Our Good Friday reflection this year was guided by the theme ‘At The Foot Of The Cross". I crafted a special liturgy to guide our worship. Thanks to my friend and colleague Rev. Tanecia McFarlane (New Haven Baptist, Jamaica) who helped with the fine-tuning.
Using a series of readings interspersed with songs, prayers and a short message worshipers were invited to insert themselves into the scene ‘At The Foot Of The Cross’ right at the point of the Crucifixion. Before the worship service began, persons were given 2 pieces of paper, one with a number and the other a blank sheet.
Congregants were seated according to their numbers which represented the following groups: The Chief Priest, Scribes and other Pharisees, the Roman officials and soldiers, the disciples, other disciples and followers, and naturally some curious onlookers.
Need I tell you that no one was happy to be among the Pharisees and the Roman officials. Good thing it was pre-organized. Everyone thought it was interesting that even though the Choir members arrived at different times with the exception of 4 persons – all the choir members got the same number and ended up in the same group.
We sometimes hide behind the fact that we are reading a centuries old story. We have the luxury of knowing how the story turned out. We can act self-righteous and say we would never have behaved like the people in the crowd, never denied him as Peter did, nor deserted him like his disciples. We would vehemently insist that we would ‘follow King Jesus till we die’. How are we really doing as Jesus followers today?
Response Of His Followers Today
The entire service was structured for reflection and confession. We were led to confess that we still fail Christ today. We deny, reject and desert him. We make a mockery of his name. And these things we do every time we ‘take off’ righteousness at those times when it is inconvenient to let others know we are Christians. Every time we are unavailable. Every time we turn our backs on those who are in need. And the list goes on…
As an act of confession the congregation wrote the areas we have fallen short in on the bits of paper. Then we walked forward after the message and dropped the confessions in a jar filled with "blood" at the foot of the cross. And no..we did not use real blood.
On Easter Sunday the members will receive a clean sheet of paper signifying their sins have been washed away. They also take back a stone representing the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. [I got the idea of the stone from an Easter service I attended a few years ago in a Mennonite church in Indianapolis.]
Interesting Blend Of Visitors
Our service had visitors from other congregations, as well as several relatives of members who are visiting from the US. The most pleasant surprise of the day however was a woman from England who arrived in Colon aboard a Cruise Ship. Since they did not offer worship services on the ship, she went in search of a church and found ours. She joined one of the groups and even read one of the lessons.
Remembering Past Good Friday Service
You’ll no doubt be interested to know that (now 3 years old) MJ from my encounter with him last year in A Child’s Good Friday Challenge came to say hello. It was my turn to ask him ‘Donde estas Jesus’? He responded by pointing upwards. Feigning ignorance I asked, ‘donde’? He gave his, you are so dumb laugh and responded – ‘en cielo!’ (in heaven). Obviously, his Sunday School teachers have done a much better job than I did.
Enjoy this short meditational video
Easter Blessings,
Marvia
To me, it’s worth considering the view from the cross as well as from the foot of the cross.
Paul,
Happy Easter!
Thanks for visiting. Both views are extremely critical. I do not even think they can be separated. It is the view from the cross that puts into proper perspective the view from the foot of the cross.
Peace,
Marvia