The director of an Easter panorama at Liberty Spring Christian Church hopes audiences will “experience the time that Jesus spent on this Earth … the miracles He performed and (His) tremendous sacrifices when He died on the cross for our sins.”

She and set directors Jenny Sarratt, Renell Smith and Tiffany and Dan Greene — plus 16 children and youths playing the various Biblical roles — have been working on “The Life of Jesus” for about two months, Mary Byrum said.

“It’s going to be a walk-through, and it’s the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of John,” she said.

The panoramas depict various scenes from the life of Jesus, including turning water into wine, the cleansing of the temple, Jesus and Nicodemus, the woman at the well, feeding the 5,000, raising Lazarus from the dead, the garden of Gethsemane, and the trial, crucifixion, empty tomb and resurrection.

“I hope (audiences) will better know the man Jesus, and how He died for us,” Byrum said.

With performances this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and — if the demand exists — 9 p.m., it’s the church’s first panorama.

Byrum said the idea came to her while she and friends were walking around the church building for exercise.

“One I was talking with said, ‘We should do a panorama, the same as everyone else does,’” she said.

“It hit my head, and I said, ‘Panorama — let’s do it for Easter!’ From that point on, I started creating.”

The finished product was a joint effort between her and the set directors, Byrum said, adding, “We have brought things from home, gone to yard sales; every day we are brainstorming for something to make it authentic.”

A special cart built by Dan Greene will ferry the character John from scene to scene, each lighting up at the appropriate time while those around it remain darkened, Byrum said.

The actor playing Jesus will carry the cross outside onto the front grass, where he’ll be “nailed” to it, she added.

“Dan also built a lift that will lift Jesus up toward the heavens,” she said. Pillows will be used for clouds, she added.

“I’m not so much focusing on bringing people to the church than I am bringing people to the Lord,” Byrum said.

“Frankly, I think we have taken God out of so many things, and it’s time to put Him back again.”

Among the set directors, Smith said the panorama demonstrated “unity and the glory of God.”

Sarratt said audiences would get an “understanding of who Christ was and what He went through,” while Greene commented, “I want the youth in the community to come out and see that it’s a joyous occasion — to celebrate life with the Lord.”

The church is at 4213 Whaleyville Blvd.

Special Easter Sunday services that have been reported to the News-Herald include the following:

• Easter at Liberty Harbour View, 7025 Harbour View Blvd., will be celebrated April 20. Services will be held at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Children can enjoy the Kidville and Student areas while adults hear the message. Call 826-2110 for more information.
• Liberty Baptist Church, 116 Romans Road, will hold Easter sunrise service with breakfast following, along with a 10:30 a.m. service with special music and dramatization.
• King of Glory Community Church will celebrate its Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 1018 Centerbrooke Lane. Call 483-1546 or visit www.kogcc.com for more information.
• Laurel Hill United Church of Christ, 8001 S. Quay Road, will celebrate Easter Sunday service at 8 a.m.