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McDowell Methodists perform Easter drama
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY — The McDowell Charge of the United Methodist Church will depict the final days of Jesus in a passion play 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Good Friday, March 21, at the Stonewall Ruritan Building in McDowell. The classrooms of the former school become Jerusalem and Highland County residents become the people of Israel and the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago.
Tours start on the hour and half hour. A guide will lead small groups through different scenes in the final week of Jesus’ life, including the Last Supper, his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, his appearance before Pilate and the Crucifixion.
The Bible account is read aloud as church members perform the scenes.
The Good Friday observance is called Tenebrae in Latin, meaning “shadows.” The Tenebrae pageant originated in the fourth century. The gradual extinguishing of the lights and candles during the four-part drama represent the flight of the disciples and friends of Jesus and the resentment of the world leading to the final isolation of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus’ death is graphically depicted as the actor portraying Jesus is suspended from a cross. The tour abruptly ends, leaving visitors to reflect privately on what they saw and heard.
Gary Simmons, Chris Scott and Steve Botkin assume the role of Jesus in various stages of his arrest and execution.
The program is free.
Sunrise services will be held on Easter morning at 7 a.m. in McDowell and Doe Hill with breakfast following.
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