Good Friday at Summit 419 Church

On Good Friday, Summit 419 in Coalville presented "Stations of the Cross." It was an interactive, powerful, self-guided journey through the last day of Jesus' life. As participants read, reflected, and responded to the sacrifice of Christ, they could understand more deeply what it means to worship with your entire life.

I participated last Friday. It was beautiful. The experience lasted 30-45 minutes in a self-guided pace. Essentially, each station was a significant event in that final day of Jesus' mortal life. Each station involved a reading, a prayer and a reflection/application. The stations were:

1. Jesus is condemned.

2. Jesus is mocked.

3. Simon helped carry the cross.

4. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

5. Jesus is nailed to the cross.

6. Jesus dies.

7. Jesus is taken down from the cross.

8. Jesus is placed in the tomb.

Between stations 6 and 7, communion was offered.

At the end, I was invited to light a candle and place it in the "tomb."

The experience provides a chance to experience the stations with all of the senses. From tasting the communion to smelling myrrh to feeling and taking a small glass cross.

Probably the most impactful station for me was station #5. We were invited to take a sheet of paper, write on it a sin that Jesus bears, and nail it to the cross "recognizing that because Jesus takes our sin upon himself, it has no power over us anymore." It felt meaningful and was a good reminder that Jesus paid the price for my sin.

It became a significant part of my Easter and I am grateful for Summit 419 for presenting this for the community. I'll be there next year!

-Eric