Dunkertown Workshop: Reviews/Press

Check here for current press releases, product reviews and other items of interest. (Please also see the NEWS page.)

A comprehensive introduction to Dunkertown Workshop. We'll be glad to email it to you.

Dear Frank and Steve:
This note is to acknowledge your generous donation of several CD-Roms and other materials derived from your recent excellent work on Brethren heritage.
I am placing these materials in the Special Collections at Juniata College for use by future researchers and students.
Frank's relatively recent relocation to this area, which has facilitated your cooperative work, has been a boon for your innovative and creative collaboration of talents.
As you know, I continue to stand ready to support in any way I can your efforts to make the Brethren heritage live for current and future generations.

"ANGELS EVERYWHERE is a most outstanding musical. We Brethren need to see it not only for its entertainment, but for its message that is relevant for today's church. It is a must see, from my perspective."

"Members of the Church of the Brethren and associated churches of any age will find useful heritage information and wholesome entertainment in the musical drama, 'Angels Everywhere,' presented by Frank Ramirez (text) and Steve Engle (music). As two of the most creative literary and musical artists associated with the Brethren, they have taken a dramatic series of true incidents which agitated the Brethren in Eastern Pennsylvania in the colonial period to such an extent that church leaders called a special meeting to attempt to resolve the issue. The controversy centered around the spiritual and evangelistic visions of a young and devout woman, Catharine Hummer, daughter of Peter Hummer, elder of the White Oak branch of the Conestoga congregation. 'Angels Everywhere' is faithful to the known facts of the incidents, while using poetic license to sharpen the drama. The melodies are lyrical, the staging is effective, with touches of humor to sustain the interest of viewers. I highly recommend the production!"

I'm glad you are keeping the Ted Studebaker story alive. I think of Ted a lot and his devotion to the people with whom he served in Vietnam.

St JUDAS PASSION brings a personality to life that most Christians prefer to ignore. Steve Engle assists us in reflecting about a tragic human being with sensitivity and candor. With great music and dramatic plot we come to terms with betrayal. Judas is not malicious but misguided, not a monster but an ordinary Judean. The listener will relive the biblical story with new passion.

30 years ago I was amazed as I listened to ST JUDAS PASSION. Now, listening again to this exciting anniversary edition brings back many powerful memories. The passionate melodies ring in the soul long after the actual sound is over.

The CD version of JUDAS (one of my favorites) is excellent.

"I have found SAINT JUDAS PASSION to be a beautifully written masterpiece and cannot stop singing the music nor pondering the subject matter. "

"I was thrilled to present [this] music, and the melodies will linger in my mind for a long time! The superbly crafted musical is timeless!"

"LITTLE STORIES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN is an excellent collection . . . for sharing with children during worship."

"Great for children's worship or the classroom."

"Useful for children's worship, church school, vacation Bible school, camp, or in the home."

LIVING WITH BEAUTY by Leland Wilson is a book that should be savored and read slowly. It is so full of profound thoughts that one should have time to process them. However, it is such a wonderfully delightful book that I ended up devouring it instead. Leland Wilson took me on a trip through memories and musings that left me with my own memories and musings. He writes: "Memory is creative, more painting than a photograph." With Leland's book I got a glimpse of God at work in our lives.

I curled up with Leland Wilson's SILVER CITY on a cold and rainy afternoon in May to provide this review. I moved from review to engagement by the quality of the writing and the beauty of the space he describes. Leland tells us from the beginning that the story is a parable from the High Sierras about a little place where miners rested before the mother lode of Mineral King, the real aim of their quest. Today only Silver City remains as a place for rest, contemplation, and inspiration. In this space Leland invites us to reflect about life, more importantly our religious life in the context of a penultimate place. Silver City is reachable; our cities of Gold are not. Thus we are invited to share what is available to us now, in a place apart that is essential for the centered and fulfilled life. The reader through seven chapters, seven days of the week (?) is invited to reflect on the religious journey, grace and forgiveness, baptism, pursuits that lead nowhere, worship and devotion. These reflections derive from the experience of a wood fire, the privy at camp, a dog's wandering, and sunlight through the sequoias. The final chapter, "Prayer on a Pine," deals with the place, time, and content of worship; the best short description of worship I have ever read. I will return to the book again as a source of inspiration and for the discovery of a rich faith in special patches of this earth that provide renewal and reflection.