Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 March 2004 — Page 7

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Order of Service Religion

B SECTION FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004

SPIRITUAL OUTLOOK Time for God's plans By REV. CLARENCE WALDON “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes had a great insight into reality as he wrote that text. No matter what we do or what happens, it has its time in the plan of God. Time is created by God and everything that happens on this Earth is in time. God exists outside of time in eternity. All material beings live in both space and time. Our lives last for a certain length of time. It takes us a certain amount of time to move from one spot to another. Everything in our life is measured by time. The time that we do have is given to us as a gift. It is a gift of God. God has given it to us to use so that we can get to know him and be united to him. Time also makes it possible for us to help one another. Through our helping others, they come to a deeper knowledge of the kindness and caring of God. From the moment of our birth, we have been longing for union with our brothers and sisters and ultimately our creator. The happiness that we experience in time, j really comes from our knowledge and ultimately our union with the God who created us. Everything that we experience brings us a little closer to that union with God. Sad to say, many people know about time and they know they are alive, but they really don’t know what this time is given to them for. They live their life, feeling a void, search i ng for what they do not know and so they spend it trying to have “fun” or “thrills.” Most of the time, they are looking for the wrong things, in the wrong direction. That lack of understanding and Jack of focus makes them waste much of the time that has been given to them. Although we might not think of it this way, time is one of the most important aspects of our life. It is a gift for which we should be ever grateful. Time does many things for us. Time allows God’s healing to seep into our souls and our remembrance of his love and goodness to overcome the feelings of grief and loss. As we say, time heals all wounds. Time makes it possible for us to endure many different things that we could not endure if thgy all came at once, but since they come at different times we can deal with them. Time makes it possible for us to accept change in our life especially when the change demands many other changes within our way of living. Time is really sacred. It belongs to God. We tend to think of praying and church being of God and everything else not being of God. Actually, because we are constantly learning and experiencing God f everything is of God including eveiy second, minute, and hour of our life. Whether we are shopping, playing sports, enjoying our friends, resting or watching television, we are experiencing the glory, beauty and power of God. As we do all these things, we are getting to know him a little better and coming closer in union with him - and we do all these things in time. Holy Angels Parish is celebrating it’s 100 ,h Anniversary thisyear. During the last 100 years Holy Angels Church has been sitting at 28 lh and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets. That is 36,500 days, 876,000 hours and 52,560,000 minutes that hundreds of parish- ► See OUTLOOK, Page B3

‘UPON THIS ROCr

Indianapolis passion play celebrates 20 years

By SHANNON WILLIAMS Recorder Editor In a few short w'eeks the biblical interpretation play “Upon This Rock”(UTR) will methodically tell the story of the life, death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter weekend performances at Pike Performing Arts Center, located at 6701 Zionsville Road. The idea was conceived in 1984 when playwright Sharon L. Thompson debuted UTR at a local church. At that time the auditorium held nearly 600 seats, all filled to capacity. Since then, Thompson says she never imagined the longevity’ the production yvould have. “When I first began, I yvas much younger and it yvas more of a fun extracurricular type of activity,” said Thompson. “I never envisioned it yvould remain for this amount of time. As the years progressed, I began to see it take a neyv form whereas I matured, the work also matured.” Thompson says through this maturation process, naturally the story remained consistent. “Established 2,000or(more) years ago, the story has ahvays remained the same, but my purpose and vision for UTR has taken on a new level of interest and passion. It’s yvho I have become.” Through dramatically bringing the words of the Bible to life, Thompson’s brother and managingdirectorofUTR, PastorA. Thomas Hill explains how

Playwright Sharon Thompson directs rehearsals for the annual Passion play "Upon This Rock,” which will be show|>n on April 911 at Pike Performing Arts Center.

people are educated during the performance. “There are many people that would never step foot into a church, but they would come to a play. We are able to transform to the audience the greatest story ever told. We are literally unfolding the Bible onstage to anyone that doesn’t know who Jesus Christ is. By the time they leave (the play) they’re going to know,” guaranteed Hill. With the latest raves over the mega hit movie, “Passion of the Christ,” many might be interested to knoyv yvhat Thompson thinks of the Mel Gibson movie, afterall, she’s been doing the same thing for 20 years, only on a smaller scale. “I’ve seen the movie twice. Each

time, I yvas moved to a place in my mind and spirit that I can’t even put to words... that’s how powerful that movie is,” she said. When asked if she felt that the movie would negatively impact the sales for UTR, Thompson adamantly said “no.” “(Mel Gibson) could have launched Easter weekend. It could have pulled away from the audience of what we’re trying to do. Ifthings are done by the spirit, it’s going to be done decently and in order.” Thompson feels the main thing that sets “Upon This Rock” aside from “Passion of the Christ,” is the freedom that audience members have while watching the play. ► See ROCK, Page B3

Quentin Earl Darrington will be playing the role of Jesus In this year's play. He is well known in theatre for his appearances in the Broadway version of "The Lion King" and "Ragtime." (Photos/C. Guynn)

IN THE SPIRIT

Rev. Lee G. Jones Jr. pastor of Eastside New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, recently celebrated his fifth year of leading the congregation. The event's guest preacher was Bishop Larry Grinstead (left) pastor of Puritan Baptist Church. Deacon John H. Brown (right) also attended the service.

Loving Missionary Baptist Church recently hosted the 12 th annual conference for the Midwest region of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses Inc. Members of choirs from various churches throughout Indiana participated in the event.

Members of the Pilgrim Baptist Church Pastor's Aid Auxiliary gathered for their annual celebration last week. First row from left: Donna Finch, Katie Taylor, Diana Pepper, and Mattie Wright. Second row from left: Tanya Smith, Betty Polln, LaVonne Howard, Helen Wakefield and Rita Futch. Third row from left: Jejuan Westmoreland, Linda Crocheron and JoAnn Cornett. (Photo/C. Guynn)

Indianapolis ministers have

Special to The Recorder bly Church, under the leadership of Rev. George Ikwunzke. By all accounts the meeting went well Local ministers William Bumphus and Robert and Bumphus plans to spearhead a mass crusade Weddington have returned from a trip to Lagos, in Nigeria this coming October. Nigeria, that has been described as “very exciting.” Faith Center Church has started a video Bible Bumphus is founder of Jesus Inside Prison school in pastor Ikwunzke’s church, and are Ministry and founding president of Faith Center also providing clothes, shoes and Bibles for Church International, located at 1660 N. Nigeria. Bellefountaine. Weddington is a minister with Faith Center Church and director of Jesus House, Anyone who would like to help can contact an after care group home for ex-offenders. Faith Center Church at PO Box 88489, IndiaBumphus and Weddington recently traveled to napolis, IN, 46208. Interested individuals can Nigeria to preach at Liberation Christian Assem- also log on to www.jpm.org.

Pastor William Bumphus took a stroll through downtown Lagos, the Nigerian capital. The country has dealt with strife between Christians and Muslims within the last decade. But President Olusegun Obasanjo, himself a devout Christian, has worked to maintain peace and implemented policies to foster Nigerian nationalism instead of sectarian divisions.

il R,Ji ■

Pastors Bumphus (right) and Robert Weddington (left) are shown with Nigerian minister George Ikwunzke of Liberation Christian Assembly and his wife Ethna.