Description

This is a simple Easter program for people who are unable to hold rehearsals for a major production.

Skillfully written by DramaShare friend Ruth Carter.
The program is in five parts, the titles of each part are taken from the chorus of J. Wilbur Chapman’s hymn, “One Day When Heaven Was Filled With His Praises,” and is created through Bible readings. The congregation will sing one verse of the song to introduce each segment, as the song takes us through the life of Christ.

Cast:   10 (depending on individual choices)

Bible Reference:    Luke 23, 24

Set:      bare

Lighting:        standard

  Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song:     as indicated in script

SFX:       none

Costumes:      standard

Props:

Special Instructions:   Author’s notes:

• It may be done as is, or special musical and/or dramatic numbers may be added where I’ve indicated. I will suggest hymns as examples of mood and message, but you may replace them with hymns that would suit your congregation better. My suggestions of music are the songs we used at my church when we did this, based on the abilities, preferences and repertoires of our singers.
• Because ours is a small rural church, we had the readers sitting in the body of the congregation. They stood and read their scriptures from where they sat. If you have a platform that will accommodate several people, you could have them seated there. This would be good if you have to use a microphone. One of the things that could detract from this program would be a constant flow of people up and down from the pews. The less of that kind of rustle the better.
• A note about Bible translations: I am adapting the text of the KJV for this script so that I do not violate the copyrights of any of the modern translations. However, while I love the poetry of the KJV and respect it as an accurate translation, I do not like to use it for a program such as this, because, as a communicator, I like to use the language of the people. Several of our more recent translators have taken great pains to make sure that their translations read aloud well, as well as maintaining an integrity to the text. Read through several translations and paraphrases to find what will work best for you. You might even want to use different versions for different passages! While I tend to use the New Living Translation the most, I also recommend the New Century Version, the Contemporary English Version and Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Somebody will have to take the time to make a new script from this, using the version(s) of your choice, but if they use one of the many excellent Bible software programs available, it shouldn’t take long!

  Time:     25

The Program

A Prelude and Worship Time can start this service

1. Living, He loved me
Verse One (congregation sings)

1 John 3:1a: Reader 1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Behold What Manner of Love by Patricia van Tine (congregation sings)

1 John 4:9-10: Reader 2In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love Lifted Me by James Rowe (congregation sings)

1 John 4:19: Reader 3
We love because God loved us first.

Musical Numbers focusing on the love of God

One Solitary Life by Fred Bock: Reader

Dying, He saved me

Verse Two (congregation sings)Romans 10:9-13: Reader 3
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Luke 23:26-27, 32-49: this may be dramatized by several readers

LUKE: And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus,

JESUS: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

LUKE: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying,

RULERS: He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

LUKE: And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying,

SOLDIERS: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

LUKE: And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying,

THIEF 1: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.