Good Friday

Dear Central Family,

The paradox that is at the heart of Christian faith is expressed in the name for today: Good Friday.  It seems like it should be called Dark Friday, Tragic Friday, Terrible Friday or The Worst Friday Ever. But - and God always has a but to our human wisdom - "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised to bring to nothing the things that are" (I Corinthians 1:27).  We call this particular Friday good because of what God did for all of creation.

Between 6:00 and 9:00 am, Jesus was tried by Pilate.  It was a mockery of a trial. Jesus was mocked, whipped, made a laughing stock: "He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for out iniquities, with his stripes we are healed. He was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter, they made his grave with the wicked, although he had done no violence" (Isaiah 53)

At mid-morning, and extending through mid-afternoon, Jesus was crucified.  Crucifixion was a horrific and excruciating form of capital punishment used to intimidate the crowd and keep the peace. The Romans were the only ones who had legal authority to crucify in the Roman Empire. The gospels record some of what Jesus said from the Cross.  We have seven different phrases that were remembered and passed on in the Scriptures. After Jesus breathed his last the curtain in the temple was ripped apart from top to bottom.  Could it be that we all have access to God through the crucifixion of Jesus?

At Central there are two experiences designed to help you walk through this day;

1. At 12:00noon we will gather for THE GOOD FRIDAY COMMUNITY WIDE PILGRIMAGE sponsored and hosted by the Elk River Ministerial Association. We begin at Central's Parking Lot and then proceed to the Crossing, St. Andrews, United Methodist, Immanuel Lutheran, Union Congregational, Holy Trinity and back to Central.  We will hear the scriptures, sing songs, have times of silence as we follow the Cross with other Christ followers in our community.
2. At 7:00 pm we have our TENEBRAE WORSHIP OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS.  Seven members of Central will share their mission pilgrimage to seven different countries.  This should be a powerful time as we hear Jesus seven words from the Cross and the words of seven witnesses for Christ. 
3. Today is Good because on this day Jesus gave his life for you and me.  It was not the nails that kept Jesus on the Cross but his unwavering and steadfast love for you, me and all the people of the world. So today think long and hard about what Jesus Christ did for us. Feel sorrow, grieve and cry as the darkness brings this day to an end. And after Jesus died Joseph of Arimathea took his body and placed him in a tomb not knowing what the days would bring.  We however know the story so on Saturday we silently wait for what we know is coming on the first day of the week!

Paul

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Easter Worship is 6:30 outside around the fire and 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, & 11:00 at Central.  The Why Church is at 9:30 am at the YMCA and the Gathering meets at 6:30pm.