Church #15. Calvary Lutheran Church –Good Friday 2014.

Wecome to Good Friday 2014! So today I’m in Calvary Lutheran Church to observe Good Friday in a church for the first time in my life. One thing I noticed, was what was a tall brick wall, painted over with white paint, reminding me of the walls in school gyms that many of us know. There was only 2 pains of stain glass in this church, one to the left and right, one depicting Jesus playing with the children and the other of him praying in the garden just before we was arrested. The sermon and words to the song were displayed on two large digital projector screens on both sides of the front wall. There was also more seating on a second terrace.

When I walked in I was immediately greeted by a senior gentleman, who asked me if i would like a seat at the front? I was kind of taken back and didn’t know what to think of the situation (is he asking if I have been bad??)  I have never encountered a “church user” before kind of a pointless job don’t ya think? My reply was “ I’m sure I will find a comply spot” I said with a smile and I walked on past.  There was another senior lady standing with him, and I could hear her say “you’re not going to walk her down?!”Maybe I am a bit too independent for my own good.

I mention the two projectors earlier; there was also a full mic and sound system. All operated by what appeared to be 12 and 15 year old in the back left hand corner of the room. As my father would say “if you can’t figure out how to work a new piece of technology, go ask the youngest child.”

The church service began and it included a young girl in jeans and t-shirt, carrying in a 10 foot raw wooden cross on her shoulder and progressively dragging it to the front of the room. 

here it is just before they put it way. 

Being the day it was, it was not surprising that they read over the part of the bible that spoke of how Jesus was arrested, beaten up. And being treated like a game of hot potato being thrown back and forth between the Romans and the Jews as they decide who has to take the blood on their hands. (Eventually it was the Romans. ) I noticed that when they mentioned the “father, son and holly spirit” no one crosses themselves. I did it regardless just because I have been programmed this way.

There was so  much detail going on  that I could not scribble fast enough to take notes on all the things I had questions on, but I was able to  catch a few.

So I noticed that when Jesus is in the garden and he has this looming feeling that the jig is up, the authorities come for him. He confronts them head on and gives himself up willingly but will full assertion that he has done nothing wrong.  Then immediately Peter whips out his sward and cuts off the ear of one of the helper slaves in the crowd of solders, kind of as a warning shot. Jesus then asks him to back down, and is taken away. Simon ( aka Peter) is an odd one. Cause the same guy that pretty much pulls a weapon in front of a mass of roman soldiers and is like “if your goanna take Jesus you need to get thru me first!” But only a few weeks later consistently denies that he has any relation or friendship with Jesus, while Jesus was in custody. One hell of an indecisive guy in my opinion.

He also becomes the first bishop of Rome and is technically the start of the line of popes. He is believed to be the start of the Catholic Church. *rolls eyes grinds teeth.

There is mention that when Jesus is on the cross that he says he is thirsty and they happen to have a jug of sour wine sitting nearby, so they tie a sponge to a long stick and raise it up so he can drink, and after that moment he proclaims “it is finished” and instantly dies. Upon further inspection I discover that all this has a lot of meaning, because while Jesus is up there dying, all the Jews are celebrating Passover.  And in their celebrations they will drink sweet wine to celebrate there deliverance, but they will eat bitter foods with it to remind them of the suffering.  Jesus’ Passover was all suffering.

There is lastly mention of a secrete disciple, actually he had a few, but the one I will talk about is a guy named Nicodemus. The reason I find this so interesting is that Nicodemus was a Pharisee! The guy was part of the same organization that was out to persecute Jesus! That’s a pretty ballzy move in my opinion.  Doing the kind of job he did he could not meet up with him easily. He often had to sneak out at night to meet up with Jesus to talk to him. 

Normally church services end with people all meeting up and having tea and sweets in the basement while the children chase each other around. This was not the case; everyone was dead silent and filed out one by one. I was latter told that this is the tradition of Good Friday church service and should be treated like a day of morning.

There were many moments that were taken in-between readings to pray and meditate and one thing that was asked to be prayed for is that “our Jewish brothers and sisters find salvation in Christ”.

If you think that was a little eye brown raising? Wait till you hear what happened 2 days later. Over an hour of arguing with the pastor on Easter Sunday! What a gong show! 

 Was a lovely Friday! :)