The Easter Journey

Martyn Payne

At the present time there is an open door for churches to work creatively with schools to present what Christians believe. This is, of course, a foundational truth that has inspired the work of Barnabas in schools for the last six years and is the driving force behind Barnabas books such as Living Church. Indeed, many churches have responded to this opportunity and, in my experience, perhaps none more so than an ecumenical group of churches in Frodsham, Cheshire. For the last three years already they have been running a very successful 'Christmas Journey' for local primary schools, which has as a result now become established as part of their Key Stage 1 curriculum. This March the same team took the next step and ran 'The Easter Journey', in which I was invited to play a part on behalf of Barnabas.

Main Street Chapel has a building that can be easily adapted into a series of 'stations' for an experiential journey through a story and so, with the help of a set of gazebos, some simple but effective scenery and props, a series of spaces were created in which children could literally step into the last week of Jesus' life. Key Stage 2 learners from nine local schools came over two days to walk with Jesus through Holy Week on into Easter Sunday. Using their imagination, which was prompted by drama, storytelling, events recreated before their eyes and ears and two powerful performance pieces, they were fully engaged as they touched, smelled, tasted, saw and heard this story of stories.

I had the privilege of introducing the opening sessions to this journey, stimulating the children's imagination with a simple warm-up, as they became pilgrims from all over Israel arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover. This led into a noisy and dramatic re-enactment of Palm Sunday and then Jesus' angry visit to the Temple. After all this excitement and noise, the mood then changed as they gathered in area outside the Temple to hear one of Jesus' puzzling but important stories—stories that made them think! The one I took was linked to the 'stone that the builders rejected', which in turn flows out of the parable of the vineyard let out to tenants. Already the children were deep into the drama of this momentous week.

Next they crept through the back streets of the capital to an upstairs room to experience the events at the Last Supper. They shared some grapes and matzo and watched as Jesus clothed the Passover meal with new meaning, breaking bread and pouring wine. Following that, in a darkened part of the church, they hid among some ‘bushes’ in a garden not far from the walls of the city, where they listened to the eerie and puzzling sounds of what went on in Gethsemane. The trials and crucifixion were presented via a short multimedia presentation on a screen but then that made so much more real as two actors stepped out of the shadows—first Mary and then Peter—telling of what that first Good Friday had meant to them. You could have heard a pin drop as the children listened intently.

Finally, we moved into a dark and empty area of the church—both the darkness of the tomb and the emptiness of that Holy Sabbath—before a door opened and the first light of Sunday morning drew them into a room now full of flowers and beautiful smells with its focus on an empty tomb. Here they heard the story of the discovery by the women and how in particular Mary of Magdalene encountered the risen Jesus. Now full of questions about the stories that they heard, the children went back to where they had began their journey and in groups had time to reflect on everything that they had experienced. The children's interest and absorption was tangible. 'This is really good!' said one boy as he went past on his way to the upper room on one of the journeys. I wonder what he and the others had been expecting of a 'visit to a church'?!

So what makes such an experience possible and how might it ever be replicated? Well, there's no doubt that this was the work of a very committed and talented team, who gave up time to plan and prepare for this, each person taking a part, however small. Also the whole journey had been well thought through by the chief organizers, Moira and Gill, whose vision this had been. Every detail had been covered, including of course negotiations and relationships with the local schools, which in some cases involved planning transport for those who were further afield. Props and scenery were painted locally and were so effective, as was the CD of the Gethsemane sound effects. Most of all, however, this piece of educational mission was the product of regular and faithful prayer. Again and again we experience God's hand upon the coming together of the ideas, the finding of the right people to play each part, the timings of each section and of course the conversations with the children on each journey. It was a privilege for me to take part in all this. And can it be replicated? Well, it looks like that these Frodsham 'Festival Journeys' are set to appear in a book in the Barnabas list at some stage, so watch this space!

They were exhausting days, of course, but so very rewarding. The power of simply retelling the Easter story faithfully was clear on every occasion. It drew the children into the feelings and the facts of that special week and prompted within them questions and discoveries of their own which will stay with them and bear fruit. Let's pray that many more churches will discover ways in which they can creatively tell our Christian story like this to the schools in their area.

For more information and pictures, visit easterjourney.org.uk .

Martyn Payne

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