COAL GROVE — It is a 2,000-year-old story, some say the greatest story ever told, and this weekend, it will be brought to the lawn of a local church.

Coal Grove Memorial United Methodist Church will perform its second annual outdoor Easter drama this Friday and Saturday.

Pastor Brad Jenkins said he hopes that people will attend the program to experience the true meaning of Easter.

“This story is the basis of our faith as Christians,” he said. “I think sometimes we get clouded and visions get fogged with society throwing what they think of as Easter, the Easter bunny, eggs and candy, different things like that.”

The program will begin with Jesus’ triumphal Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem and end with His resurrection from the tomb.

“We go through each scene and it takes a lot of involvement from the people in the church,” Jenkins said. About 20-25 people are involved in the production of the drama.

“We’ve built some sets, but most of it is minimal,” he said. “Most of the story is told through the actors portraying the scenes.”

Jenkins said about 250-300 people came to the program last year over two days, and is hoping more people will attend this year.

“This year, the word’s gotten around a little bit more so we are expecting bigger numbers if the weather holds out for us,” he said.

He also said the program is a way for the church to reach out to the community.

“We just wanted to think of a way to reach out beyond the walls of the church and out into the community and to portray the true meaning of Easter in a way that would relate to people and where they could experience the story for themselves,” Jenkins said. “The death, burial and resurrection, to portray that and to try and get that across to people and have them to leave here experiencing the true meaning, that’s extremely important to us.”

The program will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday outside the church at 226 Memorial St. in Coal Grove.

“If you have some doubt, I would say just put those aside and come out, have a seat,” Jenkins said. “Just come with an open mind and experience the meaning of Easter come to life right before your eyes.”