Memories of The Last Word

It was pouring rain right up until the event began with Pastor Drew Paton welcoming family, friends, and the general public to The Last Word event at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church in Spencertown, NY, on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Last Saturday night was a blur but looking at the photos sharpens the memories. (It was a packed house, including three camera crews, and family and friends from many states!)

Program for The Last Word event

So many people came that we ran out of printed programs! (Each person received one as they entered St. Peter's Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 11, 2013 for the writing of the last word of the handwritten bible.) Click on the picture to see it larger.

The Last Word

Phillip wrote the last words of the handwritten bible surrounded by friends, family, and camera crews. When he finished, he smiled as he read the last word out loud, "Amen." Read more about the event here.

A sweet update on our short movie

Reading this Facebook post from our filmmaker, Justin Lange, only deepens how lucky we feel to be working with him.

A few weeks ago, my dear friend Phillip L Patterson asked me to make a film. Yesterday, the AP offered this clip-worthy summary of his story: inspired by his partner Mohammed, he is copying every word of the King James Bible in long-hand.
Yet the essence of his project--of what he has come to know, and of what he has come to know nothing--is so coarsely cooked down in the article. Now that the totality of the project has been covered (suddenly and unexpectedly) by international news, in the small miracle of finishing a short film between now and Saturday, I hope to share some of the small truths of his work and love, as I see it. What else can I do? He found the totality of God nearly untouchable by years of careful study. Perhaps I can let the idea of capturing the totality of anything --the story, included --and find some truth that is worth saying.

As seen on 10,000 news sites...

News of the nearly finished, handwritten bible project spread quickly from India to England to Canada to cities across the United States on Monday, May 6, thanks to this Associated Press article by Michael Hill. It's full of great observations and quotes but the most incredible sentence comes right at the end of the article.

No pages left

As of May 5, 2013, there are no pages left, only two verses which will be written in public on May 11 at The Last Word event at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church in Spencertown.

Cooking

From a phone conversation this morning:
"I'm all finished except for the last two verses. I need to cook to clear my head. Baking brownies now and bread tomorrow."

Writing paused

Starting tomorrow Phillip will pause writing in order to finish at The Last Word event on May 11.