Good Friday, the most somber day of the church year. It is all about death. It is all about what Jesus did for us. OR how the New Testament authors told the story of the fulfillment of Old Testament scripture. However we worship on this day, it is somber.
We enter a church stripped of all her refinement -- no candles, no fair linen everything taken away last evening by the Altar Guild. We pick up our service bulletins and take our seats quietly, barely nodding our greeting to others. We silently pray. We look over the service bulletin to check our responses. We await the entrance of the priest and choir who will enter in silence.
But WAIT! What is that I hear? Not the murmurings of the choir gathering, not whispered conversation from those seated behind. What is it? I hear 'Yes, Jesus.' I hear 'Hallelujah.' Those are the only words that I pick up but I hear the cadence and it is all well miked. It is the congregation that worships in the Undercroft beneath this worship space. They are NOT quiet worshipers. They want God to hear them. It is not the quiet way that we worship on this day. But it is their way.
At first I am annoyed. How am I possibly going to manage under these conditions? How dare my worship be compromised. But who are the interlopers here? They are worshipping at their regularly scheduled time. WE are the ones who are out of the norm. This is THEIR time. Well, really it is God's time. We worship in a way differently than they do. It is all the same God. Isn't it wonderful that we can all share this space and worship the same God albeit in a different manner.
I turn my attention to our own service. I have to concentrate. We pray part of Psalm 22 together. Together we can hear ourselves. The Passion is read. We hear it all. Clearly. Perhaps the congregation downstairs is having silent prayer. I don't know. I don't remember. During the sermon I have to watch Lois' mouth to be sure that I hear and understand the words. I have to concentrate. I am eventually able to let the downstairs service be a background for the sermon. It isn't easy but I manage. I hear the sermon. I understand the sermon. I get the message. We sing "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" We leave in silence. Was there really silence? I don't remember.
2 days ago
