Good Friday Five

RevHRod gives us this thoughtful Friday Five:

As a child the designation "good" for today confused me. How could we call such a somber day, good? Holy, yes. Blessed, yes. But, good?As an adult I understand the meaning of good for this day. It is a solemn day of remembrance but it is also a time for us to stop and recall the great gift of love that we received this day. And that is most certainly good.Our worship today will differ from place to place. Some services will focus on the great litany of prayers. Others will use the seven last words of Jesus. Some of us will walk the stations of the cross. Others will participate in a Tennebrae service of shadows and light.I hope that this Friday Five will be a meaningful part of your Good Friday. God's blessings to you on your journey.

1. Our prayer concerns are as varied as we are this day. For whom would you like us to pray?
For all of us, that we move lovingly and peacefully in our worlds.

2. Are there things you have done or will do today to help the young ones understand this important day in our lives?

I suspect I am one of the young ones... but I don't have much interaction with children right now. It's certainly something to think about for the future, though.

3. Music plays an important part in sharing the story of this day. Is there a hymn or piece of music that you have found particularly meaningful to your celebrations of Good Friday?

Starting last night, when I was working on my sermon for this evening, I couldn't get an old baptist hymn out of my head. "Oh, how I love Jesus, because he first loved me." The link below is just about how I heard it sung when I was tiny. (You get a different kind of hymn in Memphis than you get in PA.)

4. As you hear the passion narrative, is there a character that you particularly resonate with?

Peter. Always Peter. Enthusiasm, no sense.

5. Where have you seen the gracious God of love at work lately?

All over the place. God is slipping in through all the cracks and crevices lately.