In downtown atlanta in 2020, cotton patch gospel promises to raise the roof with joy. Cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by criticsand public alike. Oct 22, 1981 drawing its inspiration from clarence jordans book the cotton patch version of matthew and john, the evening is as cute as calico and as sweet as sorghum. Jonathan aragon, first baptist church, duncanville, texas cotton patch gospel was the best play i have ever directed. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the let. The cotton patch gospels top clarence jordan brought the scriptures to life with his southern translations of the new testament, his poignant sermons, and his inspired and insightful interpretation of the sermon on the mount and what it means to christians today. To say that the cotton patch version translates the bible freely would be an. In tennessee, iowa and california, the reaction was the sameelated standing ovations. The parable of the good samaritan, cotton patch version luke 10. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. Matthew 2228 read matthew 2228 i nancy find it helpful when reading cotton patch to imagine myself sitting in a late 1950s rural, south georgia church or around a campfire in that region and time as clarence jordan translates from the greek, giving localized handles for. Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of jesus as if.
This is what i grew up hearing at evangelical churches. A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in modern day georgia with music and reverent humor added. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges from the cotton patch gospel movie on. A musical, cotton patch gospel 1982, written by atlantabased actor tom key and stage director russell treyz, was based on jordans version of the gospels of matthew and john. Performed off broadway and produced as a video, cotton patch gospel, retells the gospels of matthew and john accompanied by a bluegrass quartet. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz on the adaptation, which they completed in. The atlanta journalconstitution october 6, 2005 promotional text for cotton patch gospel pdf file.
Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written. Tom key, an actor and playwright from atlanta, and russell treyz, a director and playwright from new york, transformed the cotton patch version of matthew into the cotton patch gospel, an offbroadway musical with a score by harry chapin. Bethlehem becomes gainesville, georgia, nazareth valdosta, and jerusalem atlanta. The cotton patch version of matthew and john goodreads.
One of the unique and powerful things jordan does in this creative work is that every time the phrase kingdom of god turns up anywhere in the scripture, he translates it as the god movement. Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of. Loved and hailed by critics, religious commentators and just plain folks in the audience, cotton patch gospel will lift you up and give you hope. For in shrinking, it will pull the old material and make a tear. At the time of his death, in october, 1969, clarence jordan had completed translating, and had polished for publication, the gospel of matthew, and the first eight chapters of the gospel of john.
With tom key, scott ainslie, pete corum, jim lauderdale. Cotton patch gospel in wichita, ks jan 22, 2010 12. Cotton patch gospel puts jesus in civil rights era south. Nov 03, 2018 cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin just before his death in 1981. In january of 1980, key adapted and performed jordans the cotton patch gospel of matthew as a one man show for three universities in three different regions of the country.
Matthew in small cast version, also plays messenger, joe, cattle farmer, herod, politician, jesus, john. Based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan, the story retells the life of jesus as if in modern day, rural georgia. This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is presented in a. He also traveled widely as a speaker and translated much of the new testament into the cotton patch versions. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz on the adaptation, which they completed in june 1981. This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is presented in a setting of rural georgia with country music songs, the final and perhaps best work of harry chapin. Mar 06, 2016 matthew 2228 read matthew 2228 i nancy find it helpful when reading cotton patch to imagine myself sitting in a late 1950s rural, south georgia church or around a campfire in that region and time as clarence jordan translates from the greek, giving localized handles for the scandalous gospel text. With high energy and loads of laughs, the gospel message is presented in a way that is irresistible. Its called quoting the kjv in a mispronounced thick southern accent. Well read the cotton patch gospel of matthew and john a few chapters a week, and then well discuss what weve read in a variety of formats responding here to nopressure questions. The award winning musical is based on the book the cotton patch gospels of. The cotton patch version of matthew and john clarence jordan publisher s note.
Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin just before his death in 1981. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and culture of the mid20th century south. A visionary during the struggle for the civil rights of all gods children, he founded an interracial community called koinonia. Singlecolumn format paraphrased 10 point text softcover the cotton patch gospel. Both a biblical scholar and a prophetic man of action, clarence jordan lived out the new testament in the soil of rural georgia. Herod is the mayor of atlanta and, inevitably, christ is. Have there ever been translations of the bible, old or new. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and culture of the mid20th century south, bringing the new testament to life in the context of where people actually live today. Based on the cotton patch version of matthew and john, by clarence jordan. Written by tom key and russell treyz, and with music and lyrics by harry, the musical adapted clarence jordans cotton patch versions of the gospels of matthew and john. Pastor andrew will lead a bible study on the gospel of matthew built around the musical the cotton patch gospel. Cotton patch gospel matthew clarence jordan hopefaithprayer. Essentially a one man show with a cast of four musicians fleshing out many of the biblical characters. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century south.
Jay olson plays the apostle matthew and acts as the narrator for cotton patch gospel during rehearsal monday at the pollard theater center at pollard united methodist church in tyler. The study will start on tuesday march 3 and end thursday april 2. In case you may not know about this work, the text is based on clarence jordans southern fried translation of two of the gospels, the cotton patch gospels of matthew and john. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading cotton patch gospel. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before. The cotton patch gospel recasts the gospel of matthew into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. This awardwinning musical drama is a legslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a story the retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular. Cotton patch gospel premiered at the lambs theater in new york city on october 21, 1981. Start by marking the cotton patch version of matthew and john. The cotton patch gospel is a colloquial translation of most of the new. As this gospel begins, they sing that somethins abrewin in gainesville. This awardwinning musical drama is alegslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a storythe retells the gospels of matthew and john translatedinto present day southern vernacular. Bethany arts series to feature harry chapins offbroadway smash hit cotton patch gospel. Cotton patch gospel christmas story clarence jordan.
Drawing its inspiration from clarence jordans book the cotton patch version of matthew and john, the evening is as cute as calico and as sweet as sorghum. The atlanta journalconstitution october 6, 2005 promotional text for cotton patch gospel. The author and preacher clarence jordan wrote the cotton patch gospel, a reimaged translation of the gospels, putting the setting in the american south. Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin and produced by philip m. The christmas story from the gospels of luke and matthew. Cotton patch gospel from koinonia to habitat for humanity. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Clarence jordan july 29, 1912 october 29, 1969, a farmer and new testament greek scholar, was the founder of koinonia farm, a small but influential religious community in southwest georgia and the author of the cotton patch paraphrase of the new testament. If they do, the tires will blow out, and the tubes will be ruined and the tires will be torn up. This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is.
These editions come complete with new forewords and a new introduction by habitat for humanity founder millard fuller. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and. Shortly afterwards a white gospel song leader came down the road, and when he saw what. Cotton patch gospel cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by critics and public alike. Inspired by clarence jordans provocative the cotton patch version of matthew and john and produced and cherished worldwide since its conception in 1981. Written by tom key and russell treyz, and with music and lyrics by harry chapin, cotton patch gospel adapted clarence jordans cotton patch versions of the gospels of matthew and john for the stage. The parable of the good samaritan, cotton patch version luke. Bear in mind that this resource is not a biblical translation, but a creative paraphrase. Millard fuller, founder of habitat for humanity, thought of clarence jordan as a man of relevance. After a year of touring cotton patch across the united states in more. Inspired by jordans versions, tom key and harry chapin wrote a. Drawing its inspiration from clarence jordans book the cotton patch version of matthew and john, the evening is as cute as calico and as. Apr 17, 2015 in case you may not know about this work, the text is based on clarence jordans southern fried translation of two of the gospels, the cotton patch gospels of matthew and john.
It ran offbroadway at the lambs theatre for 193 performances beginning in october 21, 1981. Cotton patch gospel matthew clarence jordan by clarence jordan, of koinonia ministries the cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. And then angels appeared with a sack of chili cheese dogs. This volume contains the gospels of matthew and john. Matthew and john clarence jordans cotton patch gospel book 1 kindle edition by jordan, clarence. Not only his academic study, but also his smalltown background and experiences in establishing the interracial koinonia farm in the 1940s shaped his ability to hear the parables in the cotton patch.
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