Roll Back The Stone
Celebrating The Mystery Of Lent And Easter Through Drama
Kathy Martz, John O. Eby, David H. Covington, Carol Secord, Will Rabert, Frank Ramirez, and Kenneth Carlson

Create memorable services that help worshipers experience the profound sadness of the crucifixion as well as the marvelous joy of the risen Christ with this diverse collection of ready-to-use dramatic material. With ample selections for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, there's something special here for congregations of any size or worship style. Copying privileges are included for all segments. Included are:

* A Travesty Of Justice: In The Shadow Of The Cross (Kathy Martz), a series of six meditations in which an unusual assortment of "eyewitnesses" - the thorn, robe, nail, spear, shroud, and stone - tell about their extraordinary encounters with Jesus. Designed for use in Lenten vesper services, these spiritual contemplations examine the events leading up to the crucifixion from a unique perspective. Each user-friendly monologue comes with a brief scripture reading and a prayer.

* Live From Jerusalem (John O. Eby), a short Palm Sunday play that helps audiences envision what it would have been like to be on the scene of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Tying biblical prophecy together with a contemporary view, television-style news anchors and correspondents vividly portray the chaos and uncertainty of the first day of Passover while speculating on how simmering conflicts will be resolved - leaving audiences to ponder the question "What comes next?"

* Maundy Thursday Testimonies (David H. Covington), a brief set of dramatic readings depicting the Passion events and their meaning from the viewpoint of four characters: Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Judas, and Peter. An excellent vehicle for members to participate in worship, these moving monologues provide an especially powerful contribution to the Maundy Thursday service.

* God On Trial, Or...? (John O. Eby), a courtroom drama for Good Friday which portrays Jesus' trial before Pilate ? with the novel twist of Beelzebub as the prosecutor, questioning several witnesses who level accusations against Jesus. While it is ostensibly Jesus who is on trial, it gradually becomes clear that everyone else (including all of us) is actually on trial before him ? giving new and deeper meaning to Christ's plea, "Father, forgive them, for they do not understand what they are doing!"

* Sons Of Thunder (Carol Secord), a brief Good Friday sketch in which James and John struggle to come to grips with the stark reality of the crucifixion. As they bitterly lash out in anger and frustration at those who abandoned Jesus, they come to the realization that the most important lesson they learned from Jesus is compassion ? we should love one another as he loves us.

* The Animals Learn The Meaning Of Easter (Will Rabert), a charming and humorous children's play with speaking parts for a narrator and 14 young people (each representing a different animal). As various animals talk about why Easter is a special day, they focus on secular traditions like colored eggs and chocolate rabbits ? until the wise owl helps them understand that the true message of Easter lies in the spiritual meaning of Christ's resurrection. This flexible program can be easily adapted and read as a story, with children portraying the animals in a silent tableau.

* M.I.H. - Missing In Heaven (Frank Ramirez), an imaginative and engaging verse play in readers' theater format. As two angels try to locate Jesus (who seems to be missing from heaven), they poetically tell the story of his life and ministry, aided by "characters" like the Bible, the Star, the Lamb, and the Cross. The Stone finally resolves the mystery by announcing the startling news that our Lord isn't missing ? he has conquered death and now has an honored place in heaven. This inventive piece comes with a brief children's story and a complete order of worship for an Easter sunrise service.

* Tongues Of Fire (Kenneth Carlson), a four-voice choral reading especially appropriate for Pentecost, but which can also be used any time during the Easter season.