Monday 28 March 2016

He Died to Set Us Free

Although not even a holiday in the East Midlands, Good Friday is a major day of remembrance for Christians. It was then that Jesus voluntarily submitted to crucifixion, the most horrendous of deaths, bearing the sin of the world, to open the possibility of peace with God.

As many people have to work, the Churches Together in Oadby organised a single united service at 10 a.m. on Good Friday morning at Trinity Methodist Church. As well as the opportunity for prayer, praise and worship, the drama group gave a powerful presentation of the events of the first Good Friday. This was followed by tea and coffee and hot cross buns.

In the evening, at St Paul’s, we had a service of reflection. Apart from hymns, prayers and readings, there were also a number of stations which the congregation visited during the service. This gave opportunity for meditation as the stations included not only verses and poems but also physical reminders (hammer, nails and candles) and sensory reminders – the taste of vinegar and the smell of myrrh.

May we never forget the cost of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.