Happy Thanksgiving to All of Our Readers

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:18)

Song DISCovery Plans One-Day Songwriting Conferences

Worship Leader will host two Song DISCovery in the Round: One-Day Songwriting Conferences next year. The first will be in San Antonio, TX, at Community Bible Church Jan. 28 and the second will be in Nashville at Grace Chapel on April 22.

These one-day events will consist of workshops, song panels, networking opportunities, hands on training, critiquing from industry pros and well-know songwriters and will conclude with a night of worship (which will include four songs from conference attendees). San Antonio’s outstanding stable of teachers and worship leaders consists of Tommy Walker, Laura Story, Glen Packiam, Randy Phillips, Jennie Riddle, and Lenny LeBlanc.

For more information, click here.

Barbour Schedules Holiday Concerts in NY, LA

Broadway star James Barbour (Tale of Two Cities) will repeat last season’s sold-out holiday engagement at Sardi's with Holiday Concert 2009 in both New York and Los Angeles.

The New York concerts will begin on Friday, Dec. 11 at Bill’s 1890 Restaurant & Café, 57 E. 54th Street, between Park and Madison, and will continue through Saturday, Dec. 19 with musical direction by opera’s revered Constantine Kitsopoulos.

The evening will feature a musically inspired reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem “The Night Before Christmas” which the scholar/philanthropist wrote for his nine children in 1822 while they lived at 57 East 54th St., the building which now houses the café.

New York tickets may be purchased at a http://www.smarttix.com/ or by calling 212-868-4444. Evening performances are at 7:30 with a matinee at 3 pm on Saturday, Dec. 19.

The Los Angeles schedule will offer one concert only on Monday, Dec. 21
7 pm at The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank, CA with musical direction by multiple Grammy Award nominated composer, producer, songwriter, arranger and rock impresario Peter Wolf.

LA tickets may be purchased at www.ColonyTheatre.org or by calling 818-558-7000 (Ext. 15)

Both concerts are being produced by Treehouse Entertainment Inc. and
Roberta Nusim for TMA (Theatrical Marketing Associates) and will feature special guest appearances by Broadway and Hollywood luminaries to be announced in the coming weeks.

For a review of Barbour's 2008 holiday concert at Sardi's in New York, click here.

Redeemer Arts News

Monday, November 30, 7:00PM
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Ave. (at 36th St.)
Studio 17A

Bring a monologue, scene, audition piece, or work in progress to workshop or show at the Novemmber gathering of Redeemer presbyterian's actors' group 7 pm Monday, Nov. 30 at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Ave. (at 36th St.)
Studio 17A .

Enjoy fellowship and fun with other actors as we explore the meaning of our work. Dinner will be provided. RSVP to actors@redeemer.com. Questions? Contact Kenyon Adams at kenyon@redeemer.com or(212) 808-4460 x1344

Also, save the date for an InterArts Advent celebration 7 pm Friday, Dec. 11 at the Redeemer offices, 1359 Broadway, 4th Floor (at 36th St.)

The Actors, Dancers and Filmmakers Groups will fellowship together. The evening will include special music, art, reflections, food, and fellowship in celebration of our Savior's birth. No RSVP required.

Questions? Contact Kenyon Adams at kenyon@redeemer.com or (212) 808-4460 x1344

Book Review: ‘Touched by a Vampire’ by Beth Felker Jones

A Helpful Guide through the 'Twilight' Series
By Lauren Yarger
Beth Felker-Jones’ guide through the ‘Twilight’ series, "Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga" (Multnomah Books ,October 2009) is just that: a great guide.

Jones is a knowledgeable source for those who want to know more about the books without having to read them, and a facilitator for fans who want to read the novels with a biblical context. It comes just in time, too, as the blockbuster movie sequel “New Moon” opens in theaters this weekend.

Jones, an assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College, takes an even-handed look at the novels by Stephenie Meyer in the run-away best seller Twilight Saga series for young adults. Telling the story of the romance between human teenager Bella and vampire Edward, the four books, “Twilight,” “New Moon,” Eclipse,” and “Breaking Dawn” have been a source of controversy for Christians. One the one hand, some Christian mothers have given thumbs up to the books because Meyer (a Mormon) has the characters refrain from having sex before they are married. On the other hand, they are stories about vampires and the occult.

Jones, in a non-preachy way, gives us all the information we need to know to make an informed choice about whether this is something we want our kids reading or not, and how to address some of the issues and circumstances in the Twilight world from a biblical reference. I would have loved a book like this for the Harry Potter series which was all the range when my kids were still young enough to have their mother involved in the book-selection process.

Besides giving an excellent overview of what the series is about and the main points of interest and themes, the book includes chapters on the specific topics that come up in the series, each concluded with questions to prompt thought about what Christians should and shouldn’t embrace in the story. In addition, a book-by-book discussion series is included for each novel in the series and an online leader’s guide allows easy use in a bible study or book discussion group.

Jones also includes come information on the Mormon themes present in the books. I found it to be one of the most thorough, thoughtful and helpful guidebooks of this type I have read.

Buy it here.

--Lauren Yarger
A free reviewer's copy of this book was provided by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Book Notes: ‘Thirsty’ by Tracey Bateman

Family struggles and everyday hardships aren’t usually topics that many (especially me) want to spend their free time reading about, but Tracey Bateman’s novel “Thirsty,” (WaterBrook Press, October 2009) is interesting as it brings to light struggles that so many families face.

Alcoholism plays a huge part in this story and the reader soon finds out that “thirsty” has a much greater meaning.

For Nina Parker, the steps toward recovery from her addiction are smaller than those she must take as she faces her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and tries to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. In the process, she returns to her hometown in Missouri where she catches the attention of someone–or something dark and menacing.

Bateman crafts her characters very well and you can feel the turmoil evolve as their different personalities clash throughout the book. It’s a slow read at first but the further you get, the richer the story becomes. You learn of the Parkers’ past and seeing how Nina has matured has the reader rooting for a comeback.

For anyone who has struggled or is struggling with an addiction of any kind, this story brings to light that it really isn’t a walk in the park to change your life. It takes hard work and determination, and doing things you really don’t want to do.

“Thirsty” was not the story I was expecting, namely some sort of Christian alternative to the “Twilight” series books. Instead, this story is a breath of fresh air. Other then the previously mentioned slow start, the story is heartfelt and entertaining for readers.

Buy the book here.

--Brian Yarger

Brian Yarger is a freelance artist living outside of Hartford, CT. His favorite genre of book is fiction with a supernatural twist. A free reviewer's copy of this book was provided by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Entries Sought for Short Film Contest

The HOSFU Short Film Contest is now open for entries. Short Film Contest prizes will be awarded at the 2010 Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival banquet, held at the LifeWay conference center in Ridgecrest, NC on June 7, 2010.

Short films which are 5-30 minutes in length, including credits, will be accepted through April 1, 2010. Ten semifinalists for each award category will be announced on May 1, 2010.

There will be four prize packages awarded for Best Short Film, Runner Up Short Film, Best Actor and Best Actress. All prize packages include the following:

1) A cash award (up to $400, depending on the category)
2) Free tuition to the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival 2011 ($315.00 value)
3) A one-on-one meal with a Gideon faculty member of choice, at the 2011 conference (priceless)

To receive any award, the entrant must be registered for the 2010 Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival as a full access student, by May 15, 2010. For details on the prize packages, please click here.

The contest is sponsored by HOSFU, (an acronym which stands for "His Only Son For Us"), a company dedicated to promoting Christ through the film industry. “HOSFU is blessed to be sponsoring this year’s Short Film Contest at the Gideon 2010,” says HOSFU CEO Eric Highland. “The Gideon, sponsored by LifeWay, is one of the top Christian media events of the year and is truly a don’t-miss event. We fully anticipate a high level of quality submissions from independent filmmakers, to make this year’s Short Film Contest the best that the Gideon has ever seen.”

For complete Rules and Regulations, judging criteria, details on prize packages and the entry form, visit http://hosfu.com/.