First Church on Hill presents Easter drama 9:45 a.m. Sunday

"By His Stripes" will be presented Sunday at 9:45 a.m. at First Church on the Hill. The production was written and is directed by Steve Blanchard. Cast members include, Bill Morrow, Carissa Pate, Steve Blanchard, Micah Howell, Megan Blanchard, Gail Stevenson, Rickey Rogers, David Ellis, Aaron Jenkins, Katy McIntyre, Donna Hale, Scott Jenkins, Cheyanne McNair, Breanna McIntyre, Katee Montgomery and Corrissa McIntyre, Not Pictured are Candace Driver, Jan-Michal Pate, Christopher McIntyre, Nicholas McIntyre, Brooke Lowery, Blake Lowery, David Clay McIntyre, Britteny Johnson and Dannon Pate.

First Church on the Hill Drama Department will present "By His Stripes" at 9:45 a.m. Easter Sunday. The drama opened March 30-April 1. Written by director Steve Blanchard the production portrays a modern family in a contemporary crisis setting. The family deals with the loss of a child to a drunk driver, a runaway daughter and another child with serious issues.

"The play was presented the week before Easter because the set construction rearranged the whole front of the church. Members planned to have it all torn down before Easter weekend. However, the public attendance and the impact the production has had on people was such that literally by popular demand, we are leaving up the set and re-running the play on Easter Sunday," says Pastor Jan Pate. This production incorporates multi-media technology along with acting, scene changes and set design, and interweaves with it social, emotional and even political issues that we all face in the world as Christians and non-Christians alike. Effective music, lighting, sound and even projectorial displays are used to present the fictitious Logan family's past memories, both fond and painful. There will be animated biblical sketches bringing to life dreams and memories of Sunday school lessons in days gone by.

To quote from a scene in the play, "If Jesus loves me so much, why would He let all this happen to our family?" The answer: "Jesus...[came] not to shield us from life's problems but to shelter us from life's problems," said Pastor Pate.