This Friday, April 19 is Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ death. But why do we call this day “good,” of all things? When we consider the implications of Jesus’ death for the redemption of mankind, no word may be quite as effective as “good.”
Our Good Friday services will be at 5:30pm and 7pm, including scripture reading, singing, and a short message. Darkness is an important theme of the service both visually and artistically, and the service will end with communion and departure in silence. Why should you come to such a somber service? Thomas Watson writes, “Til sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” We encourage you to use this service to ponder the implications of sin and the good work of Jesus before we gather together again on Sunday for Easter—the sweet and night-crushing contrast. But first, here’s how you can prepare for Good Friday:
Read, pray, and sing through the service:
READING ONE: Matthew 26:36–56
Nothing But The Blood (Robert Lowry arr. Page CXVI)
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Stuart Townend, Charlie Hall arr. Chichi Agorom, The Christian Year)
READING TWO: Matthew 26:57–75
Psalm 22 (Joel Limpic arr. The Christian Year)
Jesus Paid It All (Elvina Hall, Kristen Stanfill)
READING THREE: Matthew 27:1–31
Man Of Sorrows (Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood)
In Christ Alone (Keith Getty, Stuart Townend)