Christ in the Centre - Good Friday 2006 - LEICESTER

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Summary of the Fourth Christ in the Centre - 14th April 2006
This year events started in front of the Corn Exchange in the Market at 10.00 a.m.,  when Aching Arms Puppets performed. At 10.30am the Right Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, introduced the event which started with Jesus meeting his disciples and starting His ministry.  A procession made up of choir, musicians and actors followed Jesus to the Market Cross on Cheapside where he led everybody in prayer.  The procession moved on along Market Place towards Town Hall Square, with Jesus telling stories and ministering along the way.  On the first stage in Town Hall Square, Jesus continues teaching, heals a paralytic man and prevents a woman from being stoned.  Mary Magdalene annoints Jesus with expensive, perfumed oil. Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, is very concerned about the apparent waste when the perfume could have been sold and money given to the poor.

Meanwhile the Sanhedrin (religious leaders) led by Caiaphas and Annas plot to stop Jesus, because they fear his power and ability to gather huge crowds.  Judas approaches them and is paid 30 pieces of silver (probably equivalent to about £1500 today) on condition he betrays Jesus to the authorities away from the crowds.  The Sanhedrin plan to prevent him stirring up trouble for them amongst the people.

Jesus and his followers  rest, eat a last supper (in celebration of the Passover festival) and Jesus breaks bread (body) and shares wine (blood) in a symbolic first communion.  They move on to a second stage in Town Hall Square into the Garden of Gethsemane where, after praying and being strengthened by an angel, Jesus is betrayed with a kiss from Judas, and is arrested by the temple guards and a mob.

Jesus is led before the Sanhedrin where Caiaphas, Annas and other Pharisees and Sadducees trump up charges of blasphemy using false witnesses.  Joseph and Nicodemus are the only two from the Sanhedrin who do not agree with the mock trial and argue that Jesus is good.  Jesus is taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, who can find no fault or breaking of Roman laws, so passes Jesus onto Herod, the Jewish King.  He too cannot break Jesus, and Jesus is finally brought back to Pilate who after trying to understand what Jesus was doing, orders him to be whipped severely as punishment.  Finally, Pilate, in celebration of the Jewish Passover, offers to release a prisoner and to his surprise the mob and crowd demand Barabbas, a common murderer, is released leaving Pilate no option but to agree that Jesus should be crucified although washing his hands of his responsibility in the sentence.

Jesus is forced to carry his cross back through the Market Place to Humberstone Gate (Calvary) where two robbers have already been crucified, and Jesus is nailed to a cross in front of several thousand people while his supporters and the Sanhedrin watch.  And then ... 

Below are some of the hundreds of photos taken during this year's pageant.  If you took photos or video film of the processions please do contact us; if you have any comments on this year's production then please fill in our Guestbook or contact us via email to SWORD.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who gave so much of their time and played a part in the production this year: the actors, the musicians, the choir, those making costumes, the sound and visual technicians, the event managers and organizers, the stewards, the pastoral team, those involved in praying for the event, those lending premises, those giving us money and all those who came on the day.  Mostly though we must praise the Lord for giving us another day of fine weather and for encouraging so many people who came from far and wide to witness this year's pageant.

This year, like last year, a video was made of the whole event by the Leicester Movie Makers group who are offering copies for sale.  If you would like purchase a copy then please join the event Mailing List or e-mail:   .

Christ in the Centre 2006, Leicester, UK

(c) 2006 photos (see below) by Ann Melhuish
in addition Andy Espin took several photos (not included here), some of which can be seen on in the Events portfolio on his website
Many of the words alongside each photograph are directly from this year's script, unless attributed to verses from the scriptures
The special event music was composed by Kendal Kirkland and arranged & orchestrated by Rod Iliffe (Musical Director).

 

Aching Arms Puppets performing in front of the Corn Exchange in Leicester Market watched by hundreds of passers by.

 

 

 

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The Right Reverend Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, introduces the event.

 

 

 

 

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Jesus (played by James Burke-Dunsmore) begins His ministry and collects His disciples.

 

"I have chosen you to be with me.  I will teach you and send you out with authority to preach, heal the sick and to drive out demons.  For the Kingdom of God is near!"

 

 

 

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Jesus leads His followers, and the crowds begin to grow, as the procession leads through Leicester Market with musicians and a drum in the lead.

 

 

 

 

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Jesus leads His followers in prayer at the Market Cross on Cheapside.

 

"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever Amen"

 

 

 

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Jesus continues His ministry (now on Stage 1, (Town Hall Square)

 

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven!  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

 

 

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Jesus heals a paralyzed man (played by Andrew Dawes).

 

A man on a stretcher is brought before Jesus.  The crowd murmur in outrage at the way the men have pushed their way before Jesus.  

"What good friends you have!  They have great faith for you.  Son, your sins are forgiven."

 

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Jesus tells a parable to help explain forgiveness..

 

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a King who wanted to settle accounts with his servants…"

 

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Jesus prevents the Pharisees and lawyers from stoning a woman caught in adultery.. Before they can throw the first stone, Jesus bends down and starts writing on the ground in front of the accusers. He then says:

 

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

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Mary Magdalene annoints Jesus with expensive, perfumed oil..

Judas         Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?  It was worth a year’s wages..

 Jesus             Leave her alone.  It is a fine and beautiful thing that she has done for me.  You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial

 Judas       All this talk of death and burial.  How can we make any progress with such an attitude as this?  We need all that money.  That was a waste, a terrible waste!  As I am the treasurer I have every right to complain at such extravagance!  A whole year’s wages!

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Judas (played by Naz Choudhury) arranges with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Caiaphas, in cream, played by Keith Woolhouse, Annas played by James Ireland).

 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. Matthew 26: 3,4 [NIV]

 Judas             What would you give me if I betrayed Jesus to you?

 Caiaphas       We would pay you thirty silver coins.

 Judas             Very well.  Then I will watch for the best opportunity for you to take him. 

 Caiaphas       It must be away from the crowds.  We could not risk a riot.

 Judas             It will be done.

 

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Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples and tells them that there will be a new covenant with God through His body ...

  

"I have greatly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer, for I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God .  He takes bread and breaks it.  This is my body, given for you.   Do this in remembrance of me."

 

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... and His blood.

 

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for many in the forgiveness of sins.  Do this in remembrance of me." 

 

 

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Jesus leaves for the Garden of Gethsemane (Stage 2, Town Hall Square) where he asks his disciples to stand guard and keep awake, while he prays.

 

"Sit here while I go over there and pray.  Peter, James, John, come with me."

 

 

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Jesus prays to His Father to take the cup of suffering away from Him.  He submits to the will of His Father and is strengthened by an angel (played by Tracey Holderness) who watches over Jesus while he prays.

The disciples sleep and are roused by the arrival of a mob, led by Judas, who have come to arrest Jesus.

"Are you still sleeping and resting?  Enough!  The hour has come.  Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise!  Let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!"

 

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Judas Iscariot greets Jesus and betrays him with a kiss.

 

Judas              The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.

Jesus        Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?  Friend, do what you came for.

 Judas         Greetings Rabbi! 

 

 

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Jesus is arrested by the Temple guards.

 

"Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?  Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.  But this has taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled."

 

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Peter (played by Mark Gray) denies being a follower of Jesus, three times.

 

 

Man                Surely you are one of those that follow Jesus.  Your accent gives you away!

Peter               May I be cursed if I am not telling the truth!  I swear I do not know the man   

A cock crows

 

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Jesus is taken before the Sanhedrin (high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law) for questioning. 

Annas              You dare to preach rebellion in the synagogues!  Gathering a group of followers and inflaming them with your teaching!

Jesus               I have spoken openly.  I said nothing in secret..

Joseph and Nicodemus argue against the rest of the Sanhedrin

 

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After false witnesses are called and Jesus is accused of blasphemy, the High Priest lets the guards punish Jesus.

 

"Ha ha!  Messiah, are you?  The Christ, the Anointed One?  The Son of God!  Here, let’s see just how good a prophet he is, where’s a blindfold?  They wrap it round his eyes.  He is struck several blows and is knocked to the floor.  They kick at him and pluck his beard.  Who hit you, Christ?"

 

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Jesus is taken before King Herod (played by David Briggs), who says:

 

"A troublemaker you are called.  But I’m sure that you could easily prove them wrong.  All you have to do is to perform one of your miracles.  But you prefer to remain silent, I see.  How difficult you make it for me.  How can I have you released if you will not co-operate?" 

 

 

 

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Jesus is taken to the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate (played by Mark Wood) for the death penalty to be carried out.  Pilate can see no wrong in Jesus and tries to release Him but is under great pressure from the religious authorities. 

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.  Luke 23: 13-16  [NIV]

 

"Take him away to be flogged!  They are shouting for his blood, so make it bloody!  I shall then release him."

 

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Jesus is flogged.  The guards scourge Jesus with whips 39 times.

 

 

 

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Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.  Matthew 27: 15 - 18 [NIV]

 

"Fetch the prisoner, Barabbas here.  Which of the two do you want me to release to you?  This murderer, Barabbas, or The King of the Jews?"

 

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Pilate washes his hands of the matter.

 

I am innocent of this man’s blood.  It is your responsibility!  Then, take him, and crucify him!

 

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Jesus is made to carry a cross to the scene of His crucifixion (Calvary or Golgotha)

 

 

 

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The procession following Jesus and the cross passes back through Market Place and Cheapside and onto the High Street.  Throughout the journey, Pharisees and Sadducees continue to mock Jesus, while his supporters are stunned; they cannot believe their teacher has been condemned to die.

 

 

 

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Jesus is exhausted; he stumbles and falls on the long walk from Jerusalem (Town Hall Square) to Calvary (Humberstone Gate).

 

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. Matthew 27: 32 [NIV]

 

 

 

 

 

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Jesus is crucified along with two robbers, one on his left, and one on his right.  He is thirsty and a wine-soaked sponge is offered to his lips.

 

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23: 33-34  [NIV]

 

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The words Jesus speaks from the cross are full of love and forgiveness.  The sky grows dark as Jesus bears the full weight of the sins of mankind, which separates Him from His Father.  When all Jesus’ work is complete, He gives up His spirit and dies.

Here just before he dies, Jesus tells one of his disciples, John (played by Alex Thacker), to look after his mother, Mary (played by Hilary Ayling).

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19: 26 - 27  [NIV]

 

 

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As Jesus dies there is an earthquake.

 

"It is finished. Father into your hands I commit my spirit."

 

 

 

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The Roman soldiers check to make sure Jesus has died, by plunging a spear into his side.

 

The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.  But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  
John 19: 32 - 34  [NIV]

 

 

 

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The two robbers are taken down and their bodies taken away.

 

 

 

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Jesus' body has been requested by Joseph of Arimathea, who obtained permission from Pontius Pilate to bury Jesus in his own tomb. His body is tenderly taken down from the cross.

 

 

 

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Jesus' body is cradled in the arms of his mother, Mary, who is comforted by John.

 

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19: 38 - 40  [NIV]

 

 

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The disciples and followers of Jesus are stunned.  He is dead!

They are dismayed at the loss of Jesus, but they had forgotten that He had said that He would rise again …

 

 

 

 

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Mary Magdalene (played by Ruth) weeps at the foot of the cross.

 

When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

 

 

 

 

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"When I survey the wondrous cross" was followed by a short address from the Rev. Paul Rush, Diocesan Evangelist ...

 

 

 

 

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After another song "In Christ Alone", the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, gives a final blessing.

 

 

Rod Iliffe (Musical Director) can be seen in the foreground.

 

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The glorious Resurrection.   

 

"On the third day, he rose again ..."

Jesus is alive!  Halleluiah!

 

 

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Jesus             Simon, Son of john, do you truly love me?

Peter             Yes, Lord.  You know that I love you.

 

 

 

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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  John 20: 19   [NIV]

 

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There was joy and understanding of why Jesus had died, now that he was resurrected.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life"
 John 3: 16  [King James Version]

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When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9: 8   [NIV]

 

 

 

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Looking forward to seeing you next year - 6th April 2007

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  SWORD Christian Drama Group (February, 2008)

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