Girls' Night Out

I had the funnest week last week. For three nights we had a cool event for women, "Girls' Night Out @ Common Grounds." As a church, we've had other winter events for women formerly called, "Moment in December."

What made this event so different was the integrated drama. We've never done this before. Our four "girlfriends" (the actors) sat at a table in the coffee house just like all the other 250 ladies. These girlfriends hadn't seen each other for some time and were catching up despite their busy holiday schedules. The dialog proceeded between friends when Alex and Monica share with Jenna and Brit how much they enjoy the open mic nights. As you have guessed, there was a stage set up for the open mic sets.

Soon the open mic began when a potter, Chris, took stage and sat down at her wheel. She threw a beautiful vase while sharing how easy is it for women to say YES to every thing. Quickly we are pulled too thin. That is when her pretty vase collapsed. Just as we do when we don't have balanced lives.

The four friends chatted about that segment and easily related to the metaphor. Shortly thereafter, it was dessert time and the eating of giant cream-filled cupcakes ensued. After filling up on dessert, the four friends complained why their chocolate cake never turns out moist and delish, when Alex noticed someone was on stage, a guy with a blue electric guitar. It was Pete, the guy who worked at the coffee bar. He was going to sing a song he wrote for his dear Stella, his dead goldfish. This was so hilarious!

After Pete's song, the next artist was a painter, Tammi, who painted her rendition of a current friendship. The painting was colorful and fun, reflecting the words from her heart. Then all of a sudden, the painter smeared black paint all over her beautiful painting. Obviously, her friendship ended badly. The girlfriends talk about this. Jenna is particulary senstitive to the loss of Pete's goldfish and the relationship gone bad segments. Her friends dig a little to find out whats going on with her. Jenna doesn't want to ruin their night, but finally gives in. Her mom has been diagonosed with Pancreatic Cancer. That is why she can easily relate to the artists' segments.

Estelle, a poet, takes the open mic and shares a poem she wrote, called Forever and Unchanging. It's about how her love for others is conditional, depending on the mood she's in or the kinda of day she's had. But not so with God... when the poet finished there was a little dialog between the friends. That is when Monica decided to find Pete, the coffee house employee slash guitar player. Her friends wondered what was going through her mind! "Oh no! She's at the mic!" Monica explains that she and her friends had been talking about the artists' segments when she felt compelled to sing a song for her friends, Jenna particularly. It was called, "I Will Show You Love," (by Kendall Payne). Monica's song brings tears to everyone's eyes, knowing we are loved by God even when we are sitting in the mess of our lives and we can't feel His love. It was beautiful. Then Connie, the MC, took the stage and closed the evening. The lights went down, program ended and the live band began playing as the ladies who attended hung out in the coffee bar for a while.

It was really cool to see the vivid use of the arts as metaphor in real life situations. Everyone could relate to at least one of the artistic segments. I had talked with many ladies afterwards and they said they felt they were in an actual coffee house and were "eavesdropping" on a conversation between friends. PERFECT! That is exactly how we designed it! Woo-Hoo!

I'm so grateful for the 4 friends (Janell Fitz, Shawna Redcay, Beth Smith, Cheryl Rowland) and 4 artists (Pete Tung, Chris Gold, Gladys Dyson, Deb Turnow) who participated in this event. And the technical crew (Kevin Henderson, Jared Baldwin, Brian Noll, David Roe) to pull this off and Connie Milchling, the MC. And the ladies who provided the delicious giant cupcakes (Cheryl Pardoe, Sally Robertson, Jill Pratt). And Carol Shafer and her team who decorated the room so beautifully. Thank you to Joe Durika, the director of this drama. There are more than a dozen others who helped greet and serve the nights of the event as well. "Girls' Night Out" would not have happened if not for this whole team of gracious people, God used each of you in powerful ways! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Until next December's Event ~ grace & peace, deAnn

p.s. if you'd like a copy of the script for use at your church or event, contact deAnn Roe.