Tom Dally (left) portrays Jesus Christ in the Lake Palestine United Methodist Church’s Passion play. Above, he is shown with men performing as the 12 disciples. This season, five other churches will join Lake Palestine United Methodist in the March 26-28 production at its amphitheatre. LAKE PALESTINE — About 100 people from six area churches are expected to participate in this season’s Passion play near Chandler, the Rev. Richard Prather said.

“It’s a challenge to get that many people involved, but the play is growing as they see it can be very fulfi lling. Each year, something is going to be a little different.”

Prather is pastor of Lake Palestine United Methodist Church.

This season’s production, “Jesus — The Liberator,” is scheduled for March 26-28 at the amphitheatre at Lake Palestine United Methodist Church. It is the ninth year for the play and its second straight year on the lake since being performed at St. Boniface Catholic Church for the first seven seasons.

Courtesy Photos “Jesus — The Liberator” is an interactive Passion play set at dusk. The 250- seat amphitheatre sits on the church’s lakefront property, with three wooden crosses on a hill overlooking the area and trees providing cover.

“This place makes a great, natural amphitheatre,” Prather said. “Over time, we were able to put it all together to give it that stone look. We got the watering system installed to keep the grass green, and the stage has been leveled.”

The amphitheatre is part of the church’s 27.5-acre property between the lake and Farm-to-Market Road 315. It acquired the land in 2001, and the church was chartered the following year, Prather said.

Paul Bryant Photo The Rev. Richard Prather, pastor of Lake Palestine United Methodist Church, describes how cast members of the Passion play “Jesus — The Liberator” will interact with the crowd during the March 26-28 production at the church’s amphitheatre on the lake. “We want to make the property servicable to the whole community. The amphitheatre would make a great meeting site, and we’re talking about adding a walking path, soccer field, a small campground, and a memorial garden.”

The church’s long-range planning, Prather said, calls for a new sanctuary, daycare center, and adding a wing to the building or expanding it to accomodate all of its programs.

“It’s about a 25-year plan,” he said. “It’s going to take some time for the vision to grow and become reality. We just have to follow God’s leading.”

The church’s membership is 150, with average Sunday attendance at 90, Prather said.

“Everything happens in this one building, and it’s a multipurpose building. We need a new sanctuary, but to build one is not a cheap thing to do. We also need to try to get an educational building added on to this one. People can’t grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ if they can’t gather easily.”

At the amphitheatre, more than 500 people attended the Passion play last year, Prather estimated.

“We’re hoping to grow each year,” he said. “We’re always looking for more churches to get involved. In the past, it’s been word of mouth.

“You know, we have a pretty darned good play over here.”

Passion plays, typically performed during the Christian Lent, depict the trial, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Visit passionjesus.com or lakepalestineumc.com.