This Easter marked circa 1,992 years since the well-known historical figure Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in Jerusalem by order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Today, many celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday with hot-cross buns, Easter eggs, and a break from work.  This year, Upper Hutt had something else to look forward to with Heretaunga Community Church’s premiere production of The Easter Story.

The Easter Story had a four-night run from the 13th to 16th of April.  Each night at 7pm, the doors opened, complimentary refreshments were served and the stage was set!

The production itself followed the biblical narrative of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as recorded in the four historical eye-witness accounts, found in the Bible. Opening on Jerusalem’s “back-street” shortly before the Jewish Passover festival, the audience was met with a thoroughfare of activity: disciples eager share the news that Jesus was in town, Pharisees plotting his demise, and an array of travellers, some celebrating while others lamenting Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.

Highlights for some of the 800+ audience members over the course of the production included Jesus’ trial before Pilate which engulfed the audience in an angry crowd calling for Jesus’ crucifixion, an earnest rendition of Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene’s ‘Mary Did You Know’, and a joyful scene of Jesus’ disciples who, having seen Jesus risen from the dead, came to understand that his death had brought them everlasting life.

The production was heartfelt and challenging and left the audience with the question: Who do you say Jesus is?

Heretaunga Community Church will shortly be launching its Christianity Explored course (running on Thursday nights from 8 May – 19 June at 7:15pm-9:00pm). Christianity Explored is a series of sessions looking at Jesus’ life according to Mark’s gospel, his claim to be God, and how he continues to change lives today.  Please contact Hape Hauwaho on hapehauwaho@gmail.com or Karen Bond on karenbond021@gmail.com to find out more and register.

*A big thank you to the sponsors of the Easter Story: Provid Ltd, Masterworks Group Ltd, Samson Building Services, the Upper Hutt Rotary, Ahumara Ltd and Philip Sharpe and Margie Petherick for making The Easter Story vision a reality.

A “thank you” to Emily for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

29/04/25