Roll The Stone Away!
An Easter Play by Kathy Warnes
CAST
1 angel
1 Jesus
1 begger in rags
Any number of children
Audience
Props: A large hole suggesting a tomb with a large stone in front of it. An angel guards the front of the tomb. A small pile of stones (sponges) sits beside the tomb. A large banner that says, “BUT WAIT” is propped up against the stones. The children, who are dressed in robes Biblical style, each pick up a small stone and start throwing them at each other.
Song: (To the Tune of Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
Throw those stones at each other, each other,
At your mother, father, sister or brother,
Throw hate, rivalry and greed, and greed,
Throw those stones with great speed, with great speed.
(Child holds out banner for audience to read)
AUDIENCE: BUT WAIT-
CHILD: A beggar’s here with a huge sack,
Pick up the stones He’ll carry them on his back.
(The children pick up the stones and put them in a huge sack. The beggar drags the sack to the tomb.)
(To the Tune of Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
SONG: He bears our sorrows and our sin, our sin,
He bears them over and over again, again.
He carries our stones with devotion,
He carries stones to fill the ocean!
(Child holds out banner for audience to read)
AUDIENCE: BUT WAIT-
CHILDREN: (Holding out their empty hands)
All of our stones are gone,
Our sinful stones, our sad, sad song,
Our hands are empty it’s sad but true
Angel, please tell us what to do.
ANGEL: Look for Jesus.
CHILDREN: We can’t look for Jesus.
ANGEL: Why not?
CHILDREN: We have no way to get to the city or a palace. That’s where Jesus is.
ANGEL: Why do you think Jesus is in a city or a palace?
CHILDREN: That’s where you find the Son of God.
(Child holds out audience banner)
AUDIENCE: But wait.
ANGEL: Look inside this tomb.
CHILDREN: Tomb! Is he dead?
ANGEL: The Romans crucified him and he is dead and buried.
CHILDREN: All cry.
CHILD: He can’t be dead! What will happen to the world?
ANGEL: Help me roll the stone away and you will find out.
CHILDREN: (Roll up their sleeves and push against the stone. It doesn’t move.)
CHILDREN: Angel, you said you would help us.
ANGEL: Try again. (The children turn their backs to the angel. The angel and Jesus tiptoe up behind them and push against the stone. Then Jesus goes back into the tomb. The angel moves the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.)
CHILDREN: We did it! We moved the stone all by ourselves!
Angel holds audience sign:
AUDIENCE: But wait.
ANGEL: All by yourselves? Think about that.
CHILDREN: Jesus, please come out if you’re in there.
JESUS: (Walks out of the tomb and sits down on the stone that covered it.)
CHILDREN: He’s alive! He’s here!
(To the tune of Sing and Smile and Pray)
God rolled the stone away,
For his son on Easter day,
We pushed and tugged on that big stone
But we couldn’t move it alone.
God’s bigger than any stone,
He ‘s stronger than any tomb,
His great love covers the earth
The whole wide universe.
God rolled the stone away,
For his son on Easter day,
He helps us with all of our stones,
He never leaves us alone!
He helps us with all of our stones
He never leaves us alone!
CURTAIN
CAST
1 angel
1 Jesus
1 begger in rags
Any number of children
Audience
Props: A large hole suggesting a tomb with a large stone in front of it. An angel guards the front of the tomb. A small pile of stones (sponges) sits beside the tomb. A large banner that says, “BUT WAIT” is propped up against the stones. The children, who are dressed in robes Biblical style, each pick up a small stone and start throwing them at each other.
Song: (To the Tune of Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
Throw those stones at each other, each other,
At your mother, father, sister or brother,
Throw hate, rivalry and greed, and greed,
Throw those stones with great speed, with great speed.
(Child holds out banner for audience to read)
AUDIENCE: BUT WAIT-
CHILD: A beggar’s here with a huge sack,
Pick up the stones He’ll carry them on his back.
(The children pick up the stones and put them in a huge sack. The beggar drags the sack to the tomb.)
(To the Tune of Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
SONG: He bears our sorrows and our sin, our sin,
He bears them over and over again, again.
He carries our stones with devotion,
He carries stones to fill the ocean!
(Child holds out banner for audience to read)
AUDIENCE: BUT WAIT-
CHILDREN: (Holding out their empty hands)
All of our stones are gone,
Our sinful stones, our sad, sad song,
Our hands are empty it’s sad but true
Angel, please tell us what to do.
ANGEL: Look for Jesus.
CHILDREN: We can’t look for Jesus.
ANGEL: Why not?
CHILDREN: We have no way to get to the city or a palace. That’s where Jesus is.
ANGEL: Why do you think Jesus is in a city or a palace?
CHILDREN: That’s where you find the Son of God.
(Child holds out audience banner)
AUDIENCE: But wait.
ANGEL: Look inside this tomb.
CHILDREN: Tomb! Is he dead?
ANGEL: The Romans crucified him and he is dead and buried.
CHILDREN: All cry.
CHILD: He can’t be dead! What will happen to the world?
ANGEL: Help me roll the stone away and you will find out.
CHILDREN: (Roll up their sleeves and push against the stone. It doesn’t move.)
CHILDREN: Angel, you said you would help us.
ANGEL: Try again. (The children turn their backs to the angel. The angel and Jesus tiptoe up behind them and push against the stone. Then Jesus goes back into the tomb. The angel moves the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.)
CHILDREN: We did it! We moved the stone all by ourselves!
Angel holds audience sign:
AUDIENCE: But wait.
ANGEL: All by yourselves? Think about that.
CHILDREN: Jesus, please come out if you’re in there.
JESUS: (Walks out of the tomb and sits down on the stone that covered it.)
CHILDREN: He’s alive! He’s here!
(To the tune of Sing and Smile and Pray)
God rolled the stone away,
For his son on Easter day,
We pushed and tugged on that big stone
But we couldn’t move it alone.
God’s bigger than any stone,
He ‘s stronger than any tomb,
His great love covers the earth
The whole wide universe.
God rolled the stone away,
For his son on Easter day,
He helps us with all of our stones,
He never leaves us alone!
He helps us with all of our stones
He never leaves us alone!
CURTAIN