Surprise At Sunrise
Worship
Worship Innovations
Description: Worshipers gather at first dawn light on Easter morning to re-live the joy. Four vignettes, with child actors, depict the resurrection discovery in pantomime, scripture, and songs of praise. Also included are an Easter meditation and a surprise "Jesus and the Children" climax. Recommended as an outdoor sunrise service.Description: Worshipers gather at first dawn light on Easter morning to re-live the joy. Four vignettes, with child actors, depict the resurrection discovery in pantomime, scripture, and songs of praise. Also included are an Easter meditation and a surprise JesusandtheChildren climax. Recommended as an outdoor sunrise service.
Preparations: Enlist three teams to prepare for this service: a Drama Team to produce the children's drama vignettes; a Worship Team, to plan the music and meditation portions; and an Arrangements Team to set up the chairs, stage, and worship furnishings. Begin planning at least one month before Easter (much farther ahead if an outdoor facility must be secured).
1. Drama Team: Carefully read the five vignettes, four depicting the resurrection surprises, and a fifth of Jesus and the Children. Enlist a drama coach to cast children, ages 8 to 12, in all the roles except the Jesus person. Children's costumes will be needed, and mothers will want time and instruction about making these. (See, "Costumes" below.) Several rehearsals and some Bible study will be needed by the children. Since the children do not have speaking parts, sound amplification will not be needed by this group. If the program is outdoors, use the natural dawn light without spotlighting.
Characters Needed (Child Actors:) Mary Magdalene, The Other Mary, Salome, Peter, and John; (Adult Actor:) Jesus. Also child "extras."
Costumes: Bible people wore very drab colors and worn fabrics, with no ironing. Ask mothers to make the children's long tunics from dull tones of gray, blue, or tan. (Child-size patterns are available in fabric stores.) Boys will need corresponding, 24-inch head squares of muted stripes or solids, tied with a narrow headband. Girls will need veils of muted light colors, in lengths 4 feet by 2 feet. Children should wear sandals. If the weather is cool, they may wear warmer clothing hidden under their tunics. Note the few simple props required and prepare these also.
The Jesus player's costume is a simple white robe, and he should have a short beard, wear sandals, and be bare-headed. Consult Bible illustrations and recent videos depicting Jesus for resurrection costume ideas.
Children's Rehearsals: Children will better understand their roles if a simple Bible study is done at the beginning of each rehearsal. (It might be possible to include these studies and rehearsals in the children's regular Sunday school hour during the month before Easter.) Invite one of the children's teachers to lead the two studies. At the first rehearsal, have children read and talk about Mark 16:1-8, and practice acting the first two vignettes. Send them home with instructions, so that parents can help them work on parts for the first two vignettes between rehearsals. At the second rehearsal, let them read and talk about John 20:1-16, and work on parts for the third and fourth vignettes. Again inform parents how to help them play out the last two vignettes at home.
A third, dress rehearsal will be needed, preferably in the location where the worship service will be held, so children can fit their actions and conversation to the setting. At the final rehearsal, the person who will read scriptures during the presentation should be present to work with the children. Also at this last rehearsal, explain the fifth vignette to the children, so they will understand that the actor playing Jesus is not the real Jesus, but that they may treat him joyfully as though he were. Ask them, "How would you have felt if you had been there on that first Easter morning when Jesus came back to life from the grave?"
Notes about children and drama: When working with children, expect them to be playful, but help them balance that with discussion of the importance and seriousness of the Easter event. Give much praise, fuss very little, and enjoy their joyful spirits. Much of the value of this drama experience will be their becoming more impressed with the events of Easter. The production itself will be secondary. Several children may play out each role before final cast selection is made. There are several "extras" in the final scene with Jesus, so every child who wishes to be in the drama may have a part. On Easter morning, when the drama is presented, children should arrive 15 minutes early in costume. A children's worker will need to be at each of the right and left backstage locations with a script, to receive the children and help them hear and follow their cues.
2. Worship Team: Ministers and musicians will want to talk through and plan the adult portion of the service, which includes scripture readings, hymns, and a resurrection meditation. Determine whether a minister or a children's worker will do the four scripture readings. Also, this team will see to the stage furnishings (pulpit stand, chairs, musical equipment, sound amplification) and printed worship program with notes about the drama cast. Flowers for worshipers to place at the cross will need to be purchased and stored in containers of water for freshness. A choir is optional, but consider using a teenage choir if one is available. If refreshments or breakfast are to follow, the Worship Team will enlist persons to handle that.
3. Arrangements Team: Particularly if the service is outdoors, chairs for worshipers may be needed, because the actors will need to come through aisles as they act; and it is difficult for older attenders to sit on blankets on the ground. Set the service up as a worship event, with a simple stage area for ministers and musicians. (This does not need to be elevated above the level of worshipers, but may be ground level.) Actors will need a way by which they may "appear" during a vignette, and "disappear" on the opposite side of the stage area. If held outdoors, actors could appear and disappear from behind a building or grove of trees. If there is no natural barrier, a simple partition or screen will need to be placed at both ends of the stage area. (These could be room dividers or wide trellises of vines and flowers.)
A wonderful, traditional focal point can be made by having a carpenter construct three wooden crosses, (at least six feet tall) and secure them in the ground several feet behind or to the side of the stage area. A mound of fresh dirt with a few large stones can cover the bases. (Worshipers will put fresh flowers here as the service begins.)
The Service At A Glance:
Quiet Music
Placing Flowers At The Cross
Congregational Song
Readings And Vignettes
Congregational Song
Minister's Meditation
Solo Or Congregational Song
Closing Vignette
Benediction Praise Chorus
Quiet Music: "In The Garden" or taped instrumental Easter music
Placing Flowers At The Cross: As worshipers arrive, let youth ushers help each one select a cut flower from large pitchers or buckets of blooms. (Any mix of individual carnations, daffodils, tulips, chrysanthemums, or lilies would be good choices.) As quiet music plays, invite everyone to go to the crosses before being seated, and lay his or her flower at the foot of the center cross as an act of devotion. If printed programs are being used, place these ahead of time on worshiper's chairs.
Congregational Song: "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" (all verses)
First Reading: Mark 16:1-3
First Vignette: As the verses are being read, children portraying Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, and Salome appear from behind the barrier at stage left. Each carries a decorative box or urn of "spices" with which to anoint Jesus' body. They walk in a close huddle, asking (silently or in whispers) "What shall we do about that heavy stone?" "Who will be there to help us move it?" "Dare we break the seal of Pilate to put spices on Jesus' body?" "I don't understand why they had to kill him." Because they are pantomiming the scripture verses and not speaking aloud, hand gestures and facial expressions will be very important. After walking across the front of the stage area, they disappear behind the barrier to stage right.
Second Reading: Mark 16:4-8
Second Vignette: As verses 7 and 8 are read, the same three girl actors reappear from stage right, running back to the place from which they originally came at stage left. In their arms they still carry the vessels of spices, holding them tightly as they run. Their faces are frightened. Mary Magdalene is running faster, with the other two trailing about half a stage behind. As Mary Magdalene disappears at stage left, the other two slow down, whispering to each other, "Where could his body be?" "Do you think someone has stolen it?" They also then disappear to stage left.
Third Reading: John 20:1-9
Third Vignette: As the verses are being read, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John appear from stage left, talking with animation. She is pantomiming, "No, his body is gone „ it is missing! We could not find him in the tomb." Peter and John are looking at her, and then at each other, shaking their heads in disbelief saying, "That can't possibly be! Surely you are mistaken." Then Peter begins to run across the stage area toward stage right, and John comes after him but runs faster, passing Peter on the way. John, and then Peter, disappear at stage right. Mary Magdalene also follows with her box of spices, but more slowly. She stands at stage right, but does not disappear behind the barrier.
Fourth Reading: John 20:10-16
Fourth Vignette: As these verses are read, Peter and John re-appear and stop to visit with Mary Magdalene at stage right. Peter is holding a folded white napkin (about two feet square) taken from the tomb. They are shaking their heads and whispering, "He really is gone! We have no idea where they have taken his body." She is saying, "That's what I told you. The tomb was empty when we came earlier." John says, "Well, I guess all we can do right now is go back to the upper room and wait." Peter hands Mary the folded napkin, and he and John walk slowly to stage left and disappear, while Mary Magdalene stays at stage right. She presses the napkin to her face, as though grieving. Suddenly she turns around, as though seeing the Lord, and falls to her knees in worship. During the singing of the next hymn, she stands and runs back to stage left, dropping the napkin as she runs. She disappears upon reaching stage left, ending these first four vignettes.
Congregational Song: "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia!" (all verses)
(During the last verse of the song all the children „ those who have been playing the roles, and other "extras" who wish to be in the drama „ take seats which have been reserved for them at the front of the congregation.)
Minister's Meditation: It would be appropriate here for the minister to bring a brief message on some truth about the risen Christ.
Solo: "In The Garden" (or Congregational Song, "He Lives!")
Fifth Vignette: As this song begins, a young man dressed to look like Jesus starts down the center aisle from the back, stopping at several rows to greet worshipers with an embrace, a pat on the shoulder, a smile, and a hug. When he is more than half way to the front, workers cue the children to run happily to him, to hug him and be blessed by him, and he touches them all. As the song finishes, the Jesus player disappears at stage right, and the children return to their seats or to their parents.
Benediction Praise Chorus: "He Is Lord!"
(Consider following this worship time with refreshments of hot chocolate and coffee, or a light breakfast served nearby.)
Preparations: Enlist three teams to prepare for this service: a Drama Team to produce the children's drama vignettes; a Worship Team, to plan the music and meditation portions; and an Arrangements Team to set up the chairs, stage, and worship furnishings. Begin planning at least one month before Easter (much farther ahead if an outdoor facility must be secured).
1. Drama Team: Carefully read the five vignettes, four depicting the resurrection surprises, and a fifth of Jesus and the Children. Enlist a drama coach to cast children, ages 8 to 12, in all the roles except the Jesus person. Children's costumes will be needed, and mothers will want time and instruction about making these. (See, "Costumes" below.) Several rehearsals and some Bible study will be needed by the children. Since the children do not have speaking parts, sound amplification will not be needed by this group. If the program is outdoors, use the natural dawn light without spotlighting.
Characters Needed (Child Actors:) Mary Magdalene, The Other Mary, Salome, Peter, and John; (Adult Actor:) Jesus. Also child "extras."
Costumes: Bible people wore very drab colors and worn fabrics, with no ironing. Ask mothers to make the children's long tunics from dull tones of gray, blue, or tan. (Child-size patterns are available in fabric stores.) Boys will need corresponding, 24-inch head squares of muted stripes or solids, tied with a narrow headband. Girls will need veils of muted light colors, in lengths 4 feet by 2 feet. Children should wear sandals. If the weather is cool, they may wear warmer clothing hidden under their tunics. Note the few simple props required and prepare these also.
The Jesus player's costume is a simple white robe, and he should have a short beard, wear sandals, and be bare-headed. Consult Bible illustrations and recent videos depicting Jesus for resurrection costume ideas.
Children's Rehearsals: Children will better understand their roles if a simple Bible study is done at the beginning of each rehearsal. (It might be possible to include these studies and rehearsals in the children's regular Sunday school hour during the month before Easter.) Invite one of the children's teachers to lead the two studies. At the first rehearsal, have children read and talk about Mark 16:1-8, and practice acting the first two vignettes. Send them home with instructions, so that parents can help them work on parts for the first two vignettes between rehearsals. At the second rehearsal, let them read and talk about John 20:1-16, and work on parts for the third and fourth vignettes. Again inform parents how to help them play out the last two vignettes at home.
A third, dress rehearsal will be needed, preferably in the location where the worship service will be held, so children can fit their actions and conversation to the setting. At the final rehearsal, the person who will read scriptures during the presentation should be present to work with the children. Also at this last rehearsal, explain the fifth vignette to the children, so they will understand that the actor playing Jesus is not the real Jesus, but that they may treat him joyfully as though he were. Ask them, "How would you have felt if you had been there on that first Easter morning when Jesus came back to life from the grave?"
Notes about children and drama: When working with children, expect them to be playful, but help them balance that with discussion of the importance and seriousness of the Easter event. Give much praise, fuss very little, and enjoy their joyful spirits. Much of the value of this drama experience will be their becoming more impressed with the events of Easter. The production itself will be secondary. Several children may play out each role before final cast selection is made. There are several "extras" in the final scene with Jesus, so every child who wishes to be in the drama may have a part. On Easter morning, when the drama is presented, children should arrive 15 minutes early in costume. A children's worker will need to be at each of the right and left backstage locations with a script, to receive the children and help them hear and follow their cues.
2. Worship Team: Ministers and musicians will want to talk through and plan the adult portion of the service, which includes scripture readings, hymns, and a resurrection meditation. Determine whether a minister or a children's worker will do the four scripture readings. Also, this team will see to the stage furnishings (pulpit stand, chairs, musical equipment, sound amplification) and printed worship program with notes about the drama cast. Flowers for worshipers to place at the cross will need to be purchased and stored in containers of water for freshness. A choir is optional, but consider using a teenage choir if one is available. If refreshments or breakfast are to follow, the Worship Team will enlist persons to handle that.
3. Arrangements Team: Particularly if the service is outdoors, chairs for worshipers may be needed, because the actors will need to come through aisles as they act; and it is difficult for older attenders to sit on blankets on the ground. Set the service up as a worship event, with a simple stage area for ministers and musicians. (This does not need to be elevated above the level of worshipers, but may be ground level.) Actors will need a way by which they may "appear" during a vignette, and "disappear" on the opposite side of the stage area. If held outdoors, actors could appear and disappear from behind a building or grove of trees. If there is no natural barrier, a simple partition or screen will need to be placed at both ends of the stage area. (These could be room dividers or wide trellises of vines and flowers.)
A wonderful, traditional focal point can be made by having a carpenter construct three wooden crosses, (at least six feet tall) and secure them in the ground several feet behind or to the side of the stage area. A mound of fresh dirt with a few large stones can cover the bases. (Worshipers will put fresh flowers here as the service begins.)
The Service At A Glance:
Quiet Music
Placing Flowers At The Cross
Congregational Song
Readings And Vignettes
Congregational Song
Minister's Meditation
Solo Or Congregational Song
Closing Vignette
Benediction Praise Chorus
Quiet Music: "In The Garden" or taped instrumental Easter music
Placing Flowers At The Cross: As worshipers arrive, let youth ushers help each one select a cut flower from large pitchers or buckets of blooms. (Any mix of individual carnations, daffodils, tulips, chrysanthemums, or lilies would be good choices.) As quiet music plays, invite everyone to go to the crosses before being seated, and lay his or her flower at the foot of the center cross as an act of devotion. If printed programs are being used, place these ahead of time on worshiper's chairs.
Congregational Song: "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" (all verses)
First Reading: Mark 16:1-3
First Vignette: As the verses are being read, children portraying Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, and Salome appear from behind the barrier at stage left. Each carries a decorative box or urn of "spices" with which to anoint Jesus' body. They walk in a close huddle, asking (silently or in whispers) "What shall we do about that heavy stone?" "Who will be there to help us move it?" "Dare we break the seal of Pilate to put spices on Jesus' body?" "I don't understand why they had to kill him." Because they are pantomiming the scripture verses and not speaking aloud, hand gestures and facial expressions will be very important. After walking across the front of the stage area, they disappear behind the barrier to stage right.
Second Reading: Mark 16:4-8
Second Vignette: As verses 7 and 8 are read, the same three girl actors reappear from stage right, running back to the place from which they originally came at stage left. In their arms they still carry the vessels of spices, holding them tightly as they run. Their faces are frightened. Mary Magdalene is running faster, with the other two trailing about half a stage behind. As Mary Magdalene disappears at stage left, the other two slow down, whispering to each other, "Where could his body be?" "Do you think someone has stolen it?" They also then disappear to stage left.
Third Reading: John 20:1-9
Third Vignette: As the verses are being read, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John appear from stage left, talking with animation. She is pantomiming, "No, his body is gone „ it is missing! We could not find him in the tomb." Peter and John are looking at her, and then at each other, shaking their heads in disbelief saying, "That can't possibly be! Surely you are mistaken." Then Peter begins to run across the stage area toward stage right, and John comes after him but runs faster, passing Peter on the way. John, and then Peter, disappear at stage right. Mary Magdalene also follows with her box of spices, but more slowly. She stands at stage right, but does not disappear behind the barrier.
Fourth Reading: John 20:10-16
Fourth Vignette: As these verses are read, Peter and John re-appear and stop to visit with Mary Magdalene at stage right. Peter is holding a folded white napkin (about two feet square) taken from the tomb. They are shaking their heads and whispering, "He really is gone! We have no idea where they have taken his body." She is saying, "That's what I told you. The tomb was empty when we came earlier." John says, "Well, I guess all we can do right now is go back to the upper room and wait." Peter hands Mary the folded napkin, and he and John walk slowly to stage left and disappear, while Mary Magdalene stays at stage right. She presses the napkin to her face, as though grieving. Suddenly she turns around, as though seeing the Lord, and falls to her knees in worship. During the singing of the next hymn, she stands and runs back to stage left, dropping the napkin as she runs. She disappears upon reaching stage left, ending these first four vignettes.
Congregational Song: "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia!" (all verses)
(During the last verse of the song all the children „ those who have been playing the roles, and other "extras" who wish to be in the drama „ take seats which have been reserved for them at the front of the congregation.)
Minister's Meditation: It would be appropriate here for the minister to bring a brief message on some truth about the risen Christ.
Solo: "In The Garden" (or Congregational Song, "He Lives!")
Fifth Vignette: As this song begins, a young man dressed to look like Jesus starts down the center aisle from the back, stopping at several rows to greet worshipers with an embrace, a pat on the shoulder, a smile, and a hug. When he is more than half way to the front, workers cue the children to run happily to him, to hug him and be blessed by him, and he touches them all. As the song finishes, the Jesus player disappears at stage right, and the children return to their seats or to their parents.
Benediction Praise Chorus: "He Is Lord!"
(Consider following this worship time with refreshments of hot chocolate and coffee, or a light breakfast served nearby.)
