This He did for me...

Justin and I just got home from church, stopping at Steak 'n Shake for a bite to eat afterward. I had not planned to eat out, thinking I would have my leftovers from last night's outing at Aron's after Maundy Thursday worship. It surprised me to see Justin come into church since we had not talked about it, and he was napping when I left home. He had told me he was meeting his friends later to go play pool so when he walked into the church, I was glad but puzzled.


Before the service began, we were a little nervous as our male voice, Sterling, was not there yet, missing rehearsal and eventually, the entire service. Also, as church was due to begin, the acolyte was still not there. At the last moment, the pastor's son finally stepped into place to carry the candle. Whew! That was close...The choir opened the worship with our anthem "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" at which time the Christ candle was carried down the aisle.


Robbie sang Sterling's parts as best he could on the fly, as it were, and later thanked us for rolling with the punches. (After church was emptied, as folks saw fit, Sterling came flying into the parking lot on his bike, sweating up a storm. He told Cliff he got involved with something at work and totally missed his departure time. And he was the one who requested the e-mail reminders!) I didn't get to speak with him, as he turned right around and headed for home. 


The last two nights we wore our choir robes without the decorative collars, and tonight, the acolyte wore only the black gown without the surplice over the top to match the stark decor of the darkened sanctuary.

This was taken at church tonight using my cell phone. The Good Shepherd picture blurs in the background

Michael conducted the service tonight, with fewer in attendance for this special night than the one on Maundy Thursday. We had nearly 60 in church last night, about half that many tonight. The service was a devotional-style with Michael reading through the last words from the cross, with a commentary accompanying. The hymns we sang were evocative, of course, including "Were You There?" 

Following the closing hymn, the lights were switched off and we left in silence and in darkness, after the Christ candle was extinguished and carried out of the sanctuary. "Jesus died for me, Oh, Jesus died for me..."