To mark the 20th anniversary of the Cheltenham Passion Play we have published for the first time all three videos in their entirety on YouTube. In 2020 its message is as powerful as ever as so many of us the world over face Easter under lock-down. It’s our prayer that this Easter the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever may bring each one of us that peace that the world cannot give.
The first four Acts of the Passion Play took place on Good Friday, 2000, from 12-00 to 3-00. There could be no better day than Good Friday to watch the main video, Jesus for Today, maybe pausing it at the end of Act 4, Death. You might then like to watch the first four prayer meditations, Jesus forever the same.
On Easter Sunday at 8-00 an enormous crowd returned to the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus to share the final, triumphal Act of the Passion Play, Resurrection. Why not watch the final part of Jesus for Today at 8-00 on Easter Sunday morning! And follow it with the last of the Prayer meditations from Jesus forever the Same, Resurrection.
As Easter 2020 schools in many parts of the world are closed and children are at home. In the second of our videos, Jesus for Tomorrow, Matt Medhurst who played the part of Jesus goes into Pittville School, Cheltenham, to share his experience and his faith. It's particularly appropriate for students in Years 6-8, 10 to 14 years old. Under the More tab there are links to conversation topics you might like to use around the video.
2000 years ago Jesus took the love of God on to the streets. He taught, he healed, and he made a remarkable difference in the lives of many people. From Galilee to Jerusalem he brought people face to face with the power of God to transform their lives. He invited people to follow him. People discovered a new kind of friendship which broke down barriers of race, gender, politics and creed; what’s more, they entered into a remarkable friendship with God.
Yet Jesus came into conflict with the authorities. He was betrayed by a friend, arrested, tried, and executed. His friends were shattered. It seemed as if everything had come to an end ... in reality it was only just beginning. On the third day Jesus joined them once more, he called them by name, and made his presence felt among them. They knew he was alive! He had a task for them to do.
The Cheltenham Passion Play
For the last 2000 years the followers of Jesus have carried out that task. They have taken the love of God on to the streets. For Easter 2000 the churches of Cheltenham took the story of Jesus on to the streets of their town.
Jesus for Today - the DVD and Songs of Praise
Our Jesus for Today web site captures the heart of that play ... but it also goes further. Those who took part and others who watched talk about their experiences, their faith and the difference Jesus makes in people’s lives today.
Jesus for Today - the DVD and Songs of Praise
Our Jesus for Today web site captures the heart of that play ... but it also goes further. Those who took part and others who watched talk about their experiences, their faith and the difference Jesus makes in people’s lives today.
Pam Rhodes featured the Cheltenham Passion Play on Songs of Praise and helped us in making our Video. In the video clip above she introduces Jesus for Today.
Jesus for Today on YouTube
You can watch Jesus for Today on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Cheltenham - Jesus for Today.
You can watch Jesus for Tomorrow on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Schools - Jesus for Tomorrow
You can watch Jesus forever the same on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Prayer - Jesus forever the same.
Jesus for Today on YouTube
You can watch Jesus for Today on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Cheltenham - Jesus for Today.
You can watch Jesus for Tomorrow on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Schools - Jesus for Tomorrow
You can watch Jesus forever the same on the YouTube channel of your TV by searching for Easter Passion Play Prayer - Jesus forever the same.
Jesus for Today on the Web
You can follow through the five acts of the Passion Play, Friendship, Conflict, Betrayal, Death, Resurrection by clicking on the tabs above.
Our web site captures the heart of our play ... but it also goes further. Those who took part and others who watched talk about their experiences, their faith and the difference Jesus makes in people's lives today. The notes we have put on to the web site suggest different ways of using it for personal reflection and in group discussion.
Our web site captures the heart of our play ... but it also goes further. Those who took part and others who watched talk about their experiences, their faith and the difference Jesus makes in people's lives today. The notes we have put on to the web site suggest different ways of using it for personal reflection and in group discussion.
Jesus forever the Same - a set of Prayer Meditations
Click on 'Prayer' and you will find a a sequence of five prayer meditations based on the themes of the play ... friendship, conflict, betrayal, death, resurrection. They can be used as separate prayers, or as a single time of prayer and reflection after using one of the earlier programmes.
Jesus forever the Same - a Lent Course
Click on 'Lent' and you will find a full Lent course making use of the video clips.
And Lots More
Click on 'Lent' and you will find a full Lent course making use of the video clips.
And Lots More
Click on 'More' and you can read the script and production notes, see the Bible Passages the Passion Play is based on, follow links to Churches in Cheltenham and find out lots more.
