DWS703 Christian Year

A Convergent Good Friday Service

Objective:

I would like to deepen the understanding of the significance of Good Friday through a Biblical,
theological, and historical research and revelation renewal in the Holy Spirit; then introduce the
spiritual significance of this day to my church members and celebrate it in a meaningful way.

Research

Biblical

What happened? And why?

Theological

How should we respond to this “time”?

Wednesday? Thursday? Or Friday? Three days and three nights vs the third day?

Controversial theological perspectives

Historical:

When did Good Friday begin to be a Christian festival?

Did ancient churches celebrate Good Friday? And why?

Different views in the historical churches

Conclusion (in terms of what I have learned from the research -1 page)

Project

I would like to facilitate a special service on Good Friday which is not our church tradition. I
will ask ministerial staff, worship coworkers, and small group coworkers to co-deliver a
corporate message on that day with me. The special worship will be in convergent format with
visual art, medias, music, Scripture readings, and we will conclude the service with an extensive
Communion. The focus will be the Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross. In order to make the
Good Friday service meaningful to our congregation, here is the timeline of preparation:

- Sunday before the Palm Sunday – Distribute a devotion booklet which contains Seven
Words of Jesus on the Cross with daily message and prayer starting from the Saturday
before the Palm Sunday.
- Saturday before the Palm Sunday to Saturday before the Resurrection Sunday
 o Daily blog to share the devotion of Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross
o Encourage fasting through the Holy Week
- Palm Sunday
o Deliver a sermon from Luke 19:28-48
o Encourage the whole congregation to meditate Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross
daily (one passage per day) through the Holy Week
o Decorate the prayer chapel with Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross
- Tuesday of the Holy Week
o Let people walk through the stations of Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross
o Hold a fasting prayer meeting focusing on corporate confession with four
directive elements: a Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, Words of
Assurance, and the Response
- Thursday of the Holy Week
o Remind and encourage (via email and WeChat) all to come to church on Friday
ready to engage and contemplate the presented messages and offer a meaningful
Good Friday worship to the Triune God.
- Friday of the Holy Week – Good Friday
o Open Prayer Chapel throughout the day with background music
o Hold a noon prayer at the prayer chapel
o Direct the crowd to flow smoothly at the prayer chapel between 5:00–8:00pm
o Play movie “Passion of Christ” at the CTC room between 5:00-7:00pm
o Breaking-of-Bread (8:00-9:00)

Palm Sunday message

Fasting

Penance

Assurance of forgiveness

Healing

(do it autonomy)

Stations of the tale (a card with 7 slots)

Songs: You are my hiding place, change my heart Lord, Beautiful Thing, …