After 'The Passion'

Video clips and dramatic images of Jesus' last 12 hours will play on projection screens at area churches instead of theaters this Easter season.

A year ago, pastors and worship leaders were talking about how Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was going to affect their church's observances of Lent and Easter.

This year pastors are planning how to best use video clips and movie references in their Lent and Easter sermons.

Now that "The Passion" is available on DVD and VHS, individuals and churches can buy copies of the film. Churches who purchase the film also can get one-time permission to show the full-length film.

The Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, pastor at Centenary United Methodist Church, said the movie changed Easter observances last year and should have an impact again this year.

"This film should dramatically change a Christian's and the churches' observance of Good Friday," he said.

At its initial theater release, "The Passion" was sold out in Cape Girardeau. Church groups bought tickets by the dozens and handed them out to guests, friends and neighbors. For many, the movie became a tool for evangelism.

And it remains so a year later as churches move into a season of Lent on Wednesday.

"It was the talk of the time," said Mike Parry, pastor of Fruitland Community Church, of "The Passion."

The movie, despite its R rating and Aramaic and Latin languages with subtitles in English, was the No. 1 independently distributed film in history. It grossed $370 million in the United States.

It drew crowds and discussion groups and was the subject of television talk shows and magazine articles.

Smith led a Bible study on "The Passion" after the film's release because so many people wanted to know more and discuss the film. "There was a lot of interest in the film and there were a number of good resources available," he said.

The movie showed people the message of Christ's passion, he said. "We have celebrated Easter but we aren't very remorseful about the passion and Good Friday," he said.

Events like a Good Friday "Way of the Cross" walk in downtown Cape Girardeau help bring the message of salvation to the community, Smith said.

"The Passion of the Christ" was a film that reached people who were upset at how it depicted Jesus' life, or just curious, as well as those wanting to renew their faith, Parry said.

With the backing of well-known actor Mel Gibson, the film made it easier for people to invite non-church-going friends to a church event, he said.

Parry said he didn't believe the film "got the recognition it should have gotten. It could have been the movie of the year because more people were talking about it than any other movie."

Capitalizing on the one-year anniversary of the film's release, there are plenty of advertising promotions and materials that churches can use to build interest and attendance.

The Web site www.thepassionoutreach.com offers ideas and suggestions for churches looking to use the movie in worship. There are even sermon suggestions at www.sermoncentral.com.

Parry ordered a DVD of the movie for his congregation and intends to use some clips during his Easter-season sermons this year.

Smith intends to use some images and references in his Good Friday and Easter messages.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126