The Torn Curtain

The characters are an adult teacher, and a senior/high school age pupil.
The choir are assumed to be Jewish worshippers at the Temple.

Scene 1 - The travellers arrive

The teacher and pupil arrive just outside the Temple in Jerusalem. They are time travellers from our own future, on a school "field trip" to Jerusalem in AD 30. The date & time has been chosen with some care by the pupil, against the advice of the teacher.

A tension develops, which runs through the whole drama: the pupil is a Christian, the teacher is not.

Song 1 - I Dance & Clap & Sing

"He makes my heart rejoice,
I lift my hands and voice,
I come into his courts,
to bring him praise."

Scene 2 - Introducing the city

The teacher muses about gambling debts he has incurred, and worries over his increasingly serious situation.

The pupil returns from an errand and they start their tutorial with a review of 1st Century Jerusalem. When Golgotha is mentioned, we find that today features an important execution ... a crucifixion.

Song 2 - I delight greatly in the Lord

"I delight greatly in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God."

Scene 3 - The history of the temple

The pupil presents some home study notes on the history of the Temple, and this is marked and reviewed by the teacher. The pupil seems anxious that they should hurry into the temple.

Song 3 - Come let us praise the Lord

"Come let us praise the Lord, let us sing for joy,
Let us come before him with joyful songs of praise."

Scene 4 - The inner and outer courtyards

The tutorial moves into the Temple's outer court. The pupil observes that the Bible places Jesus teaching from the surrounding portico on 14 separate occasions.

The pupil relates one such story, to the discomforture of the atheist teacher.

Song 4 - It is a thing most wonderful

"It is a thing most wonderful,
almost too wonderful to be,
that God's own son should come from heaven,
and die to save a child like me."

Scene 5 - The courts of women, men and priests

The story of the Widow's mite is touched on, and then they move on to the Court of the Men of Israel. The altar and animal stalls are deserted due to the execution.

The teacher and pupil then discuss the Jewish concept of sacrifice, and the Guilt Offering in particular.

The teacher's gambling problem raises its head again, and the pupil is still impatient with the pace of the tutorial.

Song 9 - To whom all hearts are open

"Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known ... Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts ..."

Scene 6 - The Holy Place

This area is unlit and pemanently darkened.

The teacher jokes about the gold leaf decorations, while the pupil reviews the objects that can barely be glimpsed.

Both are now in a hurry, so they move on to the last part of the tutorial.

Song 10 - Glory to God

"Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth. Lord God heav'nly king, almighty God and Father, we worship you ..."

Scene 7 - The Most Holy Place

The teacher & pupil discuss the contents of the Most Holy Place, though by law they are not allowed to visit it.

This ends the tutorial, and the teacher starts to pack up. He is anxious to sort out his "problems", but the pupil now seems in no hurry to leave. The teacher's temper flares, during which the curtain obscuring the Most Holy Place tears from top to bottom. The teacher is stunned, but this miracle is what the pupil had wanted to experience all along.

Song 5 - The curtain is torn

"The curtain is torn, there's nothing to keep us outside.
... we enter for Jesus has died"

"So let's draw near the Most Holy Place.
Our conscience clear, with Him face to face ..."

Song 6 - For we see Jesus

"Now we can enter. See Jesus crown'd with all His Father's glory. Our High Priest forever ... at God's right hand."

Scene 8 - The teacher's revelation

The shocked teacher cannot understand nor accept what has happened. Now the roles are reversed, and the pupil attempts to explain the siginificance of this miracle.

As they leave, the teacher wakens to the possibility of being able to "start again".

Song 7 - Jesus, I come before you

"Jesus, I come before you, see your arms held wide.
Just one step and I'm wrapped in your love, my comforter and guide.
... Just one step is all I need take to know you're ever near."

Song 8 - We worship You

"I want to praise You Father, You are always there to care for me."
"Now I come to worship You."
"Jesus, I really love you. Love You just because You first loved me."
"Now I come to worship You."
"I wait oh Holy Spirit, open to the things You want to say."
"Now I come to worship You."

The remainder of Roger Jones' songs from his "Torn Curtain" song book should then be used as a musical setting of the Eucharist, as the composer originally intended. This takes a further half hour.

• Revelation is proud & pleased to have provided this presentation for Churches Together in Amersham, as this was their first joint activity. We wish them well for the future.

Extract from a letter from Revd. Gary Rowlandson

8th March 2001
Dear Mike,

We are so grateful to you and the choir from Revelation for all you contributed to us at the presentation of the Torn Curtain on Sunday evening. Everyone was so enthusiastic and I found it a real privilege to join you all for prayer before the service and to take part in the evening. Would you please convey out thanks to the members of the choir.

[Some text omitted]

... Once again, thanks for all you gave us.
With best wishes,
Yours in Christ,
Gary Rowlandson.

Extracts from an email from Revd. Neil Thompson

Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 9:12 PM

Hi Douglas, ... Torn Curtain was very well received at Cove. ... we had people from 5 denominations and 7 churches present in the congregation.

-- Good wishes, Neil T.