April 19, 2019 Good Friday

Blessings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

    Our final stop this week was to Swayzee Church of the Nazarene.  We gathered this evening to worship God and to prayerfully meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ.  Our worship music was led by a group from Sweetser Wesleyan.  The songs were powerful and beautiful.

   The message for our Good Friday service came from Pastor Mike Murrell, of Swayzee UMC.  His message examined the reason that this day is called "Good".  His words set the stage of Jesus death, but brought us to the true power of God and the completion of Jesus work.  At the moment of "It is finished." John 19:30, we no longer need to feel the weight of sin.  The shadow of death no longer be feared, because Jesus took on sin for you and me.  Pastor Mike's message was truly a blessing, as all of God's work this week has been.
   Following the message, the congregation was led through a Tenebrae service, which consists of Scripture readings and prayerful song.  As each candle gets extinguished, we are left in a place of darkness just as the disciples experienced over 2,000 years ago.  As everyone left in silence, we give thanks for Jesus and what he did on the cross.  We give praise to God, the Father, because of the grace and love that he has for us.  We fix our eyes to Easter.  The Resurrection of our Lord!

Praise God!
Pastor Jeremy