Northwest Baptist Church Member Steve Abel portrays Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
According to Pew Research, Americans do more computer searches for “Easter” than at any other time during the year, with the Christmas season ranking second. Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) churches are prepping for the big day. Many have egg hunts, plays, special music, and “SonRise” services. Below is just a sampling of some of these local events.
Northwest Baptist Church, Reisterstown will host “The Promise,” a dramatic retelling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The church has performed the musical approximately every other year since 1992. A cast and crew of over 100 people, including four additional community churches, take the audience back in time to see Christ’s miracles, healing and forgiveness, the inevitable road to Calvary and the rising from the dead.
Though the storyline is the same, Director Sheila Oland said, “We always change it up each year to keep returning audience members engaged. This year, the story is told by a grandfather, his two daughters, and a great-granddaughter.”
Oland said one of the highlights of each performance is a big song number, “Arise,” performed by Rob Millner, who portrays the angel Gabriel. She said the crucifixion sequence is very intense.
Shows are at 7 pm on March 30, 2 pm on March 31, and at 7 pm on April 1. Tickets are free. Walk-ins are welcome, but ticket-holders will be seated first.
Bethany Church, Ellicott City, will present “The Easter Experience,” on March 30th at 7 pm. It’s a modern-day Good Friday service celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, remembering the Last Supper, recognizing his sacrifice on the cross and rejoicing in the resurrection. Bethany Church members will also share testimonies throughout the evening.
SonRise Church‘s Salisbury Campus will have an Easter Egg Hunt at James M. Bennett Sr. High School on April 1 from noon to 2 p.m. It’s a free family event with snow cones, popcorn, inflatables, face painting, and a live DJ.
Colonial Baptist Church, Randallstown, will have a Good Friday service on March 30, at noon for “The Last Seven Words of Christ” presented by seven different men. After the service, the church will have a free fish fry.
Ocean City Baptist Church participates in several Easter events with other community churches, including a crosswalk on Good Friday, starting at the “Son’s Spot” on Worcester Street, and a 6 am Easter Sunrise service on the beach near the boardwalk at North Division Street.
Bethany Church, Wilmington, will have Easter egg hunts after their morning Easter gathering at 10:45 am on April 2. All guests at the church on Easter will be entered into a drawing for 2 gift certificates to a local restaurant.
Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach will celebrate Easter with a spring festival and egg hunt from 10 am to noon on Saturday. On Easter morning they’ll have a sunrise service on the parsonage lawn at 7:30 am, followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall at 8:30 am and a children’s musical at 10:30 am.
Members of Dundalk’s First Baptist Church and the Church of the Harbor and their neighborhood will worship together, at a Good Friday service from 7 – 10 pm, remembering with serious joy what Our Lord did for us, to save us from sin and self and Satan, and bring us to God our Father. Dundalk’s First Baptist Church is hosting the event.
There will be a multi-church resurrection service at Glen Burnie Baptist Church on April 2. Bay Life Church and Morning Light Korean Church will meet together for a brunch prior to the service at 11 am. Each church will participate in the service, and Bob Simpson, pastor of GBBC will preach the Easter message.
Lexington Park Baptist Church (LPBC) will host their inaugural “Rise Up 5K” on Easter Sunday, April 1, at John G. Lancaster Park. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the pavilion located in the back of the park near the memorial. The race will start at 7:30. Participants are all invited to a “Rise Up” sunrise worship service at the park at 7 am and for a “Come Alive” worship service at the church at 11 am.
Proceeds from the event will benefit “The Mission,” a local Christian-based community center that helps those who are in need and without shelter, providing food, showers, emergency shelter, haircuts, and computer training.
In observance of Good Friday, the Baptist Mission Resource Center will be closed.