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Oratorio focuses on religious links

Koger performance to stress connections between Jewish, Christian traditions

By Carolyn Click, The State (Columbia, South Carolina), August 19, 2006

Bonnie Jean Avilez, dressed in a flowing white skirt and gold vest adorned with a braid menorah, twirled with her fellow dancers in the synchronized steps of a sacred ritual.

There were stops and starts as practice got under way this week for "The Coronation of the King," a worship event at the Koger Center Sept. 2-3 that its creator hopes will spark connections among Christians and Jews.

Elaine Ruth Rose Caruso, head of Sion’s Rose Ministries in Fort Mill, is directing the performance. She has recruited dancers and performers from different faiths, ages and walks of life.

She conceived the idea in 1989 for the three-hour oratorio based on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

"I was a Messianic Jew in a Messianic temple in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.," when the inspiration came, she said.

Since then, she has based her ministry on the historic and prophetic links between Judaism and Christianity.

"What I’ve done for the last 20 years is research the Hebrew root," Caruso said. She believes Christians should acknowledge the New Covenant outlined in the New Testament as "a continuation of the Torah, not a replacement," and that Jews should see the New Testament as a "renewed" covenant.

That’s bound to spark lively debate. Messianic Jews, sometimes known as Jews for Jesus, believe as Christians do, that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Messiah, which is a key reason mainstream Judaism does not acknowledge those who described themselves as Messianic as truly Jewish.

Avilez, a Spanish teacher at Nursery Road Elementary School, and her mother, Jeannie Avilez, are part of a loose network of liturgical dancers across the Carolinas.

Avilez sees her dance as a means of restoring worship "as it was meant to be" and hopes the presentation will promote more understanding among Christians and Jews.

Linda Harper of Georgetown has performed sacred dances for 20 years and says "of all the things I’ve done, this is a culmination."

"The Coronation of the King" is marked by soaring music and eye-catching props. Performers will march on stage with banners representing the 22 letters of the Torah.

Lance Wilcox, 23, a member of International Family Church on Broad River Road, met Caruso when he attended a prayer event at Williams-Brice Stadium earlier this summer.

"I was just dancing on the field," said Wilcox, who will be a sword bearer. "Now I get to dance at the Koger Center, which has been one of my dreams."

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