Clarence was a powerful preacher direct, biblecentered, and sternly contemporary, as. Both a biblical scholar and a prophetic man of action, clarence jordan lived out the new testament in the soil of rural georgia. Return to sbl forum archive rewriting the cultural myths. Cotton patch gospel, a new musical with songs by the late harry chapin, is a downhome retelling of the new testament, a kind of crackerbarrel turnabout of. Cotton patch gospel study the cotton patch gospels of. I was moved and inspired by this modern day version of the timeless message of the gospel of matthew. Cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by criticsand public alike.
From the latest quilt kit to the perfect wadding you can find it here with thousands of products for quilters. Cotton patch gospel trailer this award winning musical drama is a legslappin, toe tappin, hand clappin hoedown of a story that retells the gospels of matthew and john. Sonny franks left and joey folsom in cotton patch gospel at theatre threes theatre too. What makes this the cotton patch gospel truly unique is the one man performance by native illinoisan, phillip kaufmann. Clarence jordan and the cotton patch gospels sbl publications. Order food online at cotton patch cafe, greenville with tripadvisor. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and culture of the mid20th century south.
Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of jesus as if. Pastor john luoma one of the most amazing stories in american religious history is the story of clarence jordan. It is based on a modern contextualization of the gospels of matthew and john by clarence jordan. 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 south. The cotton patch 108 w ogeechee st, sylvania, georgia 30467 rated 4. Clarence jordan 19121969 was a widely admired bible scholar, speaker, writer and farmer. 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. Bear in mind that this resource is not a biblical translation, but a creative paraphrase. A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in modern day georgia with music and reverent humor added. As much as i loved godspell and jesus christ superstar, cotton patch gospel wins the gold medal. It is funny, true to the gospels, offbeat in a helpful sort of way, and profoundly inspirational. Find 1 listings related to cotton patch in brookhaven on.
Rights and availability this title can be licensed and sold throughout the world. More than a translation, the cotton patch gospel continues to make clear the startling relevance of scripture for today. The award winning musical is based on the book the cotton patch gospel of matthew and john by clarence jordan, a bible scholar and civil rights activist. Its the story of jesus, only the times and places have been changed his life takes place in georg. 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. Cotton patch gospel is filled with references to real places in the state of georgia, and elsewhere in the south. Inspired by clarence jordans provocative the cotton patch version of matthew and john and produced and cherished worldwide since its conception in 1981, this soulrouser with boundless heart sets the story of jesus in the american south. A visionary during the struggle for the civil rights of all gods children, he founded an interracial community called koinonia. The cotton patch version of hebrews and the general epistles, 1973. Jordan wanted to transport jesus and firstcentury christians to where they were living where we live, talking as we talk, working, hurting, praying, bleeding. 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.
The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before. Footnotes more about clarence jordan and the cotton patch gospels. This award winning musical drama is a legslappin, toe tappin, hand clappin hoedown of a story that retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular. He called this translation for the ordinary reader a cotton patch version, and he.
The georgiabased cotton patch gospel makes its fifth appearance in the state with theatrical outfits production july 14aug. 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. Custom made presents harry chapins cotton patch gospel. 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. Rather than being born over 2,000 years ago, this rendition changes the setting to 21st century georgia. This is easy fabulous a very talented group of actors i hope they return to the theatre again. 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. Tom key has brought his offbroadway bluegrass musical, cotton patch gospel, back to dallas theater center after a 20year absence, and the audiences seem as enthralled as ever. 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. Cotton patch gospel provision theater company the revamped version of this entertaining musical features the reverential retelling of the gospels of matthew and john in a contemporary southern setting, set to bluegrass music. Gainesville, selma, birmingham, atlanta, washington, d. The christmas story from the gospels of luke and matthew. I nancy find it helpful when reading cotton patch to imagine myself sitting in a late 1950s rural, south georgia church or around a campfire in that region and time as clarence jordan translates from the greek, giving localized handles for the scandalous gospel text. 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.
The collection also includes the manuscripts, both written and typed, with annotations andor corrections and revisions of many of dr. Those unfamiliar with the state may not grasp the geography of the story, and so just as many bibles contain maps of the holy land and significant locations from the gospels, these are the places referenced in cotton patch gospel. Gospel cowriter and theatrical outfits artistic director tom. With tom key, scott ainslie, pete corum, jim lauderdale. Gainsville, selma, birmingham, atlanta, washington, d. How did these variations sound in that context to hearers most of whom, likely, had limited. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz on the adaptation, which they completed in. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic paraphrases of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. 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. Written by tom key and russell treyz, and with music and lyrics by harry chapin, cotton patch gospel adapted clarence jordans cotton patch versions of the gospels of matthew and john for the stage. 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.
It brings the far awayplaces of nazareth, jerusalem, and bethlehem closer to home atlanta and valdosta, georgia. If you have not yet experienced the undertheatre of theatre 3 in dallas. Juds betrayal of jesus scene in the august 2012 production of cotton patch gospel at the elbert theatre in elberton, ga. 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. It has been said that chapin viewed his work for the cotton patch gospel as being. The cotton patch gospels and new testament letters were written by clarence jordan, a new testament ph. Therefore, places like bethlehem become gainesville. Cotton patch gospel christmas story clarence jordan. Cotton patch gospel story by tom key and russell treyz, music and lyrics by harry chapin theatre too.
Cotton patch gospel premiered at the lambs theater in new york city on october 21, 1981. Bethany lutheran church is excited to feature the bluegrass musical cotton patch gospel as part of their 2017 bethany arts series. Cotton patch gospel is a reverential retelling of the gospels of matthew and john in a contemporary, southern setting set to bluegrass music. Dallas lee, introduction to the cotton patch evidence in the cotton patch versions of the new testament, jesus was wrapped in a blanket and placed in an apple crate at his birth, lynched in leesburg, georgia and greets his disciples with a howdy when he emerges from his tomb on easter. Essentially a one man show with a cast of four musicians fleshing out many of the biblical characters. Though less widely known than the other gospel musicals of its era godspell and jesus.
Originally published separately in 4 vols the cotton patch version of matthew and john, 1970. As a preacher, jordans distinctive way of mapping parallels to contemporary culture predated efforts like the message, adding a southern flair. This awardwinning musical drama is alegslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a storythe retells the gospels of matthew and john translatedinto present day southern vernacular. The substance of faith and other cotton patch sermons edited by dallas lee 1972. Jordans writings, particularly the cotton patch versions of the gospels. Matthew and john clarence jordans cotton patch gospel book 1. Cotton patch gospel, a retelling of the life of jesus in rural georgia with music and lyrics by harry chapin and wisdom like men dont live by grits alone, kicks off a threeshow series in. Rose baca staff photographer wash away 2,000 years and. In downtown atlanta in 2020, cotton patch gospel promises to. It is an opportunity to get away from the things in life that worry you. The cast that surrounds him has been expanded cotton patch can be performed either with just one guy and a quartet of actormusicians or with a larger company. An awardwinning musical, this is based on the book. A musical, cotton patch gospel 1982, written by atlantabased actor tom key and stage director russell treyz, was based on jordans version of the gospels of matthew and john.
Jordans translations of scripture portions led to the creation of a musical, cotton patch gospel, telling the life of jesus christ using his style and set in georgia. An awardwinning musical, this is based on the book the. Theatre threes cotton patch gospel is rousing and relevant. Find 20 listings related to cotton patch cafe in dallas on. Cotton patch gospel provision theater company chicago. The cotton patch gospel koinonia partners the cotton patch gospels clarence jordan brought the scriptures to life with his modern day southern translations. The beloved musical returns home just when we need its radical hope now more than ever. It ran offbroadway at the lambs theatre for 193 performances beginning in october 21, 1981.
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