
When you do anything excellently, it takes more work than normal. This week is our Christmas play that we’ve been working on for months, and I am so thankful for the excellent way you have prepared for this event. The right people are in the right places this year, and it is zooming forward.
The first year was a near disaster. After the dress rehearsal the night before the first show, two or three people stayed late to step through every microphone change. The first time we did it right was the performance on Friday!
Last year, Bro. Christian was building sets alone all week, printing the programs, and setting up the livestream, lighting, and computer audio. Some of the people were in place, but last year was the training year.
This year, we’re finally to a place where we feel like we can breathe. Someone is in charge of hair. Someone is in charge of costumes. Someone is in charge of sets. The livestream people are ready. The lighting people are experienced. The soundtracks have been set for a few weeks. The sound men have a good plan. The backstage crew knows their cues.
And that’s all behind the scenes! On stage, our actors have been preparing their lines for weeks, and Friday is the big day!
This is not a normal week for us… it demands that we give more than we normally do.
Why are we doing this? Well, when you do anything excellently, it takes more work than normal. This is our way to serve our community, and we want to give them an excellent show. If last year’s numbers are any indicator, they liked it, and we think they’re planning on returning again.
But even more important than a good show, we want to introduce them to a good God. There’s a new scene this year that subtly addresses the question that many people have: “How could God let bad things happen to good people?” While we may not always know the reasons, we believe there is a satisfactory answer—Jesus Christ. We want people to come to know Jesus, so that’s why we’re putting in the extra work this week.
Nothing excellent happens on default. From the LA Philharmonic to the Temecula Community Theater, everything worth doing requires extra work.
What we’re doing is far more than a concert or far more than mere entertainment. What we’re doing has eternal weight to it, and I want us to pray together that God will bless this Christmas play like never before.
Thank you, church, for your excellent work. It is a labor of love (1 Thes. 1:3).
-Pastor Ryan