Friday, April 23, 2004
Hometown Proud. . .The Power of Christ Compels Me!!
Who out there knows the chest-swelling pride that comes when you find that a sleepy community with which you've long been associated is the location for a "bizarre news" feature which is being beamed world-wide thanks to wire services and the internet?
I am happy to count myself amongst you now that I read of a twist on the passion of Christ put on in my mother's hometown of Glassport, PA. It was in this aging mill town in Pennsylvania's Mon Valley that the local Assembly of God church decided to graphically disassociate the Easter Bunny from Christendom's holiest season.
"People who attended Saturday's show at Glassport's memorial stadium quoted performers as saying, "There is no Easter bunny," and described the show as being a demonstration of how Jesus was crucified." The performers, "trying to teach about Jesus' crucifixion, performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs. . .meant for an Easter egg hunt and also portrayed a drunken man and a self-mutilating woman."
Parents of obviously disturbed toddlers such as "Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. "He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped.""
Youth minister of the church said, "The program was for all ages, not just the kids."
Indeed. And to think, folks waste all that money flying to Oberammergau for its famous Passion play. Next year it's Glassport for me. I'll be the one in front hawking commemorative scourges and decapitated chocolate rabbits. Get 'em while they last!!!
Who out there knows the chest-swelling pride that comes when you find that a sleepy community with which you've long been associated is the location for a "bizarre news" feature which is being beamed world-wide thanks to wire services and the internet?
I am happy to count myself amongst you now that I read of a twist on the passion of Christ put on in my mother's hometown of Glassport, PA. It was in this aging mill town in Pennsylvania's Mon Valley that the local Assembly of God church decided to graphically disassociate the Easter Bunny from Christendom's holiest season.
"People who attended Saturday's show at Glassport's memorial stadium quoted performers as saying, "There is no Easter bunny," and described the show as being a demonstration of how Jesus was crucified." The performers, "trying to teach about Jesus' crucifixion, performed an Easter show with actors whipping the Easter bunny and breaking eggs. . .meant for an Easter egg hunt and also portrayed a drunken man and a self-mutilating woman."
Parents of obviously disturbed toddlers such as "Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. "He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped.""
Youth minister of the church said, "The program was for all ages, not just the kids."
Indeed. And to think, folks waste all that money flying to Oberammergau for its famous Passion play. Next year it's Glassport for me. I'll be the one in front hawking commemorative scourges and decapitated chocolate rabbits. Get 'em while they last!!!
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