Good Friday on the Green

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

CANFIELD

The Rev. Susan Brown and the congregation of Canfield United Methodist Church are taking Christ’s message out of the sanctuary and into the streets, in a manner of speaking.

“In modern church development, you have to get out of the building. People just don’t walk in anymore,” the pastor said. “Since we’re recognized as the ‘church on the Green,’ we wanted to use that space as an extension of our ministry.”

For today’s Good Friday observance, the church will offer Stations on the Green from 5 to 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the activity will be in the church atrium. There will be 10 Stations of the Cross that were designed and created by church members. They are visual interpretations of accompanying Scripture passages. Interspersed among the stations will be prayer stations. The church pastor and volunteers will be available for prayer and conversation.

Pastor Susan said the idea came out of a worship conference that she attended that had Stations of the Cross set up. The pastor said she could envision the stations on the Green.

Last year was the first event; it attracted about 100 people. A visitor’s book revealed comments such as “inspirational, creative, meaningful, expressive, excellent interpretation, reflective, neat idea and a blessing.”

The positive response encouraged the church to repeat the activity.

Pastor Susan said the Stations of the Cross use visual interpretation and accompanying information from Scripture to tell the story from Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and his betrayal by Judas to his death on the cross and burial.

The pastor said she hoped the Scripture passages, underlined by the displays, will help people better comprehend the story and appreciate what Christ did. “We want people to have a better understanding what is being celebrated on Easter Sunday,” the pastor said.

The pastor also said there are lessons to be learned about compassion, unfairness, love, betrayal and acceptance. It is hoped people will “connect it to their everyday lives.”

Pastor Susan said Stations of the Cross may be more identified with Catholicism. But, she said, in the last 20 years, there has been a movement in Protestant churches to present “journey or footsteps to the cross.” She said Canfield’s interpretation differs from the traditional. Questions will engage visitors on how they might respond to the action that unfolds.

Gatha Meadows, a church member for about a decade, worked on Station 6, Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. “I believe the goal of this is to get people involved in the story,” she said. “These are significant events in our faith.”

Karen Royer, a member of the Aldersgate Sunday school class, also worked on Station 6. The women cut fabric hand shapes in various colors and designs. “We want to convey the idea that with our hands we can help Jesus today,” she said.

Judy Capirano, who has attended the church since 2000, worked on Station 5, Jesus meets his mother. “We hope people would understand and feel her sadness,” she said. Overall, she said, the activity speaks to everyone. “We carry the cross in our own way,” she said.

Jill Kercher, a member of the worship committee, worked on Station 1, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. She was fashioning green fabric to create a gardenlike setting. “It makes you think how you might react. ... Would you bargain, accept and just get through it?” she said of the stations.