The Christmas at Tallowood celebration continues this Sunday evening, December 19, with an original performance, Believe: The Story of Christmas, featuring worship leaders Dave and Jess Ray, Ministry of the Arts actor Wesley Brainard, members of the Ad Deum Dance Company and the Tallowood Players.
A central scripture in the performance is Luke 2:25 – 38, describing how Simeon and Anna reacted to the infant Jesus when he was brought to the temple for the first time.
Simeon, described as a righteous man, was told that he would not die until he beheld “Christ the Lord, born of a pure and spotless virgin.” He was moved by the Spirit to go to the Temple, where he held the infant, and believed.
Anna, a widow for many years, worshiped daily and never left the Temple. She had no advance notice of the Christ child’s coming, but when she saw Jesus, she knew immediately that this was the one sent to save the world.
The presentation blends narrative, music and dance to explore a question that Simeon and Anna faced, and is so personal for everyone: “Do I believe, really believe?”
The music includes a band and string section playing original arrangements of familiar carols, as well as music from artists like Stephen Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Joy Williams, and Sara Groves.
The event also offers an opportunity to experience Brainard’s extraordinary gift of dramatizing scripture, which has been seen by international audiences. Information about his ministry, Charakter, is available online at charakter.org.
Formed in 2000, the Ad Deum Dance Company attracts talent with its “integration of artistic excellence with the freedom to live out…Christian faith as professional artists.” It is based in Houston and described on its webpage, danceaddeum.com.
There will be one performance of Believe: The Story of Christmas beginning at 6 p.m., in the Worship Center.
