‘God’s Not Dead’ musical shared by MLC Elementary students
My God’s not dead He’s surely alive He’s living on the inside Roaring like a lion
The Mountain Lake Christian (MLC) Elementary Spring Musical proclaimed the message, God’s Not Dead duringa presentation on Friday evening, April 24, in the school’s new music room.
The new musical, created by Dale Mathews and Dana Anderson, shares an accessible and timely story that answers tough questions like, “If God is real, why do bad things happen to people?”
The musical includes five songs and five scenes that feature big-statement songs that kids love to sing, like, “We Believe,” “At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh),” “One Thing Remains,” “How Great Is Our God” – and the title song, “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion).”
In addition, the Elementary Band, composed of students in grades four, five and six, along with the pre-Kindergarten class presented additional numbers.
The musical, as well as the Elementary Band, wass directed by the MLC K-12 music teacher, Aaron Petersen.
Following is a photo gallery from the evening:
SIXTH-GRADE SAXOPHONIST Elizabeth LInscheid keeps her eyes on her music during the Elementary Band numbers.
ELI JOHNSON, AN MLC fifth-grade student, performs on the tympani. The Elementary Band repertoire includes these three songs – “Montego Bay,” “Regal March” and “Loch Lomond.”
A CENTRAL COG in the Elementary Band’s reed section is sixth-grader Sara Quiring.
MY GOD IS so big, so strong and so mighty. There’s nothing my God cannot do. Pre-Kindergarten students, led by their teacher, Mandy Linscheid, perform the motions to “My God Is So Big.” From left, Joel Saldana, Jackson Stoneking, Dalton Booze, Lola Berg and Ezra Petersen.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENT Joel Saldana flexes his muscles to show how strong is God.
SINGING THE MUSICAL numbers punctuating the drama scenes are MLC Elementary students in grades kindergarten to six, led by their teacher, Aaron Petersen, at front.
MOM (RILEY SCHROEDER), left, seeks to find a way to comfort her son, Gabe (Seth Klassen) who wonders why God lets bad things happen to people – including the death of his grandfather from cancer – in the musical’s first play scene.
BACKING UP THE dramatic scenes are the elementary vocalists. Front, second-grade student Samuel Petersen, left and fourth-grader Jordan Linscheid, right. At back is Miriam Rete, a fifth-grade student.
IN THE PLAY’S second scene, Mom (Riley Schroeder), second from right, takes her son Gabe (Seth Klassen), left and his friends, Sam (Eli Johnson), second from left, Jen (Lydia Cavanaugh), third from left and Lizzy (Kate Janzen), right, to the park to show the children that God is to be found in all the living things surrounding them.
Lord of all the earth. We shout Your name, shout Your name, Filling up the skies With endless praise, endless praise. Yahweh, Yahweh. We love to shout Your name, oh Lord, from the chorus of the selection, “At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh). Sixth-grader Zoey Smith is emphatically shouting that message.
SO, TOO, IS Kindergarten student Harlie Krueger.
KINDERGARTEN STUDENT JESSAH Janzen declares – with motion, and emotion – Your love never fails, never gives up. Never runs out on me, the lyrics from the chorus of the number, “One Thing Remains.”
SECOND-GRADER ETHAN Schroeder also shares about that love – displaying it with the shape of a heart formed by his hands.
WITH HIS T-SHIRT proclaiming the “hot story” of the musical, fourth-grader Aiden Penner declares that announcement in song as well.
SINGING OUT WITH earnest – and emphatic – enthusiasm and spirit is Luke Klassen, a fourth-grade student.
SIXTH-GRADE STUDENT Jack Lepp, left, along with Drayton Klassen, a fifth-grader, focus their attention on Director Aaron Petersen.
IN THE DRAMATIC play’s final scene, the cast energetically shows that, as light illuminates the dark, so, too does God continue to provide light in our lives, even in darkest moments. From left, Gabe (Seth Klassen), Jen (Lydia Cavanaugh), Mom (Riley Schroeder), Sam (Eli Johnson and Lizzy (Kate Janzen).
