More McHenry County Blog

Our lead character Hannah first encountered Jesus in the desert at the end of his 40-day fast. He was on a mountain shouting, seemingly at nothing.

Hannah thought him mad as he yelled at no one she could see about not putting “God to the test.”

Then, she heard advice about her search for the meaning of life, but she didn’t understand that his references were to Himself.

A week later, at the 11 o’clock service of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake—billed as “the most contemporary" of the four weekend services—Hannah had journeyed to Nazareth.

There she met Jesus’ fun-loving half-sister, an older woman who had watched Jesus grow up, a carpentry customer blaming the now-left Jesus for his unfinished table and chairs, plus two priests, one reacting with sincere interest, the other with distain at Jesus’ synagogue claim.

Now, our anachronistic traveler is at a party in Bethany given to celebrate Lazarus’ return from the dead.

First seen wearing large sun glasses and a light trench coat over her more traditional robe, Hannah is trying her best to fit in without being noticed, but having trouble.

She really wants to be accepted and the party really moves when she stops talking to the audience and, later, between snatches of party conversation with those who have been invited.

You see, she doesn’t know anybody.

Everyone else seems to be good friends with everyone else.

There’s Mary and her sister Martha.

And, of course, their brother, Lazarus, the guest of honor.

Simon is present, too.

As is Simon.

And Elizabeth.

And two little girls are passing out flowers, when they are not taking grapes from the banquet table.

We sense all are talking about the miracle that Jesus has performed.

As Hannah points out to those in the congregation, after three days in the grave, everyone knew “he was really dead.”

Hannah brings us up to date and gives a clue as to her mission.

“This Jesus has got to be somebody amazing. These people know Jesus.”

And Hannah clearly wants to know people who know Jesus.

So much that when asked who she came with, she mentions someone whose name she has heard, but whom she has not met.

Hannah gets introduced to some of the revelers, even getting to shake the hand of Lazarus.

There are some raised eyebrows, but Hannah is not rejected.

Throughout the scene, when Hannah stops talking, there is rapid shuffling of everyone else around the stage to the refrain of

“What’s the buzz.

“Tell me what’s happening.”

I was told it was from “Jesus, Christ, Superstar.”

Finally, she meets Simon, a male latecomer about her age.

“I think this guy could be the Messiah,” he confides to Hannah.

After he has introduced Hannah around, the group parys before eating. Still Hannah is an outsider.

The tableau ends with the Mamas and Papas rock oldie lyrics,

“I’m in with the 'in' crowd.

“I go what the 'in' crowd goes.”

It occurs to me that snippets of "Lonely Girl" would might have worked through most of the party, because Hannah certainly was out-of-place at the party of family and friends.

Sunday, March 18th at 11, Hannah continues her search for Jesus on the stage of the Methodist Church at the intersection of Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Both streets cross Route 14.

Will their next destination be Jerusalem?

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All images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

The playlet was written and directed by Jeannie Patterson.

Hannah was played by Logan Fraser, a first year teacher from Cary-Grove High School.

In the top photo, Hannah is shown with her sunglasses and trench coat. Behind are girls A, B, and C.

Lazarus, played by Merle Patterson is seen talking with black haired woman X. Renee Schultz can be seen behind Lazarus. Schultz played Y.

In the next crowd scene, Hannah has gotten comfortable enough to take off her sunglasses.

Below left, black haired woman X hugs Linda Hill, playing Y. Hill is Logan's mother.

Logan's father, David Hill, portraying Z, can be seen introducing Hannah to Lazarus down to the right.

Right below, Hannah meets latecomer
Ryan Dunn, playing Simon.

As the group prays before eating, Hannah is still on the outside looking in.

Others in the cast are [fill in the blank, please]

Top photo in the credits below the line shows Tamera Heath talking to Merle Patterson.

In the bottom picture are four of the cast members waiting for the service to begin. From right to left, they are Pastor Health, her daughter Tamera, who led the blessing before the meal, Merle Patterson and Renee Schultz. Behind is a partially blocked Jeannie Patterson.