Children Know the Resurrection:
An Easter Sunday Reading (with Actions)
The day was bright and fair,
On the way that Sunday morn,
When the women came,
To visit the tomb of our Lord.
The stone was rolled away.
An angel was outside.
“He is not here, He is risen,” he said,
To their great surprise.
Then back they ran,
In excitement, great,
To tell that Jesus from the grave arose,
“Hurry, we might be late!”
And when the others heard,
The news so very good,
They devoted their lives to Him,
And for Him, always stood.
We also stand for Him,
As He lives in Heaven above,
On this Easter Sunday,
We enjoy salvation and His love.
— Charles B. Mayes
Children Know the Resurrection:
An Easter Sunday Reading (with Actions)
The day was bright and fair,
(Hands in front and then rounded up above head showing “the sun”.)
On the way that Sunday morn,
(Walk in place.)
When the women came,
To visit the tomb of our Lord.
The stone was rolled away.
(Both hands pushing to side.)
An angel was outside.
(Both hands high up, out, and back like angels’ wings.)
“He is not here, He is risen,” he said,
To their great surprise.
(Hands close around face; “surprised look” expression.)
Then back they ran,
(Run in place.)
In excitement, great,
To tell that Jesus from the grave arose,
“Hurry, we might be late!”
(Hand motion to hurry up.)
And when the others heard,
(Cup hand over one ear.)
The news so very good,
They devoted their lives to Him,
And for Him, always stood.
(Take one step forward.)
We also stand for Him,
(Take another step forward.)
As He lives in Heaven above,
(One arm way up, with index finger up, as #1 gesture.)
On this Easter Sunday,
We enjoy salvation and His love.
— Charles B. Mayes
Embolden Text – Say more loudly.
Children Know the Resurrection: An Easter Sunday Reading (with Actions) © 2014 by Charles B. Mayes. All Rights Reserved.
Illustrations/graphics supplied by GospelGifs.com are copyrighted and used with permission.
Production Notes:
Children Know the Resurrection: An Easter Sunday Reading (with Actions) is written to be used as a Choral Reading, but could also be a Readers’ Theater by dividing up the verses among the children and having them read different parts. It is meant for children in the Elementary grades.
A narrator could do the reading and the children could do the actions only.
Notice that the accented words (in bold) are to go right along with the actions. I put these here not only so that the actions would reflect the text, but also that the director would get away from any sing songy interpretation of the reading (i.e. a strong accent on the end of each line and/or the rhyming words) so the that the attention of the audience would be centered on the actual meaning.
These motions are only suggestions and the director has the freedom to change them. Some motions could be removed especially if the children are younger. The ideal would be to have one person leading the words; and another, sitting close by, leading the motions.
I hope that you will enjoy having your children perform this; or reading the poem itself!
If you would like to use this poem reading as a performance; or on your website; in your newsletter; bulletin; speech; sermon; class; etc., you must indicate on the communication that the author is “Charles B. Mayes” and it is “Used by Permission”. If it is used on a website, please add our website address, or link to http://www.ChristianPoetryPublishing.com which can be connected to from outside this site.
Other poems are available in a chapbook titled, A New Year Resolution and Other Poems (including The Missionaries) by Charles B. Mayes. It contains 22 poems. The foreword is written by Dr. P.T. Mammen, Senior Pastor of San Bruno (CA) International Christian Center.
” . . . creative energy evidenced through every line . . .” – Dr. P.T. Mammen
If you would like to purchase a copy of the above book, please fill out the form below and I will get back to you with the description, price, payment, and mailing arrangements.
I would love to do Poetry Reading for your group in the San Jose, California area. If you are interested, please fill out the form below.
If you receive these poems by email, to use my form to answer me, just forget the form on the email and go to the bottom left and click on farsails which will take you to my blog. Then choose this poem and you can use the form with the poem.
Thank you and Happy Easter!
ChristianPoetryPublishing.com – ”As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ” (Holy Bible – Acts 17:28)
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