The Parable of the Lost Chicken Highlight of Outreach Event

Three of Jesus's stories - the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Parable of the Seeds, and Parable of the Lost Sheep - were dramatized on July 14 as part of the church's Thursday Night Connection. The lost sheep became lost chickens when one of the church members re-enacted the parable with fowl. Children acted out the seeds parable as an adult read the story.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan was dramatized by having a church member lay along the side of the church's parking lot. Three cars drove by, with the driver of each stopping and getting out to see what had happened. The drivers represented a priest, worship leader and "someone beyond our borders of respectability," says Pastor Joel Kruggel, who developed the idea.

Initial plans called for the dramas to be held in a forest preserve behind the church. "(But) there was poison ivy everywhere," says Pastor Joel A. Kruggel, which forced the performances onto the church property.

Following the drama, a botanist in the church led members on an informational walk through the woods-steering clear of the poison ivy.

The dramas were the third in a series of Thursday evening events designed to help church members connect with one another and the community, Kruggel says. The events help new members meet others as well as help re-connect members who leave the area for the winter and return for the summer as well.

The evenings begin with a potluck dinner followed by an activity. One evening, members helped scrub 150 desks at a local school. "We asked how we can help," Kruggel says. Scrubbing the desks freed school staff to get other work done, he adds.

Another evening included 20 members displaying their hobbies and collections, which ranged from knitting to Indian artifacts.

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