For some reason or other my article about this coming Sunday’s Vesper service did not appear in this week’s Chinook Observer.  I thought I got it submitted in plenty of time but… maybe not.  So, here it is in the hopes that my blog readers will take note and, if at all possible, attend:

Outside the Oysterville Church

A ‘Reluctant Dragon’ will make his first-time-ever appearance at the Oysterville Church on Sunday, June 23^rd, along with ‘St. George the Dragon Slayer,’ ‘a Boy,’ and a ‘Chorus of twelve singers.’  The performance with Everitt Pace in the title role, is the musical portion of the 2^nd in the 2013 Music Vespers Series sponsored by the Oysterville Restoration Foundation.

Under the direction of the never-reluctant director, Sandra Nielson, “The Reluctant Dragon” is the account of a poet dragon, a clever boy (Blake Kukula), a pompous dragon slayer (Bob Walters) and how they fool a village. There’s humor along with a moral and the story is appropriate for all ages.  The inimitable Barbara Poulshock is the accompanist.

The performance is based upon a Kenneth Grahame children’s story written in 1898 and set to music as a children’s operetta by John Rutter in 1960.   According to Nielson, “Rutter’s music runs the gamut of fifties rock and roll to a take-off on a Bach fugue and ends with one of his loveliest choral compositions. This year’s production by the ‘Seat of our Pants’ crew was performed at both Peninsula elementary schools and at a recent benefit for the Back Pack For Kids program and local food bank.

Oysterville Church Steeple

Officiating at the Vespers service will be Pastor David Curtis of the Peninsula Baptist Church in Ocean Park.  Curtis has conducted Vesper services in Oysterville on several occasions since arriving on the Peninsula in 2009.

One of Pastor David’s continuing interests has been the development of a ministry to serve families and “to help parents to provide the spiritual foundation for their children.”  His pairing with the family-oriented “Reluctant Dragon” seems to be the proverbial ‘match made in Heaven.’

Also a part of Sunday’s Vespers team will be Oysterville Restoration Foundation member Bradley Huson who will be presenting the “Oysterville Moment” – a short reflection on the history of the village or of the church.  Sandy Nielson will do double-duty as organist during the congregational singing of old fashioned hymns, always a favorite part of the Sunday afternoon services.

Vespers begins at 3:00 p.m. and should last about an hour.  Admission is free and the public is invited to “come as you are.”  Offertory baskets will be passed during the service and all monies collected go toward the maintenance and day-to-day upkeep of the historic 1892 building.