To There and Back Again

By Ted Swartz Feb 13, 2015 in Freeman South Dakota, I performed “Laughter is Sacred Space.” (Click here for a decent review of the show.) Laughter reflects my relationship with Lee Eshleman, our discovering one another, our work together, and resulting 20 year friendship. And then, following his death, the period of grief and recovery…

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The Jesus Stories and the other Jesus Stories

It’s called The Jesus Stories and as the title suggests that’s what Ted and I (Jeff Raught) try to do. Finding new ways, while visiting some of the old, to tell these stories of Jesus. It’s a play interwoven with music and scenes around food. Pasta, cheese, fine wine and so much more. But that’s…

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St. John’s: The Quest for the Nugget of Truth

The church at St. John’s is a loosely structured group, with more emphasis on the “loose” and “group” than on the “structure.” Which is not to say that they are a loose group, or without moral structure. It’s just that the organizational structure is loose in nature – let’s say “relaxed fit.” In creating the…

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The Impact of a Story or Song

In case we ever lose sight of the incredible effect that a story or song can have on us, a little story from Jeff… Recently I was invited to share with a local youth group. After some warm wonderful greetings we gathered around the piano in the sanctuary and I shared a few songs. As soon…

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Fish Eyes – The Gospel of I Don’t Know

Next week Ted & Company will present four performances of Fish Eyes to celebrate 20 years of this beloved show. From April 10-13, Ted Swartz and Jason Hildebrand will take up their nets and don their (figurative) fisherman’s waders at Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg VA, drawing audiences into the first century lives of Jesus’…

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Thanksgiving and Peace Pies

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s time to start thinking about pies. Of course, in addition to the usual kinds of pie, we’ve been thinking a lot about peace pies. As many of you know, in 2012 Ted & Company partnered together with Christian Peacemaker Teams to produce the Peace, Pies & Prophets (PPP) tour in the…

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