Friends and members of Jerusalem United Church of Christ in Trachsville are gearing up for their first performance of "Godspell" this evening. It's the first time the church has put on a musical, and members hope it will become an annual activity.

"I'm a 'Godspell' junkie," said Bob Fahringer, the production's director. "This got me more involved in my Christian faith."Fahringer said he first saw the musical in the '70s when he was a teenager."It just spoke to me," he said. "It brings the Gospel to life."As a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Fahringer once again encountered the musical when he was selected to be one of the performers in a Bethlehem production. Later as a drama coach and English teacher at Catasauqua High School, he directed three productions of the musical during his 36 years of teaching.Fahringer said he is cutting the opening scene, which is often done, and instead opening with John the Baptist, who enters heralding the coming Messiah. As he performs baptisms, the followers become filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is baptized and so begins the core of the production - the performance of the parables as Jesus teaches his followers.The idea of "Godspell" was to "update the Gospels and bring it to life for young people," Fahringer said. The actors are dressed as clowns, not the traditional rendering of the disciples. In "Godspell," they are more like a group of performers that are learning Christ's ways, not the fishermen and others of that day.There is a lot of improv in the show, and the actors draw on today's pop culture references, not those of the '70s. One song many are sure to recognize is "Day by Day," which became synonymous with the show.The Jerusalem UCC production will be performed at 7 p.m. today and Friday, and 7 p.m. July 1 and July 2 in the grove near the church. The grove lies behind the cemetery. In the event of rain, the show will be performed on Sunday both weeks.Admission is free. Donations are welcome and will defray the costs of the production. After that, any money raised will go to the church and the American Cancer Society.This cast of 10 theater veterans began practicing in early May. They include: Phil Milia as Jesus, Chad Miller as John the Baptist and Judas the first week, and Matthew Binder as John the Baptist and Judas the second week. The clowns are Kathryn Foster, Jessie Hunt, Saralyn Sarandis, Kelly Heinick, Hilari Stahler, John Kelly and Tehya Berkner.Fahringer said the church will have several concerts in the grove this summer. For more information on the musical, concerts or questions, call the church at 610-681-4412.