The christmas story from the gospels of luke and matthew. Former president jimmy carter tells a related story about jordan in roots in the cotton patch, a collection of talks given at the 2012 clarence jordan symposium we were having a revival at the plains baptist church and just before the sermon began, clarence jordan came in because he was a friend of our revival speaker. The second point of the parable of the rich fool is the fact that we are not blessed by god to hoard our wealth to ourselves. Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of. Socrates, thomas aquinas, martin luther, leonardo davinci, nietzsche, and jean paul sartre debate the existence of god prologue. But today, i want to introduce you to a lesserknown translation. Hewn from the massive baptist denomination, known primarily for its conformity to culture, clarence stressed the anticultural, the christtranscending and the christtransforming, aspects of the gospel. In 1942, clarence, his wife, and another couple purchased 440 acres of land in sumter county near americus, georgia about three hours south of atlanta, but trouble came almost immediately. The newborn jesus was laid in an apple box, simon barjonah became rock johnson. Its gainesville where the wise men went turned a sinners stable to a revival tent, its a hell of a place to be heavensent, its gainesvillebound for me. The song tells the story of a poor farm boy anxious to marry the daughter of the towns mayor, even if he must go so far as to blackmail the mayor to get his way. Cotton patch gospel study the cotton patch gospels of.
Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of jesus as if in modern day, rural georgia. Both a biblical scholar and a prophetic man of action, clarence jordan lived out the new testament in the soil of rural georgia. The cotton patch version, written by clarence jordan, a farmer, new testament scholar and founder of koinonia farms in southwest georgia, along with its subsequent adaptation to stage by actor tom key. The mayor of candor lied is a song written and sung by harry chapin. You may be familiar with jordan through his cotton patch translations of the new testament or because the habitat for humanity movement originated from the koinonia farm to my mind, jordans heroism comes through in his sense of humor.
Once accused of fraternizing with myles horton, a reputed communist, jordan retorted, i really have trouble with your. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Nov 03, 2018 cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin just before his death in 1981. With music composed by harry chapin cats in the cradle and taxi, this colorful story brings the far away places of nazareth, jerusalem, and bethlehem into the contemporary southern united states. The irish and how they got that way capital repertory. Plot of land purchased on route 19 s and a produce stand is built. The script is well written and fast paced and, mixed with the country music motif, it is spiritually enlightening. Tracklist with lyrics of the album cotton patch gospel 2011 from harry chapin. And chapins show cotton patch gospel a crackerbarrel retelling of the new testament has been touring the country for the last three years. So while jordan would put his advanced training to use in translating the new testament into the southern vernacular of the cotton patch gospel in. As this gospel begins, they sing that somethins abrewin in gainesville. The sr71 buzzing the tower story you probably never. The ahs razorback theater company will present cotton patch.
Brief history of koinonia farm from 1942 to present. Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin just before his death in 1981. Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin and produced by philip m. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. Cotton patch gospel matthew clarence jordan hopefaithprayer. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before his death in 1981.
It can be described as an extremely moving and satisfying evening of great theatre, with powerful drama and excellent music, delightful in every way. As the show begins, jesus declares himself as god and king. Briars in the cotton patch tells the nearly forgotten story of koinonia farm, a small christian community in southwest georgia where whites and blacks chose to live and work together as equals despite the brutal and frightening consequences in the years leading up to the tumultuous civil rights era. Godspell full plot summary including detailed synopsis and summaries for each scene. Your donation pays only for dedicated server hosting, bandwidth, software licenses, and capital equipment scanners, ocr equipment, etc.
Id climb the highest mountain new georgia encyclopedia. Koinonia farm was founded in 1942 by clarence and florence jordan and martin and mabel england in 1942 as a demonstration plot for the kingdom of god. The cover of the gotee rereleased godspell says, a musical based upon the gospel according to st. Early in donal mosher and michael palmieris the gospel of eureka, narrator justin vivian bond remarks that a story of healing water brought folks here. The ahs razorback theater company will present cotton patch gospel. Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of jesus as if. Clarence jordan was a white southerner who became so profoundly concerned about the ordinary reader of the new testament gospels that, thirteen years before the beginning of the civil rights movement, he established an interracial farm in southwest georgia. Garlands commentary reveals the movement of the story s plot while also highlighting the theology of matthew. He was a leader in the civil rights movement in the south. Clarence jordan was a strange phenomenon in the history of north american christianity. What is unique about the cotton patch gospel is that it brings the language, setting, time and place into the midst of the racial tension developing in the south in the 1950s and 1960s. The 1951 film id climb the highest mountain, starring susan hayward and william lundigan, tells the story of a methodist circuitriding minister and his new cityborn wife on their first assignment in the north georgia mountains.
This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is presented in a setting of. What is the meaning of the parable of the rich fool. A sharp scholar who would read to congregations directly from his greek new testament, translating as he went, clarence began to tell the gospel stories in images from the south, delighting his hearers with what would eventually become the cotton patch gospel. Harry chapins cotton patch gospel first congregational.
After all, in other modern renditions of the gospel, the cotton patch gospels, or in jesus christ superstar or even godspell, it is clear that eventually the price that jesus must pay for confronting the religious authorities is death. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of the new testament into the language and culture of the midtwentiethcentury south born out of the civil rights struggle, these nowclassic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. Apr 17, 2015 cotton patch would be fun for a church or youth group to see as part of a lenten or summer series of films on the life of christ. Return to sbl forum archive rewriting the cultural myths.
Herod is the mayor of atlanta and, inevitably, christ is. The hosts of the symposium, first baptist church and first methodist church, had once prevented jordan and koinonia members from attempting to integrate their worship services. Patch adams is one of those films that deserved to be a very entertaining film, but unfortunately failed to in every respect to deliver something satisfying for the viewer. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. Hard to hear let me read to you a from the cotton patch version of the new testament written by clarence jordan. Cotton patch gospel is a colloquial translation of most of the new testament by southern baptist minister clarence jordan. Jun 14, 2019 cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin. In the mid20th century, eureka springs also became the retirement home of gerald l. This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is presented in a setting of rural georgia with country music songs, the final and perhaps best work of harry chapin. Cotton patch gospel, a musical production of the gospels of matthew and john, is coming to the varsity center in carbondale and bringing with it a cast handpicked by the. Artists collaborative theatres cotton patch gospel. Review by patricia pace, reynoldsburg united methodist church, reynoldsburg, oh. The ahs razorback theater company will present cotton.
Cotton patch gospel musical written by tom key, based on clarences bible translations. Cotton patch gospel is a highly acclaimed musical that humorously brings the gospels of matthew and john to the stage. Thirty years would pass before the album would ever reach the cd format. An easter story spectacular, now on dvd cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by critics and public alike. Somethins brewin in gainesville, wonder what it could be. Gospela largescale revamp of provisions 2004 production of the 1981 off broadway showincludes eight folksinging, instrumentwielding chorus members as an enlivening musical backdrop. The cotton patch version of the new testament rockhay. Now for the first time collected in a single, hardcover volume, this edition comes complete with a new introduction by president jimmy carter, a foreword by will d. Somethins doin in gainesville, come on down and see. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing cotton patch gospel near you. More than a translation, the cotton patch gospel continues to make clear the startling relevance of scripture for today.
Cotton patch gospeldvd this dvd is playable in us and canada only this awardwinning musical drama is a legslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a story that retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular. Harry chapin cotton patch gospel album lyrics letssingit. At the behest of john the baptist david haskell, young men and women forsake their jobs and take up the mantle of jesus christ victor garber becoming his disciples in a musical retelling of the gospel of matthew set in modernday new york city. A sweeping novel about race in america the new yorker. With tom key, scott ainslie, pete corum, jim lauderdale. The cemetery club by ivan menchelldirector juergen k. Cotton patch gospel offers downhome spin on story of jesus. Cpg is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin just before his death in 1981. A visionary during the struggle for the civil rights of all gods children, he founded an interracial community called koinonia. Reading matthew is an essential book for students and ministers studying the first gospel. Set in mccourts pub, complete with a working bar, the narration weaves a buoyant blend of traditional songs, show tunes and pop from danny boy and george m. The word of god gives the definition of the gospel in 1 corinthians 15.
The problem with that is that the story doesnt have a payoff. Cotton patch gospel christmas story clarence jordan. News, sports, business, and opinion for san angelo, tom green county and the concho valley from the san angelo standardtimes. It ran offbroadway at the lambs theatre for 193 performances beginning in october 21, 1981.
A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in modern day georgia with music and reverent humor added. The next step is to enter your payment information. Based on the biblical books of mathew and john, the story retells the life of jesus as if in modern day, rural georgia. Well read the cotton patch gospel of matthew and john a few chapters a week, and then well discuss what weve read in a variety of formats responding here to nopressure questions. Between 1968 and 1973 jordan published four cotton patch volumes.
Sr71 pilot maury rosenberg talks about the one time he decided to request a flyby over the sacramento airport on his way returning to beale afb where he was going to land. Cotton patch gospel, currently at the stage center at the myriad gardens, is a remarkable production that can be viewed two ways. Briars in the cotton patch tells the nearly forgotten story of koinonia farm, a small christian community in southwest georgia where whites and blacks chose to live and work together as equals despite the brutal and frightening consequences possibly the most daring social experiment in the south during the last century, koinonia faced years of terror, boycotts, and intimidation in the years. If our esword and mysword modules have blessed you, please consider a small donation. The cotton patch version of pauls epistles, the cotton patch version of luke and acts.
Cohan to u2 with a reminder of the injustices, humiliations, and privations suffered by the irish people both in ireland and here in their new neighborhoods in america. Jordan also founded the christian community koinonia farm, in sumter county, near americus. I have been having an intriguing time this winter studying the commercial versions, from an early 1950s release called day of triumph to jesus of montreal as part of my doctor of ministry study of images of. Sep 08, 2014 the cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of the new testament into the language and culture of the midtwentiethcentury south. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century south. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before. May he be set afloat on a boat without compass or rudder, then that any contents be swallowed by a shark, the shark by a whale, whale in the devils belly and the devil in hell, the gates locked.
For them, this meant an intentional community of believers sharing their lives and resources, following the example of the first christian communities. Best known for the cotton patch gospel musical based upon his translation of the gospels into southern, and for his relationship to habitat for humanity, clarence jordan lived a radical commitment to the gospel under intensely hostile circumstances. Reading matthew provides thorough guidance through matthews story of jesus. The bible says if our riches increase, we are not to set our hearts upon them psalm 62. It will go on to be nominated for and win several emmy awards. The rylander theatre is presenting the cotton patch gospel, an awardwinning musical based on jordans translations, with music and lyrics written by harry chapin in 1981. The cotton patch approach to the new testament is to allow the same sense of participation in them which the early christians must have had. Cotton patch would be fun for a church or youth group to see as part of a lenten or summer series of films on the life of christ. Though the setting and the styling of the language greatly differs from the original telling of the gospels the. The cotton patch gospel by tom key and russell treyzdirector juergen k. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture. The practice is comparable to the renaissance portrayal of jews with red hair, which was then regarded as a negative trait and which may have been used to correlate judas iscariot with contemporary jews. A s its name implies, the town of eureka springs, arkansas is built on faith. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south.
Sniper was finally rereleased in june, 2002 originally given a working title of sweet city suite, the album tells the story of various characters one might run into in a city. Think of the cotton patch gospel as a fun and lyrical. The greatest story ever retold the tale is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john. Steeple players presents harry chapins cotton patch gospel. We are blessed to be a blessing in the lives of others, and we are blessed to build the kingdom of god. Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin. This theological comedy blends smiths trademark sharpness of wit and depth of character, while telling a story in which a crisis of faith arises when seemingly similar beliefs are discovered to be worlds apart. Cotton patch gospel is a delightful retelling of the story of christ mixing humor and poignancy.
Judas iscariot is often shown with red hair in spanish culture and by william shakespeare. Essentially a one man show with a cast of four musicians fleshing out many of the biblical characters. Something brewing in gainesville i did itmama is here it isnt easy. But we got the story of the crownin glory, believe it or not. This is one of those versatile scripts that lends itself to any number of creative decisions. Tossmann talleys folly by lanford wilsondirector juergen k. The 75year and counting christian interracial farm. The midnight gospel wants to rewire your expectations april 23, 2020. Clarence jordans radical experiment in following jesus. Written and produced by atlanta native lamar trotti, the film is based on the 1910 novel a circuit riders wife, by fellow georgian corra harris. San angelo standardtimes news, sports, business, opinion. It was released on his 1976 album on the road to kingdom come.
Archives and special collections at the southern baptist theological seminary. Clarence jordan july 29, 1912 october 29, 1969, a farmer and new testament greek scholar, was the founder of koinonia farm, a small but influential religious community in southwest georgia and the author of the cotton patch paraphrase of the new testament. Recalling clarence jordan, radical disciple huffpost. Though the setting and the styling of the language greatly differs from the original telling of the gospels the plot structure and the message of the story stays true to. This awardwinning musical drama is a legslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a story the retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular. Cotton patch gospel the column online by john garcia.
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