Friends of the Groom Annual Fund Drive Letter and News 2023-24

November 27, 2023 

Dear Friend,

I’m excited to share some great news—we’ve successfully completed our 16-lesson creative dramatics curriculum for children, an online program accessible to all. We initially planned to make 15 short videos to illustrate the activities accompanying the curriculum. By the end of the project, it had blossomed into a collection of over 50—involving over 25 young volunteers and four different taping dates. (By the fourth date, I even had the delight of drafting a niece and a nephew into the project.) These resources aim to assist educators and individuals enthusiastic about teaching theater to children.  

Now—looking to the future: We mentioned in our last letter that we’re entering stage two of our online virtual training center, which includes offering online retreats and workshops. Our first retreat, with the theme “Conversations with God,” will be offered on three dates in 2024—two via Zoom on the mornings of January 27 and March 16, and one live retreat at St Thomas Episcopal Church at the beginning of Lent. We’re planning for these events to provide the model for a regular schedule of future retreats. To ensure an intimate and focused environment, each Zoom retreat will be limited to 15 participants. If you're interested, kindly email us at fog@fuse.net to secure your spot. 

Our commitment to sharing knowledge doesn't stop there. We’re diligently planning videos tailored for Christian educators, youth leaders, and worship leaders interested in incorporating theater into a church setting. These resources will encapsulate the wealth of experience from workshops conducted over the past 43 years. 

In the spirit of the upcoming season, we're also working on a new Christmas video set to be released in December. It’s the support of people like you that has fueled our ability to adapt to the challenges posed by COVID, enabling us to transition our live workshops and performances into an online format. 

However, the decline in live events due to COVID has impacted our income significantly. We are reaching out to you to help us navigate these challenges and continue our mission. Your contribution is vital in ensuring that we can bring the joy of Christian theater to audiences everywhere, despite the current limitations. 

We are sincerely grateful for all our donors whose past support has been instrumental in our journey thus far. I hope you’ll prayerfully consider helping us this year.

 Yours in Christ, 

Tom Long, Director
Friends of the Groom

 P.S. We have an urgent need for improved sound recording and computer equipment.