Offering a Good Friday service for children that helps them to understand this day is always a challenge. At St. John’s Port Moody, the deacons came up with a way of offering the Stations of the Cross that would relate to their lives. We met with the young people of the parish and read through six scripture verses from Good Friday.
They were asked to relate these to their lives and to tell us what images came to mind. From this discussion the six images were drawn in caricature by Deacon Trudi Shaw and then painted by the youth. Once the painting was done they wrote a short reflection on each image.
During the service, for each image the related bible verse was read, a verse from the call and response song, written by our Music director Laree Mohr, was sung and then the appropriate reflection that the youth had written was read. At the end of each reading as a bowl bell was sounded the image was covered with a piece of red chiffon.
At the end of the service there are six boards covered with chiffon and a votive candle by each, standing in the centre of the room is a stark wooden cross
Images left to right: Jesus before Pilate, Jesus is hung and crucified, Jesus is mocked, Jesus on trial, Peter disowns Jesus, Jesus is abandoned in the garden.
PETER DENIES JESUS
REFLECTION
“Jesus, you told Peter that one day he would admit to not knowing you. You knew the humanity in Peter and how difficult it would be for him at this time. We hope that we can always stand by our friends especially if they are in a difficult situation. Jesus help us not to be judgmental, help us to stand up for our friends and to be true friends. Help us not to ridicule others for their beliefs or for being different.”