MISSIONS

Responding to Pope Francis’ call for “a new evangelism marked by joy,” our very popular 3-day missions have been hosted by hundreds of parishes across America, garnering rave reviews.
Each mission highlights a different theme from Scripture: JOY, LIGHT, or FAITH.
The plays are great for the whole family, with a perfect balance of drama and humor. They can be hosted any time of year:
  • as a Lenten mission
  • a fall kick-off event (great for Faith Formation)
  • an Advent mission
  • part of an anniversary year celebration
  • a multi-parish mission, or
  • an ecumenical community event.
If you have a school, Frank will perform for your kids for free: SALT & LIGHT (a 40-minute children’s comedy) as part of a 3-day mission.

The three available missions are summarized below.


A JOURNEY TO JOY

A JOURNEY TO JOY is a 3-day mission, following a natural progression:

The First Night

We join Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem as he tells some of the most famous stories ever told. Staged with theatrical lighting and fun characterizations, LUKE: STORIES ON THE ROAD points us to where the real joy in life is to be found.

The Second Night

Jesus proclaims the joy of the Beatitudes in the most famous speech ever given: the SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

The evening concludes with Frank reflecting on the first two nights’ experience of God’s Word as drama, as a Word addressed to us personally, here and now, calling us to a life of joy. He takes questions from the audience, and shares very moving personal stories from his own faith journey.

The Third Night

The final night, HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH, Frank takes an honest and very funny look at “The Three Other Beatitudes” of the media, those voices and images that greet us all the minute we walk out the church door—or turn on our cell phones—calling us to a very different kind of joy. He shares stores from his years in Hollywood, helping us to see the bends in the fun-house mirror. He encourages us to enjoy what is good in the artistry of the media, but to see the distortions in their picture of life, and journey on… to a life of real joy.

A JOURNEY TO JOY may be abbreviated to 2 nights by combining SERMON and HOLLYWOOD on the second night.

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Let there be Light!

Perfect for the darker months of the year, from November thru March… Many parishes have hosted LIGHT for Advent.  LET THERE BE LIGHT  also follows a natural progression:

The First Night

SIGNS: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN — The story of what God has done in Jesus….i.e., Light has come into the world. All the drama and power of this beloved Gospel are brought to life in a spellbinding performance, ending in the raising of Lazarus, and a call for us to become a sign of new life ourselves.

The Second Night

THE LETTER OF JAMES — Having heard God’s Word spoken into the world, James asks, what are we going to do?… He offers his wisdom, to a church full of real characters…

Frank concludes with stories from his own life helping us to see ourselves in the stories of JOHN and JAMES. He offers some simple suggestions of how we might know the joy of becoming more deeply a People of Light.

LET THERE BE LIGHT may conclude on the second night … or:

An Optional Third Night

THE 3 1/2 STORIES OF CHRISTMAS  — In Advent, a comical angel arrives with a POOF! of smoke, telling the joyous story of Light coming into the world…from the angels’ point of view.  Kids of all ages participate as the angels and shepherds in a fun-filled night of laughter and music, preparing the whole family for Christmas—without forgetting we are still in Advent…

In other seasons, for a third night, LET THERE BE LIGHT may begin with LUKE: STORIES ON THE ROAD—or conclude with HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH Call us to consult.

THE JOY OF FAITH

THE JOY OF FAITH (or THE STORY OF FAITH) is a 3-day mission that features the Gospel of Mark, similar to A JOURNEY TO JOY, but with an emphasis on the Passion. It is very appropriate for Lent and for 2024, the lectionary Year of Mark (Year B).

The First Night

The story of what God has done in the life of Jesus, a deeply-moving performance of AFRAID!: THE GOSPEL OF MARK, ending in darkness and candlelight, with the community singing Be Not Afraid.

The Second Night

Jesus calls us us to play our part in the story of faith–in Matthew’s SERMON ON THE MOUNT. The Sermon is followed by a Conversation with the Actor. Frank reflects on the first two nights, our experience of God’s Word as drama, and the importance of hearing Scripture in a deeply personal way, as stories about our lives now. He takes questions from the audience, and concludes the evening with very moving personal stories from his own faith journey.

The Third Night

The final night, HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH, Frank takes a humorous but also deeply challenging look at the story that we are actually living, the struggle we face daily as Americans to live lives of real joy in the middle of a media-centered culture.

He concludes the mission with a call for us to enjoy what is good in the artistry of the media, but not to center our lives so much around their storytelling. He offers several simple suggestions of how we might come to know the joy of playing our part in the story of faith.

THE JOY OF FAITH may be abbreviated to 2 nights or extended to 4. Call to consult.

  • CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

  • While Frank is in town performing a Mission at night, he often visits schools during the day to perform SALT & LIGHT for Grades K-4 (a 40-minute children’s comedy) and to speak to Grades 5-8 about HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH (a 40-minute version, geared specifically for Grades 5-8).

Be sure to contact other churches and schools in your community, who may wish to take advantage of Frank’s being in town, to host a performance at their school—or perhaps, even co-host one of the evenings of JOY, LIGHT, or FAITH!

(If you are not sure which mission or which theme might be best for your parish, give us a call. We would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you.)

For more information on hosting a mission…

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