Allen Creek Community Church in Marysville is having some fun with Easter this year putting on the original play “Easter Scrooged.”

The theme is similar to comic Bill Murray’s classic “Scrooged.” But it’s also got a little bit of “A Christmas Carol,” “Passion of the Christ,” and “Willie Wonka” tossed in.

Johnna Thiessen, who does a wonderful impression of Carol Kane as Ghost No. 2, said the play was written about 10 years ago by herself and others at the church. Stage manager Kellie Ade updated the script to make it more current.

The basic premise is Scrooge, played by Thiessen’s son Joren, is upset that Jesus, played by another of Thiessen’s son’s, Jaden, is getting so much attention at Easter. Scrooge owns a chocolate factory and wants it to have a bigger role. He films the play “Passion of the Christ” and inserts chocolate into it as often as he can.

For example, instead of breaking bread and saying, “This is my body broken for you,” Jesus in this play says, “This is my (chocolate) bunny broken for you.”

Just like the Murray character, Scrooge learns his lesson after being visited by ghosts of Easters past, present and future.

Brian Kesler, former drama teacher at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, is the director.

The play will be performed three times at the church, 7314 44th Ave. NE in Marysville. A free Easter dessert theater will take place April 3 at 7 p.m. A dinner service will be April 4 at 6 p.m. And it will be performed at both Easter services at 9 and 10:30 a.m. April 5.

Meanwhile, “He is risen” is a popular phrase for Christians to say every Easter.

But for the Arlington United Church, 338 N. MacLeod Ave., it will take on even more meaning this year as it will raise a new cross to the peak of its church and dedicate it Sunday, April 5.

“There’s never been a cross on this building, and it’s over one-hundred years old,” Pastor Deena Jones said. “And it’s about time. We are Christians.”

The church used donations from memorial gifts to pay for the cross. The church didn’t specifically set Easter as its dedication date, it just worked out that way.

However, Jones said March 27 that it doesn’t look like it will happen by Easter after all.

“This place takes a long time to get things done,” she said, only half-jokingly.

The ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m., between brunch at 9 and the service at 10:15. A Palm Sunday service March 28 will kick off Holy Week.

Other churches in Marysville and Arlington are planning special services for Easter. Some are having egg hunts and breakfasts. But at least two others are also putting on plays.

The Atonement Free Lutheran Church in Arlington, 6905 172nd St. NE, will put on a performance called, “The Story The Musical” at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Easter Sunday. It will offer a breakfast at 9:30.

The well-known play “The Passion of the Christ” will be performed from 4-6 p.m. April 3 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville, 4200 88th St. NE. On Palm Sunday, March 28, and Easter services will be at 9 and 10 a.m. Holy Thursday and Good Friday services are at 7 p.m. A Holy Saturday service will be and 4 a.m. and include a breakfast for those early risers.  An Easter vigil including bonfire will be at 9 p.m. A mass of Resurrection vigil will take place at 7 p.m. April 4 at St. Anne’s Mission, 7231 Totem Beach Rd. in Tulalip.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7215 51st Ave. NE, in Marysville, plans an Easter prayer vigil from 6 p.m. April 4 to 7 a.m. April 5. Services will follow at 8:30 and 11 a.m. On April 3, an Easter breakfast will take place from 7 a.m. to noon. Services for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will be a noon and 7 p.m.

• Marysville United Methodist Church, 5600 64th St. NE, will have Palm Sunday services March 29 at 9 and 10:45 a.m.; a youth-led with potluck Maundy Thursday April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Stanwood; Good Friday April 3 at 7 p.m.; and Easter at 9 and 10:45 a.m.

• Messiah Lutheran, 9209 State Ave. in Marysville, is having Palm Sunday services at 8 and 10:45 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday services at 7 p.m.; and Easter services at 7 and 10:45 a.m., with breakfast at 8:30.

• First Baptist Church, 4011 81st Pl NE in Marysville, is having a Good Friday service at 7 p.m., a sunrise Easter service at 6:30 a.m., breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and another service at 11 a.m.

• Mountain View Church is having a community egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. April 4 at 907 Lakewood Rd. Its Easter services are at 9 a.m. in Lakewood and 11 a.m. in Marysville, 9015 44th Dr. E.

• First Baptist Church, 426 N. French Ave. in Arlington, has a Palm Sunday service at 10:30 a.m., Good Friday at 7 p.m., and a 9 a.m. brunch and 10:30 a.m. service on Easter.

• Marysville Church of the Nazarene, 8240 64th St. NE, will have a 10 a.m. egg hunt April 4. Its Palm Sunday and Easter services are at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

• Mountain View Assembly 907 Lakewood Rd. in Arlington, is having an egg hunt April 4 and an Easter service at 10:30 a.m. April 5.

• Calvary Chapel, 1224B Cedar Ave. in Marysville, is having a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. and Easter services at 9 and 11 a.m.

• Arlington Free Methodist, 730 E. Highland Dr., is offering a 10 a.m. brunch between its 9 and 11 a.m. services on Easter.

• Calvary Arlington, 1216 E. 5th St., is offering treats for kids at its 10 a.m. Easter service at Eagle Creek Elementary.

• Damascus Road Church, 1050 State Ave., is offering a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. and an Easter service at 10 a.m.

• Sisco Heights Community Church, 15029 McElroy Rd. in Arlington, is having Easter service at 10:30 a.m.

• Faith Lutheran, 1424 172nd St. NE in Marysville, is having an Easter service at 10 a.m.

• Allen Creek Baptist, 8720 64th St. NE in Marysville, is having its service at 11 a.m.