THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508090171
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: E12B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
``I'm Jesus,'' said Tom Gay as he stroked his bristly, fake, black beard. His sashed robe and the keffiyeh wrapped around his head somewhat disguised his 16 years.
Tom, a member of Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church, is one of the younger workers at ``Marketplace 29 A.D,'' a Bible school with a different approach.
In spite of 90-degree-plus temperatures, the three-day school was held outdoors under tall trees. It came about through the combined efforts of 99 workers from four area churches: Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist, Portlock United Methodist, Rosemont Christian and First Presbyterian of South Norfolk.
``I like the way we're teaching the lessons in this outdoor environment,'' Gay said. ``The children get involved in the whole process of the marketplace. They get a better sense of what it was like in Jesus' time because we show our interpretation of what happened.''
For several years, it had been hard to pull off Vacation Bible School. So last year, the Rev. Ellen Comstock, pastor of Portlock United Methodist, brought the idea to her congregation. They decided to give it a try.
In the spring of 1994, she wrote inviting many churches in South Norfolk to participate.
``I got two `yes' responses,'' she said. ``The other churches have other things. We're a small church and don't have a lot of facilities. But we have the space,'' Comstock said.
``Marketplace 29 A.D.'' is set in a Jewish community shortly after Christ began his ministry. The 143 children were divided into 10 family groups. Each family represented one of the Israelite tribes.
First Presbyterian of South Norfolk has a very small congregation and has not held its own Bible school for several years.
When Comstock invited First Presbyterian to participate, the Rev. Jan Scully was glad.
``It was helpful to my church,'' said Scully, First Presbyterian's pastor. ``They saw that we still have a lot to offer.
``It was wonderful. I've worked with Girl Scouts and other programs. This was the best organized program I have ever participated in,'' Scully said.
Following an indoor ceremony, Ross Andrews blew the ram's horn to call the families to their tents, where they learned more about first century customs.
The work areas were not set up by age or grade. Each child chose to apprentice himself to different crafts people, Comstock said.
Children 6-11 wore name tags identifying them as members of the tribe of Reuben. They clustered around Pat Carrow as she explained how the Israelites prepared their daily bread. Before she could sprinkle flour on their hands, two girls plunged their hands in the sticky yeast dough. Each child kneaded his or her own dough.
Six-year-old Claire Urbi's dark eyes glistened as she licked dough from her fingers.
``It's sticky,'' said Meredith Thompson, 9, of Cary, N.C., who was in town visiting her grandmother and attending Bible school.
After the dough had risen, it was baked in the church kitchen. The following day, the children ate the bread.
What Judith Andrews most enjoyed was making bread and weaving baskets.
``I was in a drama yesterday and played the dead girl,'' said Judith who is 11 and attends Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church. ``We learned some new songs and learned what a mezuza is.''
Outside the tent, she raised a panel on the mezuza, a small wooden container, revealing writing called the Shema, which read: ``Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.''
This was the second year that Charlie Newhard, a member of Rosemont Christian Church, assisted children in making kites.
Deric Harvey, who is 15 and about to move to Michigan with his family, grouted mosaics which were designed from chipped black and pastel ceramic tiles.
Marvelane Gregory, a member of Portlock Methodist, sat barefoot on a quilt making nets and explained that the disciples of Jesus became fishers of men.
``The children love it,'' said Gregory, 63. ``It's worthwhile. They look forward to it. Many of the trades they are seeing here are a lost art.''
At another work area, children ground herbs with mortar and pestle, then tied up the fragrant herbs in small sachets.
The next day they made perfume out of alcohol and a scented oil. They chose fragrances such as myrrh, cloves, marjoram, rose oil, frankincense or sweet orange. by CNB