Website to make Jesus more famous?!?!

Rejesus.co.uk, a leading home on the internet for all things about Jesus and related faith issues, announced Wednesday that Church Army is to become a major strategic and managerial partner in the future development of the site.
Rob Freeman, Archdeacon of Halifax and Chair of the rejesus board, said, " I am delighted with this news. Rejesus.co.uk was established to enable people who are not connected with church to be able to explore issues around who Jesus is and how he impacts on issues of life and spirituality.
"The partnership with Church Army will help bring fresh impetus and additional resources to the development of the site and help build on our success in establishing rejesus.co.uk as the number one place on the web to go to find out about Jesus."
Rejesus.co.uk is one of the most successful current UK evangelism initiatives. It attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the site each year, many of whom are not in contact with church and are exploring issues of faith and spirituality.
Recent modules launched by rejesus include specially produced content for the BBC's The Passion series and for the movie Evan Almighty, a Jesus on-line pub quiz and guidance on prayer.
Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell adds, " Rejesus is a fantastically creative and entertaining resource for those who want to discover more about Jesus and the Christian faith.
"Our passion at Church Army is to do all we can to make Jesus more well known and we are excited at the prospect of working with the creative team at rejesus to do just that and help make this great resource even better.
"We want everyone to be talking about it and all the churches to help support what we do and join us in helping to make Jesus famous."
On the web: http://www.rejesus.co.uk/, http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/

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The Passion on the Beeb this Easter

It's the start of Passover week. In the next few days thousands of pilgrims will pour into Jerusalem to celebrate the most important festival in their religious calendar. For their Roman masters, led by Pontius Pilate, it is the most difficult time of the year. For the High Priest Caiaphas and his Temple priests the workload will be heavy and the pressure to maintain civil order will be intense.
Then news is brought that Jesus the Galilean is approaching the city on a donkey's colt, and will be entering Jerusalem through the East Gate - thus fulfilling two of the most powerful religious prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. The one who many believe will lead them to military victory or spiritual salvation.
On the streets a crowd is beginning to gather.

And the week has only just begun...
The Passion is a bold event drama, retelling the last week in the life of Jesus Christ and written by Emmy Award winner Frank Deasy (Prime Suspect 7). The Passion will be shown throughout Holy Week on BBC ONE, drawing to a dramatic climax on Easter Sunday.
Joseph Mawle (Jesus), James Nesbitt (Pontius Pilate), Paul Nicholls (Judas), Ben Daniels (Caiaphas), Penelope Wilton (Mary), Denis Lawson (Annas) and David Oyelowo (Joseph of Arimathea) lead the cast in this unique and compelling dramatisation.
Visually arresting and rich in colour, the story is rooted in the chaotic world in which it took place - the city of Jerusalem during Passover week. Set in the political and religious context of the time, it combines both narrative tension and thematic power to convey the events that took place that week.

The Passion places the audience at the heart of the action by telling the story from three points of view - the religious authorities, the Romans and Jesus. For the first time, all the key players are intimately characterised, with Jesus (Joseph Mawle) at the centre. The drama begins with Jesus' prophetic entrance through the East Gate, following him to his crucifixion and its startling aftermath.
Jane Tranter, Controller BBC Fiction, says: "The Passion is an example of BBC Drama's commitment to deliver ambitious and distinctive projects. It is a privilege to be making such a major piece of drama from the brilliant Frank Deasy, directed by Michael Offer (The State Within) with an amazing cast."
Award-winning producer Nigel Stafford-Clark (Bleak House) says: "The Passion is a gripping, multi-stranded dramatisation of not just the most familiar but arguably the greatest story ever told. Both truthful and simple - it gives it back to the audience in a way that will feel as fresh, contemporary and surprising as if it were happening for the first time."
The series will be available on DVD at a later date. Bible Society is producing a pack of educational materials to accompany the series for use in schools, churches and adult education. It is legal to record the broadcast for your personal use, but it is illegal to use that copy for public display.

Christians hope BBC's Passion will get nation talking about Jesus

The Chair of the Churches’ Media Council has written to a hundred national church leaders urging them to prepare for the broadcast of BBC1’s series The Passion.

In his letter Rev Dr Joel Edwards says, “From time to time opportunities arise nationally that provide significant moments for the Christian faith to engage with our culture.

"One such opportunity will be the forthcoming BBC series The Passion," he adds.

Dr Edwards expects the series to make “a huge national impact” over the Easter season.

The series, which starts on Palm Sunday on 16 March, will be scheduled in peak time on BBC1 and is likely to attract audiences in excess of 10 million.

It tells the story of the last week of Jesus’ life, his trial and crucifixion. The last episode, to be broadcast on Easter Sunday on 23 March, dramatises his post-resurrection appearances.

The Passion has been made by award-winning drama producer Nigel Stafford-Clark, who was responsible for Bleak House and Warriors. The cast includes Cold Feet star James Nesbitt as Pilate and EastEnders actor Paul Nicholls as Judas Iscariot. The part of Jesus is played by the relatively unknown Joseph Mawle, who at 33 is the same age as Jesus during the events of the Passion.

A multi-denominational group convened by the Churches’ Media Council today launched a website to provide resources and information about the series.

It can be found at www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk/passion. The group is encouraging the Christian community to seize this “golden opportunity to contribute to a contemporary public discussion about Jesus”.

Guidelines on the site encourage the Christian community to welcome the retelling of the stories for a new generation, but to treat it as drama first rather than theology.

Andrew Graystone, Director of the Churches’ Media Council, was profoundly moved by early versions of the series.

“This is an extremely vivid piece of drama. You feel you are right there, in amongst the Passover crowds, alongside the disciples as Jesus comes out with these simple but earth-shattering messages. And then of course, he’s taken away and makes the ultimate sacrifice, and like the disciples, you’re left to decide what you are going to do about it.”

A hundred Christian leaders will be invited to a preview screening of the series in February. Meanwhile a panel of speakers has been formed to contribute to national press, radio and TV discussions. The Passion website also has ideas to help local churches prepare for the series.

Mr Graystone urged Christians to “cancel all leave” and prepare a welcome for the series, describing it as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to engage the whole nation in a public conversation about the Christian message.

“This Easter the whole country will be talking about Jesus. Not about church politics or the finer points of theology, but about Jesus," he said.