Covenant News

Easter Story Told Through Unique Visual Presentation

BELLEVUE, WA (March 4, 2002) - Many people hear about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during the Easter season, but some may find it more meaningful through a visual picture of the Good News presented by one local Covenant church.

A 16-part journey called The Veil is being used by Pastor Jim DeGrado and Highland Covenant Church to help people gain new insights into the Easter story. The church's gymnasium is being readied for two days of the special presentation on March 29 and 30.

Billed as a multi-sensory event, The Veil began last year with 400 people participating in the interactive event. Two visual artists and the church's director of worship arts, Marcie O'Donnell, were key leaders of the project. Nearly 50 volunteers helped construct and decorate the setting. "We wanted to find an alternative to the verbal overload of worship," said DeGrado, the pastor at Highland Covenant for four and a half years. "We received positive feedback from our community," which is located within a mile of the headquarters of Microsoft Corporation.

"It was as good as any sermon because it brought you right to the cross," said Mark Novak, superintendent of the North Pacific Conference, one of the conferences of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Participants enter the gymnasium and look into a mirror at stage one of the presentation as they hear the phrase "What is your price?" over and over. One views a live dove in a small cage as the voice of a police officer is heard reading a prisoner his rights.

Visual pictures continue to reflect key scenes from the story of Jesus being arrested and tried for a crime he did not commit. The symbolism of Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the matter, of soldiers casting lots for the clothes of Jesus, of the vinegar offered for Jesus to drink while he hung on the cross - all are part of various stations along the way.

Participants enter the final station by walking through a cut veil, which is used to symbolize the torn curtain that three gospel texts mention following the death of Jesus. The journey ends at a 300-pound silver cross that is immersed in water. Spotlights from the ceiling shine upon the cross.

Highland Covenant, which has an average worship attendance of around 200, hosts Hispanic and Russian-speaking congregations each week. The Easter morning worship service will combine all three congregations, complete with translators to aid worship and a combined choir and worship team.

The creative backgrounds of both Jim and Linda DeGrado have aided ministry at the church. Jim served in retail advertising for corporations, producing fashion catalogs and newspaper advertisements, before being called into ministry. He has helped children's church activities by creating video children's sermons on a regular basis. Linda, an artist, and illustrator Henk Dawson ware among the creators of The Veil.

The presentation is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. until midnight on March 29 and from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on March 30. Most people require around 30 minutes to progress through the stations of The Veil, according to church staff.

For more information about the presentation or other ministries of Highland Covenant Church, call 425-746-7676.

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