By Alise Weber – Littleton, Colorado . . . The sun peeked through the clouds and shone down on the lawn of the Littleton church just in time for the evening outdoor church service. Just an hour earlier, wild winds, angry clouds, and a downpour, complete with hail, had touched upon the same ground.
Members were gathering for this evening worship service on June 6 to conclude their seven-week series on Esther, led by pastors Andy Nash and Chris Morris. In the spirit of celebration, as the Jewish nation did when saved from certain death, a Purim celebration was planned directly after the church service.
As the worship service concluded, Nash ended with inspiring words that reflected on the bravery of Esther. The members were challenged “to go forward to make a difference in this world, as Esther did.”
Then, the Purim celebration began!
Individually wrapped baklava with bags of pre-packaged popcorn and bottles of water were handed to attendees ready to rejoice in the spirit of victory. Children volunteered to reenact a play depicting the story of Esther. The script was read, the actors and actresses used their improvisational skills to act out the scenes, and the joyful crowd joined in by offering comedic boos and cheers as each scene unfolded.
Following the skit, the assembly participated in traditional Hebrew dancing. A giant circle was formed on the lawn, wide enough for everyone to social distance. As the music began, everyone used a grapevine step to the right and then twirled in unison before clapping twice. Several rounds of Hebrew dancing followed before the glow of the sunlight began to fade.
The film, “One Night with the King,” began playing on the screen, and children eagerly grabbed their chairs for a chance to watch.
“It was a beautiful night, that not only revisited the story of the brave queen who saved her people from death but made Scripture come alive by adding a multi-sensory experience that all ages could enjoy,” one of the pastors commented.
—Alise Weber is associate pastor for children’s and family ministry; photos supplied, video by Cesiah Morris
