Posted: 8/14/02

YPA plans benefit show for Hosanna

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Using their gifts for the greater good, Youth Performing Arts will present a benefit concert next week.

The concert, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 21 at the Forest Lake High School auditorium, ìSeasons of Loveî is a benefit for the youth programs at Hosanna Lutheran Church, which was razed in a Memorial Day weekend fire.

A group of about 40 youthófrom 13 to 21-years-oldófills out YPAís cast. The group is directed by Susan Swanson Novak.

The show will feature musical numbers from the past three seasons of YPA, including selections from ìGodspell,î ìJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,î ìTwo by Two,î ìLean on Me,î as well as past Christmas shows.

ìItís a little bit of everything weíve doneî said Director Susan Swanson Novak. ìItís been kind of fun to revamp.î

The group had planned to tour this summer. When plans fell through, Novak said a benefit for Hosannaóand the youth who worship thereówas a perfect fit.

ìIt just seemed so natural,î Novak said. ìWhen thereís a need, if you have a gift that can fill it, you should use it.î

The youth in YPA hail from 13 area churches from Forest Lake, Marine on St. Croix, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes, Wyoming, Stacy, Lexington, Hugo and Chisago City.

Adults involved, other than Novak, include Roxanne Johnson, Kathy Bystrom, musical director Maurya Laqua, Jo Lee, Lori Brink and Steve and Lynn Ruter. A parent/adult steering committee steps in and helps as needed.

Just show up

Tickets are not necessary for admittance. Reservations are not necessary. Those planning to attend need only to show up at the Forest Lake High School auditorium.

A freewill offering will be taken for Hosannaís youth programs enabling the audience to help however they are able.

The group does not have a dollar figure goal for the benefit.

ìWhat would be really exciting is if we had all 700 chairs filled,î Johnson said.

Need

When fire ripped through Hosanna Lutheran Church two months ago, the youth program lost everythingófrom couches and pillows to writing utensils.

Many of what was lost is hard to document in an insurance claim. It is hard to remember the little thingsówhich add up quicklyóin an insurance claim.

ìInsurance will cover some of it but I donít think thereís any of knowing the total loss,î Bystrom, also a parishioner of Hosanna, said. ìThey just do their best and this will help them out.

David Krinke is youth minister at Hosanna.

ìItís just a tremendous show of support from the kids and the community,î Krinke said.

The need at Hosanna, Krinke said, is great.

ìWe lost a lot of curriculum, books, equipments and souvenirsóof course the souvenirs canít be replaced,î he said.

Krinke said with the cleanup work nearing completion, construction should start soon and parishoners should be back in Godís house by next summer.

ìItís just nice weíre moving forward,î he said.

Plans

The community has more YPA shows to look forward to. In addition to the annual holiday show, Novak said she also is planning a production which will bring the youth performers in with talented adults in the Forest Lake area.

Featuring poetry by Studs Terkell and music by James Taylor, Novak said the show should be ready in the fall or spring.

ìI thought it would be fun to have my kids work with some of the talented adults here,î Novak said.

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