Good Friday Service

Somber! RIVETING! Calming! The Good Friday service at SJA tugged at the emotional core of my being. The two simple powerful themes, To see the suffering face of Jesus Christ - then reflect on suffering in our world To see our own need for Jesus’ healing touch ... gave voice to the symbolic centerpiece, a very large wooden CROSS. To begin the service, the presiders lay prostrate before the CROSS. Then in a darkened room (the gym), the contemporary Way of the CROSS was narrated by four speakers. Each station began with a brief scripture reading, setting the stage for the contemporary narrations. Hauntingly clear voices and over 100 startling slides created pungent, painful reflections. People and current events around the world were brilliantly tied to the contemporary narrative. I didn't want for take my eyes from the screen. The sights and words were riveting. After each station, a candle was carried to the CROSS until 14 candles were assembled. Reflective, quiet musical interludes by SJA musicians were calming. Following the contemporary Way of the CROSS, a veneration of the CROSS allowed each person to caress it. Traditional communion was distributed. The service concluded with children laying flowers at the foot of the CROSS. Three resounding wooden claps invited the congregation to silently depart. It was a powerful, sobering liturgy!

Jerry Hartlaub commutes from New Brighton with his wife, Trish, to be refreshed and challenged at the "SJA spiritual oasis". He's a Sunday mass slide jockey and often waiter at SJA events. For fun he's jogged over 35,000 miles, written a bunch of poetry, just printed his first book and invented lots of stuff in a 30-year bioengineering career. These days he teaches cardiac physiology and pacemakers as a consultant (ya, he's mostly retired), serves on non-profit boards and does Junior Achievement gigs. But most rewarding is providing some regular child-care for 2 of the world's smartest, cutest grandchildren.