Is your church having a service on Good Friday?

[4Squarebaby]

My local church council decided to hold Good Friday services. It is not at the suggestion/order of the local supervisor or international headquarters

 

[Bill_Pick]

I play for Mass, but I also play every Sunday in a Protestant church. The choir director thought there was a Good Friday service, but wasn’t sure of the time. So, I asked the pastor to make sure the time would not conflict with our Catholic service. The pastor said they are not having a Good Friday service. Imagine my surprise! This church is having a service Holy(Maundy) Thursday, though. I made the comment that there is no Easter without Good Friday. She had no response.

Does your church have a service on Good Friday. If not, why not?

I doubt you will be able to make me understand this, but thank you for your responses and any insight.

Yes We have stations of the croossbot h at 12pm and then again at 7;30

 

[LindaSK]

Yes We have stations of the croossbot h at 12pm and then again at 7;30

We had Stations of the Cross after Mass every Friday evening during Lent. Father has services Good Friday at 2 churches, one at noon, another at 3 PM, but no Stations. He ‘reminded’ people to come Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. I’m afraid it falls on many deaf ears. We only had an increase of about 40 people** total **for the 4 weekend Masses for Palm Sunday.

 

[Apryl]

We had Stations of the Cross after Mass every Friday evening during Lent. Father has services Good Friday at 2 churches, one at noon, another at 3 PM, but no Stations. He ‘reminded’ people to come Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. I’m afraid it falls on many deaf ears. We only had an increase of about 40 people** total **for the 4 weekend Masses for Palm Sunday.

I’m using the excuse that I’m the child of two converts, but I didn’t know about the Holy Thursday Mass until recently.

I have only gone a few times, since it wasn’t in my heart as some obligation.

 

[LindaSK]

I’m using the excuse that I’m the child of two converts, but I didn’t know about the Holy Thursday Mass until recently.

I have only gone a few times, since it wasn’t in my heart as some obligation.

I know a number of Protestants who attend churches that have no Holy Week observances. Remember that Holy Thursday is the day Christ instituted the Eucharist. I hope you will go again this year.

I am a convert. But, as a UCC (similar to Ev. Lutheran) convert, Holy Week has always been special. I was confirmed in the UCC on Palm Sunday, and received my first UCC communion on Holy (Maundy) Thursday. And Good Friday - we would never miss it. Our churches were full! There is no Easter without Good Friday. I believed it as a child. I am more and more convinced of it every year. As far as my son is concerned, too, Good Friday is a ‘Holy Day of Obligation’! And, yes, I know it is not officially, but, it should be, and I treat it as such!! Easter Vigil, 2007, I received my first Communion as a Catholic!!! What an awesome Mass. I would not miss it! I hope you go.

I am Catholic now, but, my Christian upbringing was part of my journey to where I am. I have always understood the importance of attending services throughout Holy Week. I am grateful for that.

What we did not have on Holy Thursday night, of course, was a ‘Vigil’ - a watch. I appreciate that now. I hope your church has a time of Adoration after Holy Thursday Mass - waiting with Jesus, as Jesus asked his disciples to wait with Him when He prayed in the garden. I love that quiet time with Jesus as Good Friday approaches.

Have a good Holy Week.

 

[Zooey]

My church (United Methodist) is open on Good Friday, & we have an organist/pianist playing throughout the day.
There is no formal “service” as such, but the kneelers are out around the altar, and people come in to pray…We have done this for as long as I have been a member, & we often have folks come in from other churches, just to be able to have this time for silent meditation & prayer.

 

[blazerdave]

My church (United Methodist) is open on Good Friday, & we have an organist/pianist playing throughout the day.
There is no formal “service” as such, but the kneelers are out around the altar, and people come in to pray…We have done this for as long as I have been a member, & we often have folks come in from other churches, just to be able to have this time for silent meditation & prayer.

That sounds very nice!

 

[mary_bobo]

We are having Morning Prayer in the morning, Stations of the Cross in the afternoon and a Celebration of the Lord’s Passion and Death on the Cross in the evening. We are also having walking Stations of the Cross at the Catholic cemetary.

 

[The_Reginator]

I’m using the excuse that I’m the child of two converts, but I didn’t know about the Holy Thursday Mass until recently.

I have only gone a few times, since it wasn’t in my heart as some obligation.

I could never miss it.
We celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper and have the washing of the feet. Before the stripping of the alter there is the procession of the Blessed Sacrament followed by a time of adoration. (“Stay awake and watch with me.”)
(We used to even have all night adoration. I recall getting up in the middle of the night and heading off to church to spend an hour with our Lord.)

Dominus vobiscum.