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The more than 300 people who came to the Beyond Telepathy conference
at All Saints', Ft. Lauderdale, on Saturday, April 13, were promised
they'd leave with "tools to transform lives", but the
day began with a suggestion of one more tool, in addition to telepathy,
that they could discard--the ten-foot pole.
In
the Episcopal Church, said Tom Long, founder and director of the
Christian drama troupe Friends of the Groom, "evangelism
is a word covered with black and blue marks from people touching
it with ten-foot poles".
Long told conference
participants that he and his colleagues, Jocelyn Sluka and Marilyn
Dryden, were there to "shorten that pole."
The day of laughter,
tears, singing, reflection and conversation did just that--enthusiastic
participants agreed that they would go home with new insights
on communicating Jesus to others.
In one sketch,
Friends of the Groom reminded their audience that our lives are
series of "snapshots" of times when God has been close
to us. Here are some snapshots of ways the presence of God was
shared at Beyond Telepathy.
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Bishops
Ottley (left) and Said (right) showed their support for
Bishop Frade as they posed in front of the near-life-size
photo of the "purple shirts" that greeted participants
as they walked into All Saints'.
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By
the time the program began, there was a nearly full house.
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Tootsie
the clown was on hand to make sure children also had a joyful
experience.
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The
quilt displayed last April at First Step and again at Diocesan
Convention last October has begun to reflect the rich tapestry
of the diocese as more parishes add their squares.
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Music
for the day was led by The Mighty Band of God, a group that
has played for many cursillos and other diocesan events.
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Singing
was an important part of the event.
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After
each presentation by Friends of the Groom, participants were given
an opportunity for conversation with a partner about "something
that jumped out at you" from the sketch. Left are Dean Fritz
Bazin, rector of St. Paul et les Martyrs d'Haiti, Miami,
with Patrice Tedescko of All Saints', Ft. Lauderdale; at right,
Yolaine Celestin of the Haitian congregation at St. Joseph's,
Boynton Beach, with Deborah Nicol of St. Margaret's, Miami Lakes.
Conversations
continued over lunch on the church grounds beside the Intracoastal
Waterway, while steel drum virtuoso Carl Stanley provided Caribbean
music.
How
has your life shown Jesus to those around you? How will you be
remembered? This was the theme of a sketch that had everyone laughing
at the depiction of "holographic icons" of the deceased
with some unusual messages for their loved ones--and then crying
as a daughter finally understood and accepted the faith and forgiveness
she hadn't comprehended while her mother was alive.
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"Jesus"
tells a much too busy lady, "I think the kingdom of
God is like duct tape--the universal force that holds everything
together".
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An
"Ohio fisherman" tells the story of how
"Rocky Johnson", his brother "Andy"
and "the Zebedee boys" were called to fish for
human hearts and souls.
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At
the end of the day, Beyond Telepathy committee chair Mimi Howard
presented a plaque to All Saints' Administrator Bob Daugherty
in appreciation for the help and hospitality of the parish's volunteers
and staff.
What
"tools" did participants gain from the day? Ruthann
Trumpie and Pat Pusey of St. Christopher's, West Palm Beach, didn't
have to think long about their responses.
"Encouragement,"
said Ruthann. "We can do it!"
"I
can be bold outside of St. Christopher's," said Pat. "Be
bold outside my box."
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Additional Resources -
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