Hallelujah, What a Savior

The best Good Friday continues. Here's a description that I wrote for a friend who would have absolutely adored this service.

Good Friday, at my small, Jesus-loving, beautiful Seattle hipster church:

We're meeting in a small room tonight - we rent our space weekly. I walk in to dim lighting, and the Lord's supper on a simple table up front. Metal folding chairs line the room and kids run circles in the empty space. 4 year old Fjola holds the Jesus Storybook Bible and looks at me, saying, "Can someone please read me the story of the sick girl and the frail lady?" I sit with her and two of her brothers, and we read until the service starts.

Our pastor prays, and then sits in a chair up front. He reads 6 passages of scripture, giving space for silent prayer and meditation between each one. We take a quiet, reflective communion and then someone starts the acapella singing of O Sacred Head Now Wounded. The body stands and joins in. We pause together and lift hands to sing and proclaim, "Hallelujah, What a Savior". Our pastor comes and prays and then many join to go get ice cream together.

It was simple, beautiful, powerful.