Jeff's Calendar and News

Recent News

JULY 2010
The Phone Keeps Ringing

It's been a very interesting year thus far. And the opportunities have been been increasing. The phone keeps ringing, the emails keep coming. And that's a good thing. Every booking helps. This past Spring he had an 30 foot Locust tree fall in the side yard. No one hurt, no property damage, but it costs a bit to clean that up. Now it's the MANDATORY sewer hookup in West Earl (yes I'm slightly bitter) and a full upgrade on the electric panel.A/C went down, but was fortunate in having a family friend help out a GREAT deal with that. The basement is leaking....oh the list goes on. So it's been a costly year for us here in Talmage. And we are trying to keep our head above water. Hopefully the water in the basement won't get that high! So we appreciate your continued inquiries and bookings. They help sustain us, both financially and spiritually. God's provision along the way is evident. And so both Cindy and I are grateful that you, our friends, family and fans keep the phone ringing. We couldn't do it without you. Blessings to all.

MARCH  2010

The Limited Seating Coffeehouse

Well another season has ended at the Limited Season Coffeehouse. And was once again we who were blessed. We held them from January to March, and 5 were co-hosted by others, so that means about 70 people came to our home that we never met. And now we have some new friends. There are so many wonderful moments that came about over these last 8 weeks. One of those was sharing a new song written by Sarah Kivell from Canada. The song Through and Through has moved me in profound ways, and I was extraordinarily blessed to be able to share an arrangement of her song with our guests. The coffeehouse is a lot of work by both Cindy and I, but it is beyond words what we receive in return. If you are interested in knowing more about these coffeehouses, please be in touch. Or if you have attended, we would love to hear from you.

Later this month Ted & I will be traveling to Florida for another performance of Tattered & Worn. And if you'd like to see Ted & Company come your way or Jeff, be in touch. Hope to see our paths cross soon.

 

JANUARY 2010

Amigo Centre Winter Retreat

It is always a challenge to lead gatherings of worship, no matter what the age. Some may say that Sr. High Youth is harder, but I would disagree. It's true that youth might be a little reluctant at first. But hey..there just checking out what's goin on. They're seeing if it's real, authentic. But I always see them engage in one way or another. This past weekend in Stugis MI was no exception. It was an extraordinary group of 7 churches from Indiana that gathered in MI. They sang, the dug into things, they even embraced "The Devotional Hewn". In short, though I was the one up front, they were the ones that particpated deeply, and in turn I was blessed. I'm a fortunate man in that I get asked to do these kinds of things. And I am far from perfect in my delivery. I stumble.....I get scattered.....I choose a song that surprisingly few people know. Yet still they tried, they engaged themselves and they were the ones ministering to each other. I'm always amazed but no longer surprised to see God at work and I will always be blessed to witness people at any age embracing the eternal life of Jesus.

 

NOVEMBER 2009

Raught N. Apples

It's been quite a few years that I've been doing Improv. I think it was 1989 when I did my first gig with the Independent Eye Theatre in Lancaster. Then for many years it was with Co-Motion. Another Lancaster Theatre Company. Both have moved on, but the call for the Improv was/is still there/here........So I continue to get calls for banquets and gatherings to do Improv. Many times it would wind up getting billed as Jeff Raught & Friends. Which was fine, except it was hard to say what that meant? Was is a puppet show? A catering business? A heavy metal folk music group? It really needed some identity. So this fall it finally found one. Thanks to some creative thinking from my friends a new name was born.  Raught N. Apples ~ Comedy to the Core.  Our first gig of the season is at Conestoga Mennonite Church in Morgantown PA. on Saturday October 31, 2009. Doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8:30pm. So come on out and see Raught N. Apples ....just don't throw them! :)

 

OCTOBER 2009

Feeling a little Tattered & Worn

Recently Ted Swartz and I had short little tour presenting three performances of our show Tattered & Worn. First stop was Houghton College, where we got to see Young Ed (my son) it's always wonderful to see Ed and what's going on in his part of the world.We setup and did the show in the Dining Hall for about 50 people. It wasn't the ideal setting. But its always interesting to catch glimpses of faces as they see the story unfold. When we are on stage with lighting and all those elements, I can't see the audience and so it's just different. The following day we moved on to New Baltimore MI and the local Catholic Parish had sponsored the show for people in the area who were down on their luck and just needed a boost. Many were unemployed and times were tough. After each performance we usually try and make our way to the back and talk with people. As people moved through the line, words of encouragement were exchanged. Then one woman just reached out and hugged me...well more like squeezed the guttin's outta me. She spoke through a choked up voice, thanking me and saying "this is just what I needed" Those of you who know me, will understand that I am deeply affected by these kinds of things. But it was wonderful to know that it had that kind of impact. The next woman in line was elderly and as she approached me she shifted the cane from one hand to the other. She then offered a handshake and in doing so I could feel her slip me some money. I thanked her for being so gracious and simply put the money in my pocket. She hurried off with tears in her eyes, and well there I was again. After the remaining people came through the line I went back to the dressing room to change. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out the money. Immediately I was moved by the extraordinary gift she had given. When I saw the amount on that bill, I literally went weak in my legs and sat down. I knew that she had reached much further down and offered her all. She gave me ......one dollar.