Friday, April 2, 2004
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Friday, April 2, 2004 |
| A ‘Good’ thing happens next Friday By DAVID EPPS Next Friday is a day in the Peachtree City area when the truly remarkable will occur. Throughout the Christian world, believers in Jesus Christ will observe Good Friday, the day when Jesus was horribly beaten and crucified on a cross for the sins of the world. The Church has observed this day as a Holy Day for centuries. In Peachtree City, some eight ministers representing eight different denominations will gather at noon, along with about 1,000 Christians of several more denominations, in the beautiful new sanctuary of Peachtree City United Methodist Church for a joint Good Friday service of worship. In many ways, this is a remarkable event. For 1,000 years, the Christian Church was, more or less, the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Then, in 1054, the Church in the East (which was to be known hereafter as “the Orthodox churches”) and the Church in the West (known to history since as the “Roman Catholic Church”) divided over several issues. Each excommunicated the other and, although the excommunications have since been lifted, the Church family has, since that time, been a “broken family.” While some would contend that one or the other is the “true church,” it is just as true that if Mr. Jones and Mrs. Jones divorce each other, the family is broken and is not what it was, regardless of who was at fault or who has custody of the children. Neither constitutes the “whole family” or even the “only family.’ Half a millennium later, the Great Reformation began and, today, the Body of Christ is more broken and mangled that Mel Gibson could ever possibly portray on film, with estimates of up to 40,000 different sects and denominations. Which is why the Good Friday service in Peachtree City is something a bit special. For over 20 years, Christians have put aside their differences for an hour and a half a year on Good Friday and gather to celebrate all that they hold in common. Over the years, clergy from churches as diverse as Roman Catholic, Church of Christ, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, Episcopal (ECUSA), Christian Church, United Methodist, Presbyterian (PCUSA), Lutheran (ELCA), Charismatic Episcopal, Independent Charismatic, and others have participated in this event that focuses on the cross and the sacrifice of Christ. Musicians, readers, and ushers from all these many churches have also participated and the services have been held in all of the Peachtree City churches that are large enough to accommodate the crowds. For over 20 years, The Rev. Bob Tyler coordinated the services and, for the last two or three years, Dr. George Dillard has fulfilled these responsibilities. For an event that has become such a significant part of the Peachtree City community, it’s good to remember that it was all birthed out of relationships at a breakfast long ago. Over two decades ago, ministers from the Peachtree City area were gathering weekly for breakfast and fellowship. Friendships developed, trust began to be established and, somewhere along the line, the idea for a joint Good Friday service was born. No one church “sponsors” the event; no one person “owns” the service. While many participate and many share, the service still has its roots and its foundation in the “Wednesday Minister’s Breakfast” that continues to meet weekly at 8:30 a.m. at Mike and C’s on Ga. Highway 74 and, in a real sense, is “owned” by all the churches and believers of the community. Many people go to the service to support their own pastor while others attend so that they can hear the “other voices” that speak to the faithful in sister churches throughout the community. Still others attend simply to worship and to give honor to the one who died on that day nearly 2,000 years ago. Others attend because they relish the idea that, for a very brief period of time, the church is “one,” or, at least, it is more “one” than it is during the other days of the year. Some may even attend in a quest to see what church and the faith is all about. For the ministers, it’s an opportunity to share a moment, to share the pulpit, with people they respect and value. For an hour and a half, sacramentalists, fundamentalists, conservatives, liberals, men, women, black, white, ordained and laity are-not Baptists or Lutherans or Catholics or Pentecostals-but brothers and sisters in the faith. It’s a moment to relish and to dream of what the future can be, with God’s help. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples; that you have love one for another.” [Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church which meets at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sundays at 4881 E. Hwy 34. He may be contacted at 770-252-2428, at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ctkcec.org.] |