“Scandal In Bethlehem,” Free Spoken Word Video Download

(That blur behind Jeff is our friend Brittania carrying a flailing toddler away from the tripod.)
(That blur behind Jeff is our friend Brittania carrying a flailing toddler away from the tripod.)

Christmas 2011 our church developed a production for Christmas Eve called, “Scandal in Bethlehem.” It attempted to demonstrate how completely crazy the incarnation really is. Bethlehem, of all places, is no place for a King to call home, and a barn is not a proper labor and delivery room for anyone. An unmarried teenage girl was not a respectable mother figure, etc.

I was invited  to write and perform a spoken word piece, and it went over decently well. The following year our worship team started recording a collection of Christmas songs, and we laid down a couple takes of the spoken word piece too, before the project was sadly derailed.

I’ve thought – randomly and sporadically – about trying to capture it in video somehow. I thought about finding another artist to actually perform it. (‘Cause you know how it is hearing your own voice on a recording … or seeing your own face on video.)

About a week before Thanksgiving I woke up thinking about it. I wanted to have it on video so I could make it available to local churches to download for free, if it would help enhance their Christmas series’ or Christmas Eve services. I had some ideas for how it would look, and I knew who to call. All of it was already decided.

‘Cause until very recently I was on staff at a mid-sized church for several years. My husband and I are youth pastors, but when a youth pastor is also a staff member he/she tends to also become the graphic designer, social media director, etc. I know what it’s like to have a team with big vision and a small budget. I know what it’s like to find a great video at a great price (or for free), and then see another church’s logo – or a designer’s sales pitch and URL – splashed across the ending.

I realize it’s a little late in the game for some churches, for 2014, but I also know there are those smaller congregations who don’t have plans set in stone yet. (I spoke with one of them last week.) And I’m not pretending to come with offerings of silver and gold, but it’s what I have and I really want to give it. If one small church uses and loves it, I will be satisfied. Leave a comment and let me know how it went.

Anyway here it is. You can download it for free right off of Vimeo. (It’s also on YouTube, if YouTube is more your thing.)

Because Jeff is just super awesome and really into this whole video thing, he made outtake reels from each day of shooting too – which is just super fun. Here’s day two (of three): 

You can check out Jeff’s other awesome video stuff on his Vimeo page. He’s also a phenomenal non-video artist. Follow him on Instagram at @jeff138.

Aaand if you’re in the Elgin area and in need of a plan for Christmas Eve, we’d love to have you at Church In The Word. (There will be more spoken word.)

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