Carpenter of Nazareth: Church stages a new take on tradition

Dean Poling, The Valdosta Daily Times, Ga.
·3 min read
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Mar. 24—VALDOSTA — Park Avenue Church continues an Easter tradition in a new light.

The church presents "The Carpenter of Nazareth: A Story of Hope for the World" this weekend and early next week.

It is a passion play, written by Patrick Carlson, said Kathy Wright, church music director. Carlson is a South Georgia author and illustrator, who has participated in similar performances in the past at the church.

"The Carpenter of Nazareth" is the latest iteration of a passion play at Park Avenue Church, formerly Park Avenue United Methodist Church.

In the late 1980s, Jim Perry created "God Hath Provided the Lamb," a musical about the life of Jesus Christ and the celebration of Easter.

When Perry died, the production could have stalled. There were only a few weeks to prepare between his passing and Easter. The congregation persevered in honor of Perry and its belief in the significance of the production. Without the shows creator/director, church members presented "God Hath Provided the Lamb" on their own that year.

Reese Nelson was hired as the music minister and directed his first production of "God Hath Provided the Lamb" in 2001. Under Nelson's direction, the production kept its original title and added "The Promise." Then, for several years, the passion play was called simply "The Promise."

When Nelson retired, "The Promise" continued. Disrupted two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show returned last year.

And now, "The Carpenter of Nazareth."

Though a new production, it still involves generations of the Park Avenue congregation on stage and behind the scenes.

The cast and crew includes Caroline Barnes, Smith Barnes, Jessica Barnes, Anna Beth Barry, Claire Barry, Grant Barry, Leah Barry, Maggie Barry, Morgan Barry, Melody Belflower, Jacob Bell, Laine Bellinger, George Bendall, Joyce Bendall, Jamie Bone, Dane Boruff, Dawn Brown, Tom Brown, Lou Ann Cannon, Patrick Carlson, Eddy Castellanos, Cheryl Collett, Jack Cook, Mae Cook, Aarti Covington, Drew Covington, Elton Cowart, Adam Cowart, Debbie Cowart, Ellie Cowart, Hansen Cowart, Julia Cowart, Julie Cowart, Evan Creamer, Heather Croft, Morgan Croft, Devin Daugherty, Daniel Day, Katie Beth Day, Lizzie Day, Liam Dazey, Amanda DeCesare, Addyson Dorsey, Heather Dorsey, Jake Dorsey, Jessie Dorsey, Matt Dorsey, Finley Dove, Jason Dove, Cary Dowse, Scott Dowse, Dalton Drocea, Noah Drocea, Charles Eidson, Jennie Eidson, Janice Evans, Brenda Freeman, Mary Grace Fricks, Cesar Garcia, Brooklyn Garrett, Kaimon Greer, Raymond Greer, Christian Guest, Lynn Hall, Erin Halter, Heather Halter, John Halter, Megan Halter, Wanda Halter, Lauren Harris , Andy Harrison, Kim Hatton, Robert Hatton, Randy Hicks, Shannon Hicks, Alfred Hiers, Terry Hiers, Kaye Hunt, Steve Jennings, Danielle Jones, David Jones, Laura Jones, Rusty Jones, Catie Lynn Kautzman, Jared Koebble, Pat LeFiles, Mae Lincoln, Mary Scott Lincoln, Leggett Lovan, Tommy McNeal, Paxton Mooneyham, Victoria Mooneyham, Davis Moore, Kevin Moore, Lindsey Moore, Sawyer Moore, Emily Mortonson, Roger Mullican, Carole Nelson, Reese Nelson, Beth Owens, Joi Payne, Mark Perry, Margaret Perry, Medley Perry, Paige Perry, Tripp Perry, Tony Phillips, Bekah Pitts, Derek Presley, Darrell Presley, Dustin Presley, Dylan Presley, Elisha Presley, Darel Rayburn, Mica Renfroe, Sadie Rickert, Jim Rinehart, Emily Roberts, Kevin Ruane, Pati Ruane, Bob Rutland, Caroline Smothers, Kenneth Strickland, Lena Sumner, Dawson Talley, Peyton Talley, Kenda Talley, Sarah Talley, Chris Thigpen, Carson Tillman, Debbie Towson, Jimmy Towson, Debbie Tubbs, Wayne Veal, Wesley Veal, Abby Waller, Cindy Waller, Gus Walters, Maci Weathers, Stephanie Weathers, William Whitesell, Kathy Wright, Lynn Yost, Dave Young, Mary Young.

"The Carpenter of Nazareth" plays 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 26 (the 7 p.m. Sunday performance will be live streamed at parkave.church/live); 7 p.m. Monday, March 27; 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, Park Avenue Church, 100 E. Park Ave.

No admission charge, open seating. More information: Call (229) 242-3562; or visit www.parkave.church