Good Friday lessons recall betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion

A cross, the sign above it proclaiming that Jesus is the King of the Jews, stands alone at the front of the sanctuary of St. Alban's Episcopal Church at the close of the 2012 Community Lenten services. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

The closing stanza in the fourth verse of "O Sacred Head" offers the prayer, "Lord, let me never, never outlive my love for thee."

To that end, the 2012 Community Lenten congregation took part in the reading of the Liturgy of Good Friday, taken from the Gospel of John: 18:1-40 and 19:1-37, detailing the betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion of the Son of God.

The 54 in attendance Friday afternoon at St. Alban's Episcopal Church recalled the final hours of Jesus' life, with many in the audience reading the various parts played out in remembrance of the day that "by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10)

The Rev. Angel Carrillo, pastor at McCook Harvest Church, hold the cross in place Friday as the annual Procession of the Cross wends its way through downtown McCook, on the way to the sanctuary at St. Alban's Episcopal Church for the 2012 Community Lenten service finale, the reading of the Liturgy of Good Friday. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

The liturgy was preceded by the Procession of the Cross, from First Congregational Church, through downtown McCook, to St. Alban's.

The Rev. Dr. Mary Hendricks, rector at St. Alban's welcomed the congregation. She also read Hebrews 10:1-25; conducted the solemn prayers and took the part of the slave during the reading.

The Rev. Clark Bates read the part of the Evangelist and re-enacted the crucifixion by pounding the nails into the cross at the close of the reading.

The Rev. John Strecker-Baseler, pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, carries the cross up the aisle of the sanctuary at St. Alban's Episcopal Church Friday afternoon. Strecker-Baseler also read the part of Jesus during the reading of the Liturgy of Good Friday, closing the 2012 Community Lenten services. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette)

The Rev. John Strecker-Baseler read the part of Jesus and carried the cross up the aisle to the front of the sanctuary.

Alisa Parde read the part of the woman. Dave Unger read the part of Peter. The Rev. Angel Carrillo, pastor at McCook Harvest Church, read the part of the officer. Marilyn Brandt was the bystander. The Rev. Steve Bales, pastor at First Congregational Church, read the part of Pilate and Miss Abby Johnson read the part of the soldiers who cast lots for Jesus' garment.

Cheryl Havens accompanied the congregation on the organ, as they sang, "Ah, Holy Jesus" and "O Sacred Head."

The annual Good Friday observance closes the 2012 Community Lenten services, presented by the Red Willow County Ministerial Association. The theme for 2012 was "Finding Our Way." The Revs. Steve Bales, Gary Brethour, Lance Clay, Johnny Walker, Angel Carrillo and Eddie McElhannon, served as preaching ministers.