On Good Friday, we stand in awe of the depth of God's love for each one of us. As you contemplate Christ's sacrifice today, the pastoral team invites you to observe Good Friday worship at Messiah. There are three opportunities.
In-person worship at 10:00a at the Hazel Dell campus sanctuary. Seating is by reservation only.
Click here to get the seats you need for your household »
Participate in the livestream of Good Friday worship at 10:00a.
Click here to link directly to the live YouTube broadcast »
Online Good Friday worship starting at 6:00p.
Click here to directly link to the YouTube broadcast »
Devotion
What is the very worst thing that we could imagine as God's people? That answer seems pretty simple: the death of God. And that happened on a Friday. And we call it good! Why? How? When the stock market crashed on a Thursday in 1929, the people called it "Black Thursday." When soldiers shot dozens of unarmed people in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 1972 on a Sunday, it was called "Bloody Sunday." Why would we call the day on which we mark the death of God "Good Friday"? Linger with that question for a while. Like, all day. Don't race to the Sunday school answer, or the catechism answer, or even the seminary answer. Just stay with the question. Even knowing the resurrection is coming, why would we call the day of the suffering and death of God "good"? Strip away the roses and gold from your image of the cross, and just linger on the question.
Prayer
Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me; help me walk from day to day with its shadow o'er me. Amen.
Rolf Jacobson, Professor of Old Testament and Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry, Luther Seminary