April 24th RAPP Event

[anni]

RAPP is always informative AND laughs, too. Jeanne tells it better:

RAPP and Montrose Peace Vigil have a special presentation for you on Friday, April 24th. There will be a live performance by comedian and pastor, Rev. Jane Voigts. She's got a fresh and funny take on the Bible that you are going to love. Whether you see the Bible as literature, an important part of our cultural fabric, or as your guiding Word from God, there will be mind stretching, eye opening, belly laughing insights for you to enjoy. Also performing will be CVUMC's Music Director and jazz pianist extraordinaire - Barb Catlin-Bergeron. Also, Edmond Hambarsumian will be sharing some reflections on the Armenian Genocide. We expect this to be a rich convergence of perspectives, abilities, and meaning. Please plan on joining us at CVUMC for the 7:30 performance. Doors open at 7.

Peace,
Jeanne


EVENT: The Bible Cabaret: A Music and Comedy Revue Starring the Old & New Testaments
WHEN: Friday, April 24, 2015
WHERE: Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave., Montrose, CA 91020
TICKETS: Suggested Donation: $20
PHONE: [phone]
WEB: www.cvumc.org

[Jeanne]

Poor anni with computer woes and I with so few skills. I hope the visual attachment works.

[anni]

I'm BAAAAAAACK!

[Brian]

That video is essentially a trailer for Rev. Jane Voigts' appearance last January in Minneapolis. This is the excellent press release for the special RAPP presentation here in Montrose, California on April 24:

Comedian and United Methodist pastor Jane Voigts is bringing to Montrose a variety show unlike any other. The Bible Cabaret: A Comedy and Music Revue Starring the Old and New Testaments is an exploration of how the Bible works as comedy, as a sacred text with a surprisingly playful spirit intended to make us laugh. The Cabaret has appeared on stages in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Luis Obispo and Minneapolis and is now coming to Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church on Friday, April 24th, at 7:30 PM (doors will open at 7.)The event is being sponsored by RAPP (Read and Practice Peacemaking, a study and action group at CVUMC) and the Montrose Peace Vigil. We are excited to fill our usual Friday night film slot with a live performance from the brilliant and funny Jane Voigts.

Says Rev. Voigts, "It's commonly understood that humor is one of the best avenues for delivering messages, especially serious ones. This truth was not lost on the ancients. There is actually a lot of delightful as well as stinging satire, self-lampooning, goofy riddles, trickster adventures and more, and throughout the text, from beginning to end. So much of the Bible is better suited to Saturday Night Live than the History Channel."

Jane will be performing a series of comic monologues and character sketches based on the Bible and its comedy. Also on the bill is CVUMC’s Music Director, Barb Catlin-Bergeron. One of the Southwest’s leading jazz pianists, Catlin-Bergeron has worked with top performers such as Lou Rawls and Smokey Robinson. Downbeat Magazine has named her a “Player To Catch.” Barb generously shares her gifts every Sunday at CVUMC, infusing worship with jazz, gospel and world music. Also contributing to the evening will be Edmond Hambarsumian, a member of CVUMC and a teacher at the Armenian Sisters Academy in Montrose. Edmond will help us honor and acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with his reflections and recounting of family history.

In 2013 Rev. Voigts was pastor of the experimental "LA Comedy Church" in Toluca Lake (a neighborhood of Los Angeles). She is currently residing in Waverly, Iowa to care for her ailing parents and continue developing The Bible Cabaret and related projects.

[anni]

Just a little nudge in the right direction:

Greetings, Friends,

Who among us couldn't use a good laugh now and then? Especially on a Friday evening. We understand that and we've got a show for you this Friday, April 24, at 7:30 at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave., Montrose. We'll be gathering downstairs in Fellowship Hall (the same place Empty Bowls is) and doors will open at 7. Suggested donation: $20. Refreshments will be served.

Rev. Jane Voigts will be performing monologues that illuminate and elaborate on funny stories from the Bible. What, you've been thinking that the Bible is all serious? Come Friday and learn for yourself that some truths travel farther with a laugh track. If the Church had a Daily Show, Jane's Bible Cabaret would be it. Come also to hear some really fine piano jazz played by Barb Catlin-Bergeron, our local treasure and one of the leading pianists in the Southwest.

We are aware of the significance of the date and Edmond Hambarsumian will be speaking briefly, sharing his reflections on the Armenian Genocide.

RAPP (Read And Practice Peacemaking) and the Montrose Peace Vigil hope you'll come out and enjoy this live performance.

Peace,

Jeanne

[Brian]

Jane Voigts also has her own website:

janevoigts.com/

[Brian]

Jane Voigts

For more than a year, Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church has been the best movie theater around, thanks to the Read and Practice Peacemaking Group and their monthly documentary screenings.  Last Friday, the church's Fellowship Hall became a night club with the RAPP presentation of "The Bible Cabaret: A Music and Comedy Revue Starring the Old & New Testaments" -- and Jane Voigts.

Pastor Steve, Jeanne, Edmond and other volunteers created a warm club atmosphere -- round tables with candles, couches to lounge upon and luscious snacks available in the back.  Bob Marley's "One Love" opened the revue and our hearts, led by musical director Barb, who selected the songs between the comedy segments.  Both Jane and her guest Betsy Salkind, who gave us a brilliant set, are veteran stand up comics -- to get laughs from an audience that isn't drinking is just one tribute to their artistry.
 
The laughs came with some wisdom about civil disobedience.  Jane applied her knowledge of ancient culture from her ordination as a minister to an audience participation sketch showing how turning the other cheek would have gone down in Jesus' time.  I had never thought about how humiliating striking the second time could be physically and psychologically for the man swinging the arm until it was actually demonstrated before me.  Blessed are the peacemakers and the laugh makers, and Jane is both of them.

Rev. Jane Voigts will also appear this morning at 10 at the regular Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church service.  The only tenet of my personal faith that I ever observe is sleeping through Sunday mornings unless, G-d forbid, I have to attend another Jewish funeral.  But I'd love to see Jane perform again anytime she's in L.A.

[Jeanne]

Thanks for the great review, Brian. We thought it went very well and would like to do more if and when we come across talent like that. It's great to know that Barb and Ricky like the idea and would be a part of future events. It was pretty funny to see Ricky and Jane discover Brady Bunch connections.

Jane's explanation of turning the other cheek is not commonly known. Now 40 more people on the planet know it. And many of the people who heard it are Bible readers and maybe they'll be open to deeper interpretations and the thought of standing on the corner with a peace sign might not seem so scary to them.

[anni]

Here's Jane and Jeanne demonstrating Standing for Peace on the corner in Montrose (before the show last Friday):

[Jeanne]

If anyone is interested in hearing the sermon Jane Voigts gave Sunday morning after the Cabaret, you can follow this link.

www.cvumc.org/#/messages

The recording is cut off before the band played "Get Down Tonight" and we did a Conga line to "Lord of the Dance."

We will be doing more Cabarets and we will ask Jane to return.