Good Friday: Surveying

So Good Friday is here. We’ve been to three services today, two I led and one I received. At each, we sang When I survey the wondrous cross, perhaps the most well known passion tide hymn. A tomb has been put outside Allhallowgate, a cross has been erected on the market ground, a cross was processed to and behind in the cathedral this afternoon. 

We’ve made the cross less brutal but on this day we need to remember in Jesus’ time it was the most brutal and barbaric way to get rid of someone. That Jesus went to a cross to bear the sins of the world and to identify with the outcast and unwanted of the world is why we call this day Good. Today we acknowledge where we are and where God is. I called it “anyhow love” this morning. Despite what we do to him, he loves us anyhow. 

I was really glad to lead the ecumenical service on the market ground in Ripon today. A large number of us gathered. I wonder what people who surveyed the cross and us by it, made of it all. We then later went and joined the Good Friday liturgy at the cathedral. It was a wee bit high church for me today. But I did join three processions. One to stand in front of the cross in silence, one to receive communion and one behind the cross as we followed it into St Wilfrid’s crypt, where worship has been offered since 972,  leaving it there and going back into the nave, going out into the world. 

At Allhallowgate this morning some of them put a tomb outside. We ended our service round it remembering Jesus is now laid in the darkness and silence and we are all called to rest and wait. 

The drama of Good Friday is done. I’m exhausted but doing the whole story is always very moving. It’s been a holy time. 

Here’s a fun postscript! The former Bishop of Barking has been doing all the talks in the cathedral this week. We sat in the back row for worship this afternoon and overheard someone say “is anyone here from Skipton? The Bishop needs a lift home.” We had planned to go and get some time out in the countryside after the service so I turned to Lis and said we could take him. This message was passed on to the stunned Dean and clergy that the Methodist minister was scooping up the Bishop! I’ve never had a Bishop in my car before…!!! Even if he is a retired one he’s still a Bishop! 

Oh then we went to survey some highland cattle!