By LAURA ROBISON
The Progress
The very first annual Moapa Valley Community Easter program, titled He Is Risen, will take place next Monday evening, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mack Lyon Middle School auditorium.
This is a non-demoninational event, in which the performers are from the congregations of many different local churches and the entire community is invited, free of charge.
Moapa Valley resident Jan Mecham took on the responsibility of gathering all sorts of talented residents to participate in a local Easter celebration.
This program will showcase readings and poems, musical instruments including guitar, violin, trumpet, horn and piano, as well as vocals with solos, groups of children, and youth and adult choirs, dances and more, with an invitation for all audience members in attendance to join in to sing Christ the Lord is Risen Today Amazing Grace before the evening concludes. In addition to the performances on stage, a few local artists will display artwork in the foyer.
“There are over 50 participants singing in the community choir, which will provide the closing number,” said Mecham. “It will be glorious!”
Mecham decided to put together the event after she read a quote by Anglican bishop and New Testament scholar N.T. Wright. It instructed, “We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, balls, special concerts. This is our greatest festival.”
So she set about accomplishing this in her community, reaching out to all the local churches, groups and individuals.
Dr. Larry Moses will be the Master of Ceremonies. Slated to perform are: Rick Houston and Alicia Bush, Walter White and Shelby Brandon, an instrumental quartet, different groups of choirs and singers, soloist Jared Shaver, Melbourne Perkins, Shanan Kelly and Shelby Brandon, Pamela Engle, Cindy Walker and Shelby Brandon, Zephyr Singers and the Community Choir.
“We have a lot of talent in our valley,” Mecham said. “I tried to gather a variety of numbers to keep things interesting. I asked participants to choose something that represents their feelings about Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, and resurrection. I’m excited to celebrate this Easter season with my friends and neighbors in this wonderful valley.”
The event is sponsored by the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council as part of its 2023-2024 season.
