Good Friday
Good Friday is a day that proclaims the Father's goodness in loving and redeeming the world through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. To honor and reflect on this holy day, we invite you to a Stations of the Cross Prayer Experience. At some point on Friday, set aside approximately an hour and 15 minutes to listen through this audio service made available through the Transforming Center.
It is a custom of the Christian church to keep vigil with Christ at different times and in different ways throughout the three holiest days of the Church year–Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. During these days, we surrender ourselves completely to being with Christ in the depths of his passion on our behalf.
One of the places from which we draw this custom is Jesus’ request to the disciples to be near him and keep watch while he prayed and agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also know that there were those few–including Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and John–who stayed near the cross and kept watch as Jesus suffered and died. Despite the horror of what was taking place, they kept company with him until the very end. Join us as we keep vigil with Christ on Good Friday.
Some ideas to help you prepare:
It is a custom of the Christian church to keep vigil with Christ at different times and in different ways throughout the three holiest days of the Church year–Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. During these days, we surrender ourselves completely to being with Christ in the depths of his passion on our behalf.
One of the places from which we draw this custom is Jesus’ request to the disciples to be near him and keep watch while he prayed and agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also know that there were those few–including Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and John–who stayed near the cross and kept watch as Jesus suffered and died. Despite the horror of what was taking place, they kept company with him until the very end. Join us as we keep vigil with Christ on Good Friday.
Some ideas to help you prepare:
- Know that you are praying and listening through this experience with people around the world.
- Consider creating a simple “altar” with a cross, a candle you can light before beginning the service, and any other symbol you that might be meaningful to you and your family.
- If you would like to follow along with the prayers and readings, download the prayer guide by clicking here.
- In order to avoid awkwardness, make a decision ahead of time with your group about whether or not you will join in the singing of the hymns. Lyrics are included and we have intentionally chosen versions that are simple and easy to follow.
- The service will conclude in an open-ended way with the extinguishing of the candle. Decide ahead of time who will do this and how your group will conclude. For example, you could agree that all will leave silently in order to spend time alone in quiet and even journaling about Jesus has said to them at each station. Or it could be that there was one station individuals want to return to and linger with for awhile.
Prepare your hearts and press the play button when you are ready to begin. |
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