GILROY
– Churches in the South Valley have planned many ways to
celebrate the Easter holiday weekend: From the traditional Easter
celebrations to an outdoor fete featuring singing, music and games
for children.
GILROY – Churches in the South Valley have planned many ways to celebrate the Easter holiday weekend: From the traditional Easter celebrations to an outdoor fete featuring singing, music and games for children.
And with sunny weather anticipated for the holiday weekend, organizers of the biggest event are hoping for a huge turnout. It’s an outdoor Easter morning celebration put on by Gilroy’s South Valley Community Church at Christmas Hill Park’s amphitheater.
More than 2,000 people are expected to turn out for the event that starts at 10 a.m., said Carol Arquette, communications director for the non-denominational church. Events will include a special children’s program, a lot of activities for children, egg hunts and – if all goes well – a balloon man. Special music by a 65-member choir, orchestra and band will play a major role in the event, after which, beverages and snacks will be provided, she said.
”We’ve done this on a number of occasions before,” Arquette said. ”Easter seems to be a time where a lot of seekers go to church. They’re uncomfortable in a church environment but enjoy the open-door environment, so Christmas Hill Park is a gorgeous setting for it.”
Arquette emphasized that vehicle parking will be restricted inside the park’s grounds. She recommends arriving at Christmas Hill Park early – the church plans to have shuttle buses take people from parking lots outside the park to the amphitheater.
Attendees will also receive free DVD copies of the documentary ”The Jesus Movie,” as well as a booklet called ”True or False?” about the
crucifixion of Jesus.
Today at 6 p.m., the church will show the three-hour movie ”The Gospel of John” at its Gilroy location, 8095 Kelton Dr.
Another Gilroy church, the non-denominational Calvary Chapel, will have a special Easter Sunday message based on Mel Gibson’s movie of Christ.
The sermon is called ”The Passion Part II: The Resurrection,” said Pastor Matt Valencia.
”A lot of people have seen the movie, and a lot of people consider the crucifixion, but we’re going to look at the resurrection (that took place) after that,” he said. ”The one difference that marks the life of Christ is the resurrection … other people have claimed to be God. But the resurrection is really the stamp and the thing that makes Jesus authentic. And it gives us hope after this life.”
Special music will be performed during the service including a selection of songs sung by children, he said. Calvary Chapel’s Easter service begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. It is located at 8531 Church St.
Other events include tonight’s final performance of ”The Choice,” an Easter-based musical play performed at the New Hope Community Church.
”It’s a time and period drama that’s based on the life and times of Jesus,” said Bill Hawkins, music pastor at New Hope.
About 50 choir and cast members will perform in the play written by Robert Sterling. The drama portrays Jesus’s message as seen through the eyes of two characters: A centurion guard named Marcus and Hanna, and a Jewish girl who works in her grandparent’s bakery.
Marcus is a loyal to Caesar while Hanna is a follower of Christ.
”The two of them fall in love and through a series of events, Marcus’s heart is softened to Jesus and what he sees,” Hawkins said. ”The set is
unbelievable. We had Shane Grammar, a friend of mine who is a Hollywood-quality artist, put it together.”
New Hope Community Church expects a full house tonight to watch the free performance, he said. Tickets have already been distributed, but about
50 more people can be admitted, he said.
”It’s really an engaging play,” he said. ”There’s romance and humor in it.”
On Sunday morning at the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Easter services, music from the play also will be performed, he said. New Hope Community Church is located at 8886 Muraoka Dr. (near Leavesley Road and Forest Street).
Good weather is expected for the South Valley region.
The National Weather Forecast office for the San Francisco/Monterey Bay region forecasts highs in the high-70s and low-80s. On Sunday, expect ”mostly sunny” skies with highs in the 60s and 70s. Clouds are forecast to start rolling in on Sunday night.
