North Shore Alliance to hold Passion Experience
This weekend, you can experience the miracles of Jesus, the Last Supper, his arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection.
The North Shore Alliance Church, at 330 W. Mariana Ave. will hold its third annual Passion Experience, a play that takes place outside the church on the boardwalk on Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The past two years have brought in between 400 and 500 people, with the hope of bringing in many more this time around.
Pastor Tim Richter started doing the Passion Experience in Tallahassee 15 years ago and at his previous church in Port St. Lucie, and when he saw the nine acres of woods the church has, he thought it was would be perfect place to do the show again.
“We have nine acres of land, three of them heavily wooded. And I thought this would be a great place to do it again,” Richter said, who will play one of the Jesuses. “I thought it was worth doing and I talked to the leadership and they agreed. We thought it would be something good for us and the community.”
Unlike many plays of this type, where people sit for two hours, this is presented as a guided tour, with guides dressed as shepherds bringing small groups of 20 to seven stations, where they can witness Jesus perform his miracles, get betrayed, arrested, placed on trial, crucified and, finally become resurrected.
Those who attend also interact with the performers. In one scene people come out of the woods and it makes you feel as if you’re in the crowd.
“That was the scene people talked about. A couple kids got scared, so this year we’re telling them to ease into the crowd,” Richter said. “It gives you the sense of being there with people saying they want to release Barabas and see Jesus crucified. It’s a powerful scene.”
More than 70 people are in the play, including five who portray Jesus, with many more working behind the scenes. They have worked since February on costumes, scenery and dialogue.
Torrey Mitchell, a member of the church for 17 years, will portray the Jesus in the first two scenes, with the Beatitudes and performing miracles, as he has the previous two years.
“The pastor asked me to do it and I agreed. I’m well-versed on the Bible and I love the Beatitudes. When I found out it was part of the scene, I got more interested,” Mitchell said.
“We try to make it first class. We have Roman soldiers riding horses, a garden with many flowers, and this year we’ve added a seating area for one of the longer scenes,” said Starla Beougher, office manager of the church, whose husband portrays one of the Jesus characters.
The idea of the event is to teach the true meaning of Easter.
“It makes Easter come to life. Many have heard the story. But when you see it acted out, it comes to life and strengthens your faith if you have it,” Richter said.