Good Friday Worship Gathering

Intro

We spent time to meditate on His sacrifice both as individuals and small groups. We travelled to different parts of the building to experience distinct aspects of the crucifixion story. Using different senses, I think we deepened our spiritual connection with Jesus. Yes, it was different than a typical worship gathering, but then again, the first Good Friday was different than what God’s people had seen of Him before. That God would die a humiliating painful death?!? Very different than natural thinking! I think we met our goal to leave refreshed and renewed in appreciation and commitment to Him.


The Meditation Activities

Meditation A
“That Which We Touched with Our Hands”

Around the room were six objects with ink pads alongside each object. We read the text related to each object. We stamped the object on the ink pad and then the corresponding box in our booklet. As we handled each object, we thought about that day many years ago when our Lord endured hardship to obtain your soul. If you were in a group, you talked about the objects and shared insights together.


Meditation B
“That Which We’ve Heard”

There was a song playing in the room on repeat. Wherever in the song you came into the room, you just followed along and let the truths soak in to your heart. As you began to tune your heart, you used the space below to journal, write a poem, draw a picture, or otherwise express your thoughts about our great Savior.

The Lamb of God
Written by Twila Paris
Performed by the Mars Hillbillies
Your only Son No sin to hide
But You have sent Him,
From Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become
the Lamb of God

Your gift of Love
They crucified
They laughed and scorned
Him as He died
The humble King
They named a fraud
And sacrificed
The Lamb of God

Chorus:
Oh Lamb of God,
Sweet Lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in
His precious Blood
My Jesus Christ,
the Lamb of God

I was so lost
I should have died
But You have brought me
To Your side
To be led by
Your staff and rod
And to be called
A lamb of God

Chorus (twice)


Meditation C
“That Which We’ve Tasted”

Here, we observed the Lord’s Supper. The Scriptures teach us that “as often as we eat the bread and drink of the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Both with the bread and cup, Jesus taught us that we should eat it in remembrance of Him. There is something evangelistic to taking part in this meal. We both remember and proclaim. There is nothing magical or supernatural in this meal, but rather it brings our heart and mind back to that singular event 1,980 years ago as we remember and proclaim His death for our souls. As we took part in this meal of remembrance, we took time to pray individually or corporately, quietly or out-loud. Some read Scriptures, sang a praise, thanked the Lord for His death for our sakes.


Meditation D
“That Which We’ve Seen with Our Eyes”

In this experience, we got a visible picture of what Christ did for us on the cross. On a table, there were note cards, pens, nails, and hammers. Each of us took a card and wrote our sins on it. No one looked at this except you and the Lord. The cards were disposed of with respect to privacy. This was a time to carefully, introspectively talk with God about your faithfulness. We confessed to Him and then rejoiced that it has already been removed from us on the cross. We took to heart these words from Colossians: “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (2:13-14) After we wrote, we folded the card twice and nailed it to the cross. I think we felt the release as we saw that Jesus really has paid it all… sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!


Meditation E
“That Which We’ve Looked At”

Here, we picked one or two of the last sayings of Jesus while on the cross and meditated on them. Each passage along with a visual depiction hung on the wall. We read it over in our Bibles. We considered what drove Jesus to utter THOSE words out of all the things He could have said. Then we asked God to give us desires that are in tune with Jesus’.
1. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:32-34)
2. I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43)
3. Mother, Your son. Son, your mother. (John 19:25-27)
4. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:45-49)
5. I Thirst (John 19:28-29)
6. Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. (Luke 23:44-46)
7. It is finished! (John 19:30, Rev. 21:5-6)


Opening and Closing

We spent five minutes before and after the travelling to worship through public Scripture readings and the singing of praises as well as prayer. This unified us on a collective quest despite the private journeying during the bulk of the gathering time. Overall, all the feedback (written and oral) that I received was very favorable and young and old got a lot of spiritual nourishment from the gathering.