Join us on Facebook for our Good Friday Family Service, on Friday 10th April, at 10.30am for a Live-streamed act of worship.
This will be particularly appropriate for families, including a dramatic reading of the story of Jesus’ last day and some interactive prayer activities.
Good Friday remembers the day Jesus died. We re-tell the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, appearance before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Jesus’ country, who sentences Jesus to death in response to the cries of the crowd, and finally, Jesus’ crucifixion on a cross. We remind ourselves of the pain and suffering Jesus endures before he finally dies, and is then buried.
At the heart of Good Friday we see the death of Jesus. We believe this is of infinite and eternal significance. Our church ancestors taught us that Jesus was born exactly like us in the truth of our human nature, except that he never sinned. He was clean of sin in his body and spirit, which meant he could be “the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world.” Because of Jesus’ death we can be made right before and with God, our sins keeping us apart from him. This act of being made “right with God” is described as being justified, reconciled, redeemed and saved. But this happens, not as a result of our works or anything about our nature, but by faith in Jesus. Salvation, being saved, is the free gift of God – who sent Jesus to die as an act of pure love. John writes in his gospel, “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life.” What good news! Which is why we call this day Good Friday.
Christians across the world mark Good Friday with church services, fasting and prayer.
We believe God loves it when we pray. Our Good Friday service will include some child-friendly prayer activities. You may want to join in with the prayer activities. If you do, here’s a list of things you might want to hand:
- Bubbles and bubble blowers
- Plasticine or Playdough
- Colouring
- Paper
- Cellotape
We’ll be singing ‘When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ at the end
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all!
