Comments on: How to Observe Good Friday

on 3/21/2008 Or.... We could pray and thank God the Father for sending His only Son to die for all of our sins. Also we can thank Jesus for dieing on the cross. He bore our sins and transgressions. He was beaten and scared for us. Thank you Lord Jesus for All that You have done for us. Praise God Almighty!!

on 3/21/2008 We stripped the altar yesterday of everything in Maundy Thursday in preparation for today. The biggest thing is to prepare our hearts and minds.

on 4/6/2007 running's comment is not true. there is no wine at church, but there is communion (or the bread of christ)

on 4/6/2007 Actually, Good Friday is the only day in the year that catholics don't have communion since christ has not risen from the dead yet.

on 8/8/2006 1. I would love to see the somber mood that causes us to consider the physical and emotional aspect of the human side of Christ, to be taken, as it were, past the veil to what was accomplished by the cross and through His blood, in the spiritual realm. To have those things focused on with equal if not greater impact.

2. I long to see the time of remembrance infused with more and more power as we recognize more and more of what was secured for us by Christ's death. I long to hear how my God shook the entire universe at the upheaval of sins curse when it was reversed. To hear the marvelous and most powerful declarations of what was finished throughout eternity when He died.
3. I would love to hear the truths that would prompt my faith, to have the eyes of my understanding opened to reveal to me the height, depth, and width, as much as my human mind could possibly grasp. That it might register in the very depths of my being and spirit the power of the cross as accomplished in some of these ways:

The darkness of three hours was while He was dying, but at His death it broke and light was restored because, it was finished.\t
The powerful earthquake was a mere token of the spiritual ramifications as they rippled through the universe.
The 30 foot high veil in the temple was torn from the top down by the hands of God as He displayed that the religious systems with the traditions of men were done away with.
Access was granted to who ever would believe, whether Jew or gentile the division of men was eliminated.
The veil separating man from God was torn apart granting us access by His precious and pure blood into the very Holy of Holies to have fellowship with God the Father, and renewing the fellowship that God intended from the Garden of Eden.
His blood changed the judgment seat to the mercy seat for me
Unmerited and overwhelming forgiveness of the debt of my sins. My Release from my bondage and shackles, of my slavery to sin. The Release from the authority of the law of sin and death over my life.
He took upon Himself the wrath I was due, the angel of death no longer can threaten me because the blood of Christ the True and Risen Passover Lamb is on the door post of my heart.\t
I was granted Freedom from the wrath of God on my life for my personal sin and was marked paid in full.
Though my sins stained me red He made me white as snow. Righteousness was imputed toward me if I would believe in the power of the cross, being made holy and blameless by His substitutionary sacrifice. Satan being put to an open shame destroying the works of the devil. He canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross and My peace with God was accomplished. He disarmed the powers and principalities; He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
God Himself could bridge the chasm that separated us from Him. Order for my life had been re-established. This act enabled justification and the long sought after atonement by His blood. I was ransomed by a price so great and thereby redeemed from Satan personally. A new and better covenant was established, by new and better promises secured for all of eternity for all those who would repent and believe.
He retrieved the keys to Hell and death and destroyed the one who had the power of death, the devil. His fulfillment of every prophecy regarding the first coming as Messiah ben Yosef is fulfilled and so I can fully trust that each one relating to the second coming as Messiah ben David will be fulfilled with equal precision.

2. To see the big picture of God's Glory, to have the eyes of the spirit and see from a heavenly perspective not an earthly one. To be left with an earth shaking and gloriously awesome understanding of what was fiercely secured by Christ for me.

3. An evening where people were encouraged to express themselves with the freedom and liberty Christ secured for us by so high a price. Where songs, free praise and jubilant adoration from the redeemed would have boldly and loudly drowned out any mockery from the past 2000 years of revilers and demons alike.

4. Where the people were encouraged to pray with each other, for our weaknesses, for our faults, comforting those that were in remorse for their sins and rebellions to Him and encouraging one another in our display of faith, with humble yet enthusiastic thanksgiving for the wonder of the cross!

5. To recognize the power and authority the cross is to have in our lives every day, that we are not our own, but have been purchased by His blood, to live holy lives as He is holy. To be crucified with Christ, putting to death my sinful man and thereby living in the power of His resurrection today.

6. To see the body of Christ among us in corporate form, moving as many parts with one focus and understanding from the head, in full unity and community. Getting a glimpse of the full stature of Christ.

7. Then encouraging everyone to come back on Sunday morning for the Grand finale! And at that service really pull out all the stops. A call to everyone to be completely engaged in faith, Stepping outside our comfort zones of praise. He rose from the dead! We shouldn't be able to contain our selves if this is real and we have even a small grasp of the hem of His garment here. If we can grasp just the fringes of His prayer shawl, we would be electrified with His power to walk out our lives here with a small dose of His resurrection power.

8. To hear again and be reminded of the tremendous earthquake that shattered the seal of governments and kingdoms, religious and secular, causing mighty men to fall in fear as dead men before the Tomb of the Risen Lord.

9. How Christ was the first fruits from the dead, rising on that holy Jewish holiday, and not just Himself but dead believers being resurrected and going into the city to further testify of His power and authority over death.

Resurrection Sunday should be the most explosive, loudest, most vibrant celebratory and radical service because of what was accomplished and fulfilled.

on 11/22/2005 Although only Catholics in a state of grace may receive Holy Communion (the Body of Christ) on Good Friday, all who come to Good Friday services may participate in veneration of the cross. This is when ALL are invited to process to the front of the church (just as people do for Holy Communion) where a cross is held for people to participate in some symbolic gesture such as touching the cross, kissing the cross, embracing the cross. It is a powerful way to honor the way in which Christ won our salvation for us. After you have made your gesture, you just walk back to your seat in the church along with the rest of the procession.

on 11/22/2005 Listen to the "St. Matthew Passion" or the "St. John Passion" by J.S. Bach. Both are beautiful, moving musical settings of the passion story by a truly great Christian composer.

on 11/22/2005 Ever since I was little, we took the hours from 12:00 to 3:00 pm to focus on Christ's death. Reading the story of the Crucifixion, thanking Jesus for dying for us and then spending the rest of the time being quiet.

on 11/22/2005 Light several candles in the evening and read verses from the bible, blowing out a candle after each chapter. When all the candles are blown out leaving the room in darkness, retire for the night and wait to celebrate the resurrection!

on 11/22/2005 Gather your children around and read to them the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Remember that all are welcome to receive Holy Communion in the Protestant faith.

on 11/22/2005 I am an Orthodox Christian and
our Holy Week is the week after
the western Easter. Our
Easter service is at midnight
on April 29. We will have a
special liturgy each day that
week, with great solemnity and
joy on Pascha (our Easter).

on 11/22/2005 On Good Friday, after returning home from services at Our Lady of Peace, my favorite way to spend the afternoon is to listen to the original soundtrack from "Jesus Christ, Superstar."

on 11/22/2005 Episcopal churches observe Good Friday and Easter in much the same way as Catholic churches, and every baptized person is welcome at the Lord's table.

on 11/22/2005 At my work, the only required dress is the white uniform shirt. I wear black jeans and a black turtleneck under the shirt. So whenever I notice the black under the white, I remember what Christ had to do to secure my salvation. Corny, but it works!

on 11/22/2005 When Christ was on the cross, he was given vinegar when he asked for water. In my family, on Good Friday morning we sip a bit of vinegar. We then spend most of the day in church.