Although the production is one month away, it’s not too early to mark your calendar for a wonderful family entertainment opportunity.

Flushed with success from a similar co-production last year, the youth groups of St. John’s Episcopal Church and All Souls Congregational Church, both in Bangor, will present five performances of “Godspell,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, in March and April.

The husband-wife team of Sam Lanham and Stephanie Laite Lanham return to direct the production, she as the artistic director and he as the musical director.

Kimberly Horn is the choreographer, with special assistance by Eric Sanders.

A live orchestra accompanies the cast, which features more than 20 young people from the two churches.

All proceeds from the event will benefit work of the churches’ youth programs, said St. John’s administrator Corky Smith.

The All Souls Youth Group is planning a trip to Honduras this year to help rebuild homes lost during Hurricane Mitch.

The St. John’s Youth Group will use its share “to benefit a broad umbrella of projects” Smith said, including sending blankets to Sudan and helping fund its church choir trip to England and Wales next July.

Last year was a first for the two groups who cooperated to present the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

According to Smith, that project was a tremendous hit.

“It sold out at every show,” she said.

It was so successful that with program advertising proceeds and performance donations, the groups raised more than $14,000.

“It was a tremendous show,” Smith said. “Everyone just loved it.

“It was great for families, and with Sam and Stephanie returning to direct, we know this will be a top-notch production, too.”

Smith said one “terrific side benefit of doing this with All Souls is that we made some incredibly wonderful new friends. We forged connections we will have forever.”

“We’re doing a whole lot of things together, and we’re working on how to include not only our friends from All Souls, but other churches as well.”

At present, youth group members and their supporters are seeking advertising for the “Godspell” program book. The advertising deadline is Thursday, March 15.

Any interested advertisers may contact either church to request an ad form, or for additional information, you can reach Smith at 947-0156, or e-mail her at stjohns@midmaine.com.

Dottie Andrews is the All Souls office manager. She can be reached at 942-7354 or through allsoulsbangor@aol.com.

Since only donations are accepted at the door, and Smith already has told you that each performance last year was sold out, you will want to mark your calendar for all the performances of “Godspell,” which is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International of New York City.

“Godspell” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30, at All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 234 French St., Bangor; 5 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at All Souls; and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at All Souls.

I had a message Monday morning from Dick Hammond, director of the American Legion 40-8 National Disaster Relief Fund.

Hammond told us he is “set to load up a truck and head for Pontotoc, Mississippi,” which was struck by tornadoes recently.

“We understand there are several dead and hundreds of homes gone,” Hammond said.

Hammond plans to make a stop in New Jersey, where he will “pick up a load of food and then head down into Mississippi.”

Hammond said he has an ample supply of canned good and coats but, as always, he is in need of money for fuel.

“Other than that,” he said, “we’re doing good.”

You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the NDRF by sending a donation to Dick Hammond, 30 Nickerson Lane, Rome 04963.

I extend to Ruth Coupal of Bangor and her entire family our condolences on the loss of her husband, Joe Coupal, who died Friday, Feb. 23, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

My warmest memories of the former Bangor city manager are of his eager and enthusiastic support during the middle and late 1960s of the then-fledgling University of Maine undergraduate public administration program.

Coupal willingly took under his wing as interns with the city of Bangor, UM students who, following his guidance and leadership, went on to become outstanding local, state, regional and national government and public service administrators.

He was an encouraging mentor for young people entering a relatively new field that has since come to dominate many aspects of our lives.

Those who followed his lead helped Mainers cross boundaries they never thought possible and work together to make Maine a safer and healthier place in which to live.

Through those who were privileged to work with Joe Coupal, those who were associated with him, and those who knew him, that legacy of service lives on today.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288