By Mike Woodard

“The Grace Project” was a production put on by the CSU Players and Lyric Theater March 1, 2 and 3.

The production used song, dance, acting and video to tell a captivating tale of grace. It tells the story of a young married couple, Ian and Amanda, who are struggling to stay together, due to their arguments and Ian’s drinking problem.

As everything plays out, there were short videos between the scenes of cast members telling true stories of how grace had been evident in their lives. The stories included abuse, bullying, attempted suicide, discouragement and others that were very relatable to the audience.
In the final scenes of the play, Ian, in a drunken state, murders his wife, Amanda. Then, in an ultimate act of grace, Amanda’s father tells the judge during Ian’s trial to give him the shortest sentence possible, because no amount of prison time would bring her back.

The other characters in the play spent their time in the Grace Notes Café, where they shared their opinions and definitions of what grace is. They gave many explanations, but it all boiled down to say that grace is something undeserved and free. And as Christians, we know that grace is the reason we are alive and because of God’s amazing grace, we will be able to spend eternity in His presence.

The play was an encouragement to everyone in attendance. But underneath the wonderful singing and moving videos, it was also a reminder of the beauty of the Gospel: the fact that we as humans are broken and dead in sin, but Jesus Christ reached down and brought us out of the darkness and into His light. He did it despite the way we sometimes disobey, turn our back and sometimes run. He showed grace.

Just as Ian was guilty and at the point of punishment, Amanda’s father stepped in and advocated on Ian’s behalf. We were guilty and headed for punishment, but Jesus, our Advocate, stepped in and saved us.

The American Heart Association sponsors heart month each February.  Members of the Future Teacher’s Society supported the movement
this year by participating in “Paint King Street Red.” They visited participating businesses and restaurants in downtown areas to paint a red dress logo on windows and handed out flyers and pins.

The logo of the flowing red dress represents the dynamic nature of the Go Red for Women movement which promotes a heart-healthy lifestyle and education for women about heart disease.

By sharing this visible symbol with others, the FTS ladies helped increase the visibility of the Go Red for Women movement in the Charleston
area.  Heart and cardio-vascular conditions are the leading cause of death in America.