With many congregations continuing to meet remotely, this year’s Easter celebrations may look a little different. Recognizing that many churches will be unable to form Easter choirs, Hesston College’s Bel Canto Singers and the Hesston Ministerial Alliance will present a Holy Week service titled “Renewed Life.”

“Renewed Life” transforms the streets of Hesston to the streets of Jerusalem in a radio play written by Michele Hershberger, professor of Bible and ministry at Hesston College. The play, interwoven with scripture readings and music by Bel Canto Singers, will be performed by area pastors. The program is designed to explore the traditional Holy Week story through the lens of modern day events.

Community members are invited to bring a lawn chair for socially-distanced seating to participate in the service on Mar. 28 at 3 p.m. in the Mullet Drive parking lot, located north of Hesston Mennonite Church. Drive-in parking is also available with the program transmitted locally over FM radio, and can be reserved by emailing finearts@hesston.edu or calling 620-327-8141. The program will also be live streamed at www.hesston.edu/livestream.

Churches that wish to supplement their Holy Week programming with music and performance can find “Renewed Life” materials online. Resources include music video recordings of Bel Canto Singers and music faculty members, radio-style plays, and scripture read by Hesston-area pastors. Links to these materials can be found at hesston.edu/easter.

Later this spring, Bel Canto Singers will hold their normal May tour following commencement by using the college campus as a home base and hosting run-out concerts in regional outdoor venues. This will include the northern Great Plains, operating out of Swan Lake Christian Camp and touring to churches in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.