PHOTO COURTESY OF RAVENWOOD MURDER MYSTERY
Ravenwood Murder Mystery cover

Things will get spooky early this fall at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church but all for a good cause.

LiftUp Young Lives-Empowering Future Generations, a new ministry at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne, will host a Ravenwood Murder Mystery Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 29. This is the second murder mystery dinner that the church has hosted.

“Our first one was a great success, raising over $2,000,” said co-director Deacon Stacey Westphal. “It was a Margaritaland setting, very tropical, not only script-wise, but our entire parish hall was decorated to fit the theme, including live palm trees. Everyone that attended wore tropical clothing, most were given a part to play, and all had fun trying to guess ‘who done it.’ Murder mystery dinners are fun because you can take part in a scenario, allow for a lot of mingling among guests, and eat dinner as one big family.”

The Ravenwood murder mystery was chosen because it will be held close to Halloween. Westphal explains the plot: “The scene is set in the town of Bloodworth Falls, which is plagued with scandals. The government there is corrupt, and the town’s people bicker. The mayor is hosting a mysterious masquerade ball in the old Ravenwood Castle. You want to know why the mayor would do this in a town of doom and gloom. Everyone attending will be looking for that perfect mask. What will happen that night as everyone comes together?”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTLESANDMANORHOUSES.COM
A castle like this could be spooky Ravenwood Castle, setting of the Ravenwood Murder Mystery.

Based on the feedback church officials received after the first mystery dinner, things will be done a little differently this time. The Ravenwood mystery will be held in the gym to accommodate more guests. “It will be fun trying to decorate our gym to look like the inside of a castle,” Westphal said.

The feedback also showed that guests wanted to know their parts ahead of time so that they can not only dress accordingly but really get into character. “This time as they sign up to come, we will ask if they want a part and hand them the initial script,” Westphal said.

Parishioner Randy Jacobson will be the MC. His side talent is stage acting. Jacobson was the MC for “Margaritaland”, as well.

Resident chef Daniel Farr will once again prepare the meal. For this mystery, the meal will be buffet-style as they anticipate a larger crowd.

The event will be promoted in bulletin blurbs, Facebook posts and a unique way that involves the whole parish. “We are planning a mask-decorating event Sunday after church before the fundraiser in part to advertise the murder mystery dinner, and to have fun making masks for the event,” Westphal said.

This will be the third fundraising event for LiftUp Young Lives. The first fundraiser was a raffle for brunch at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Melbourne.

There will be two more events to raise money in November. On Nov. 10 there will be a golf tournament, and on Nov. 17 there will be the Shopping Spree. “We are excited as we have five young people joining us in our first class starting on Aug. 22,” Westphal said.

Holy Trinity Episcopal is located at 50 West Strawbridge St., Melbourne. For more information, call 321-723-5272.