The Passion Play “Jesus, the Liberator” has had a fantastic season!

The cast and crew, along with all the people working behind the scenes, want to say “thank you” to our patrons who attended, the sponsors who made it possible, and the key people who made the proclamation what it is.

We felt very graced by the presence of over 200 people for each performance. For those who braved the winds of Saturday, we take our hats off to you!

And for the awesome crowd that came on Sunday, braving a bit chilly weather, we say, “Thanks for the support!”

And, of course, the Friday night crowd simply pumped us up and supported our resolve to lean into the wind Saturday.

The combination of personnel from 15 churches made the event a truly ecumenical affair. I was busy picking up, putting up and straightening up (that’s ministers’ language for “standing around talking”), so I did not see how much we received for the East Texas Food Bank.

But I know the generosity of the community always has been huge, so I am looking forward to seeing a large deposit of food headed to the Food Bank tomorrow.

We will have a postproduction critique session soon and make some basic decisions about future performances. One thing I hope everyone will keep in mind and watch for over this coming year is that we desperately need to improve the quality of our body-microphones.

That could mean a few fundraisers in the coming months. If anyone just happens to have some excellent mics sitting around and needing a good home, I know how they could be put to use for the glory of God!

Again, on behalf of all involved in the play, we pray everyone who attended was encouraged in the faith as much as we were in presenting the greatest story ever told.

Thanks to one and all! See you next year!

Richard Prather

Pastor Lake Palestine United Methodist Church

Freedom died more after health-care vote

Well, sir, freedom died a little more on March 21. My heart is heavy today knowing that Washington has sold its soul.

The only good that I can see in this process is that it seems to be awakening people. I try to keep up with the world and news events and have seen our leaders in Washington literally tell us they will do what they want to.

One congressman said literally “we change the rules as we go along.” I hope that I am not the only person that trembled when that was shown on national TV.

Our illustrious speaker of the House has also informed us that they know how to spend our money better than we do and that they will inform us of what the law is when it is passed.

I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat or Independent, more of your rights were taken away from you.

Now, I know we have had tea parties, coffee parties, demonstrations during this whole process. I just wonder if anyone will remember all the socialistic rangling when November comes.

Those who tend to say, “Well, my vote doesn’t count,” or “It won’t matter anymore what we say,” please remember the power of the voting booth.

I would love to take a broom and sweep out the room in the House and Senate, but there are still a few voices in the night. The problem is that they are few.

Corruption has run amuck. Threats and promises of what will be done for elections coming up flowed freely. In the past, I have heard many tell me that their family has always been Democrat or Republican.

Parties change and you have to think for yourself. You saw how people shouted at the top of their lungs against this bill and yet Congress still said it was sweeping change for “the good of the people!”

Transparency, truth, and doing what the people want has gone out the window. They have forgotten that they were hired to represent our wants. Alexander Tyler once wrote that a democracy has a life span of about 200 years.

Please don’t take that arrogant smile the speaker of the House is wearing, or the pep rallies where the president has put blame on everyone, or even the sudden concern over our freedom being taken away by the other side of the aisle as genuine concern for you.

Think how this fits with our constitution and what it means for us, our children, and their children. We are the first generation that will leave less for our descendants in a long time.

The Bible says “if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Thank you for letting me vent my frustration.

Peggy Smith

Brownsboro