Aurora church’s series ends with forgiveness for Judas
Submitted by Fourth Street UMC
Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Jesus Christ in the biblical Easter story, was voted forgiveness by a jury April 1.
Results of a vote by the jury, members of Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora, were announced at Palm Sunday services. The verdict concluded a five-part series of worship-courtroom dramas that were staged by church members during 10 a.m. Sunday services since Feb. 20.
“The People vs. Judas Iscariot: The Punishment Phase” replaced sermons usually preached by the church pastor, the Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor.
On Palm Sunday, David Brandt of Oswego, jury foreman, read results of a paper-ballot vote by congregation members held on March 25. According to Brandt, the votes were 59 for forgiveness, 11 for eternal punishment, and one for a mistrial.
Cast members were Aurorans Russ Brown as Judas; Jeremy Cotto, bailiff; Paul Eggert, judge; Tom Carter, Attorney Grace (defense); Giuliana Eggert, Mary Magdalene; Sam Martin, boy; Jill Orr, Mary and Death; Stan McGraw, apostle Paul; Sue Gilla, unnamed woman; Laurel Gilbert, friend of Judas and production director; and the Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, church pastor, chief priest; Roger Spurgin, North Aurora, apostle Peter; and Oswegoans Cindy and Patrick Pittsford as Attorney Justice (prosecution) and apostle John, respectively.
Themes of the weekly homilies, or acts, were:
Ÿ Feb. 26 — “Nothing is Hidden from God”
Ÿ March 4 — “All Have Sinned, All Need Forgiveness”
Ÿ March 13 — “When others tried to Save Themselves”
Ÿ March 20 — “In Bondage to Sin, We Cannot Free Ourselves”
Ÿ March 27 — “Who Will Save Us?”
William Clayton McCord wrote the drama in 1957 while a seminarian at the Lutheran Program in Austin, Texas. He said the goal of his work is based on the Ash Wednesday reading of Joel 2:13: “Return to the Lord, your God, for God is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love …”
In the series, Judas undergoes the punishment phase of his trial. He has pleaded guilty to a crime against Jesus. Now the question is, “Does Judas receive mercy or eternal punishment?”
Each act unfolds in the middle of the worship service. The scene is a modern-day courtroom drama in which prosecution and defense attorneys attempt to sway the judge and congregation with evidence based on scripture and tradition.
Witnesses subpoenaed to testify from the past include Peter, John, the unnamed woman, Mary Magdalene, the chief priest and others. Their testimony takes observers back in time to the events that surrounded Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion.
The sanctuary was transformed into a courtroom setting with tables and chairs bearing notes and books for the lawyers and judge. Lawyers and witnesses speak from their scripts in front of them. Witnesses from the past don modern attire with the exception of Death, who wears a Grim Reaper costume that hides his face from view.