A Grand Time in Granbury

Methodism has deep roots in Granbury, Texas. In 1871, Rev. J. R. Hill and seven members organized the Granbury Methodist Episcopal Church South. Granbury, about 40 miles southwest of Ft. Worth, was a spanking-new town at that time, but the land around it had started to be settled even before the Civil War. The most notable of these settlers was Elizabeth Crockett, Davy's wife, who had brought her family from Tennessee to settle on property awarded to her by the Republic of Texas.

In its formative years, the Granbury Methodists met on the third Sunday of each month in the local schoolhouse. In 1883, they erected a frame structure, the first permanent church building of any Granbury denomination.

Obadiah Ryder, my circuit rider character, wove these historical facts into his monologue on Sunday at the "new" United Methodist Church in Granbury. A couple of years ago, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Neil Norman, the congregation moved from their location on the square to a 30-acre site two miles from town. Bro. Ryder noted with awe that the Methodists had "one right fancy meeting house," observing that there wasn't a mud dauber nest on the ceiling anywhere.

Powerful music rounded out the worship service. Stan Keeton, a talented vocalist from Houston, provided rich renditions of In the Sweet By and By and Amazing Grace. The chancel choir had the congregation on their feet after a rousing rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The children's choir also got in on the act, turning in their version of Awesome God with rhythm instruments.

After the service, a man told me how much his grandson loved the service, especially when the circuit rider made his grand entrance with Winchester rifle in hand. "Grandpa," the boy whispered with wide eyes, "I feel like we're back in the olden days!" Another boy wanted to check out my rifle, but lost interest when I told him it was a replica and couldn't shoot.

Imagine his disappointment if I had told him that my horse was a 2000 Ford Expedition.

Photo of Granbury First UMC taken from the church's website

Even the Big Kids Couldn't Stop Laughing

We invited "The Almost Amazing Marko" to the final day of our VBS. He did an awesome job tying in our lessons for the week into his show for our kids. He mesmerized everyone with his magic tricks, tied scripture into them, and entertained us all at the same time. Even our our big kids couldn't stop laughing! Mark's show was worth every penny to reserve him. We will definitely invite him to come again!

Cathy Smith
Children's Director
St. Barnabas United Methodist Church
Arlington, Texas

Just Another Day of Ministry

Tears and laughter, sadness and joy...

At 11 am on Friday, the funeral for the Hart family and their two foster children was held at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano (see my two previous posts for background information).

At the exact same time, I kicked off a Vacation Bible School magic program at St. Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas.

God has his ways, doesn't he?

Before 200+ children and adult volunteers streamed into the sanctuary for the show, I sat quietly in the pews, praying for those at Custer Road who would be weeping...and praying for the pastor who would lead the service, having been in those uncomfortable shoes before. And as heavy as my soul felt, I knew that in a few moments, I would be soaring high doing what I love doing—creatively bringing the Word of God to kids.

The show, which capped off five days of VBS, was a smash. Children's director Cathy Smith and her volunteers had everything organized to a "T." The energy of the crowd started bouncing off the walls the moment I started and it seemed to reverberate in the sanctuary as the kids filed out to meet their parents. One little red-haired girl was crying as she clung on to her momma's leg.

"Uh-oh, what's wrong here?" I asked.

The mother replied, "She loved VBS so much, she's sad to see it end."

Tears and laughter, sadness and joy...

Just another day of ministry.

When Words Just Don't Cut It

This link will give you more information about the family who was killed in the Sunday morning accident near Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas (see post below). The foster children that I wrote about are listed by name.

In times like these, quick formulaic prayers just don't cut it. Thankfully, from what I recently read in Romans 8, we don't even have to give voice to our prayers. The Holy Spirit "helps our weakness," speaking on our behalf with groanings "too deep for words" (Rom 8:26 NASB).

This is a great comfort to me. In times of confusion or distress, when a voiced prayer seems trite or powerless, the Holy Spirit groans with us in the presence of God, interceding for the saints.

Yes, words can fail us during tragic times such as these. We feel like we have to say something, anything, to make sense out of it or comfort someone else. But God says it's okay to say nothing.

No one knows our hearts like Abba Father...not even us.

Counting on Your Prayers...

Tears are in my eyes as I write this.

Yesterday, as you can read from my post below, I did two shows for the children at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas.

Yesterday, a man ran a stop light near the church's parking lot, broadsiding into a minivan. The accident took the life of a church staff member, her husband, their 12-year old daughter and two foster children, ages 5 and 6.

The foster children, two beautiful little girls, were sitting in the front row in my early program. I distinctly remember them. Their faces are burned into my mind.

I know you will pray for everyone affected by this tragedy.

A Vacation from my Vacation

Have you ever had one of those vacations where you needed to get back to work so you could rest? Well, I just had one of those vacations. Four out of five members of the Winter clan visited sunny Southern California this past week. The oldest son stayed behind to fulfill a college internship and tend the home fires.

We did all the touristy things, of course: a celebrity house tour; the beach; Universal Studios. We boated over to Catalina Island, where father and son got in some outdoor water fun while the girls shopped. We also swung through my wife's childhood neighborhood in Newport Beach and dined with an aunt.

With all that, performing two shows at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas on Sunday was a piece of cake. A grand total of about 200 parents and children took in a "church version" of my Right Choice public show, which combines magic, comedy and storytelling to teach lessons on honesty, showing kindness and sharing blessings. I also used a magical cloth bag that kept changing colors to tell the audience about the greatest choice they could ever make...to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (can't do that in the public schools!).

Between programs, I mingled with some of the kiddos to ask, "What was your favorite part of the show?" Their answers were varied:

"That crazy rabbit!" (Roscoe is my rabbit-in-the-hat puppet who steals carrots, takes too many bows and squirts water on me, all to demonstrate the wrong choices).

"The flower!" (The "Fibbus Detectus" flower droops over when a volunteer tells a "demonstration lie" and mysteriously rights itself when the kid tells the truth).

"The candy!" (I produce layers of candy from an empty box, with a little help from the kids who repeat magic words and wiggle their hips for extra effect).

Sound like hard work? Well, I have to admit: I was tired after two 45-minute shows. But compared to kayaking in the Pacific and walking around all day at a theme park, it seemed like play.

STAY TUNED FOR VACATION PIX TAKEN BY MY DAUGHTER (she's turning into quite a shutterbug!)

Kid Stuff

Sunday kicks off a string of One Man Show summer events for the kiddos.

I start at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas, performing a "church version" of my Right Choice school show. In addition to doing magic tricks that illustrate such wise choices as honesty, kindness and sharing our talents, I'll also tell the kids about the most important decision they can ever make....following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is the third time that children's director Debbie Pomponio has hosted One Man Show, and I am grateful for her confidence in my ministry.

A week from today, I will show up at St. Barnabas UMC in Arlington, TX. I served this church in the early '90s as an associate pastor, but now I will return as the "Almost Amazing Marko" performing a closing VBS show. The St. Barnabas workers are using the Cokesbury "Beach Club" program. Since I have just come back from Southern California vacation, I will be properly attired.

In July, I will do another VBS show—this time at St. Andrew's UMC in Arlington. Their theme will be "It Happened One Night." The format will be a "Christmas in July" format as the kids learn lessons from the nativity story. I have been asked to perform one of my newest sketches, A Wise Man's Lesson, as well as perform a little Gospel magic.

As summer winds down in late August, I will venture to two United Methodist churches to perform "back-to-school" events. These programs will be a mix of drama, preaching and magic.

As you can see, any occasion is a good occasion to host a One Man Show kid's event. Bring me in for VBS, AWANA, Upward Bound, Christmas, Promotion Sunday, summer camp or your next children's revival. If you think One Man Show can fit into your children's ministry plans, email me at info@onemanshow.org.

"The Almost Amazing Marko" teaches a crowd of school kids a song with hand motions