Good Friday

Our Good Friday observance begins with the Liturgy of the Hours, a reflective service from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Each thirty minutes features a scripture reading, a meditation, and music. Worshipers may come at any time and stay as long as they are able.

Good Friday will also be observed with Proper Liturgy at 7:00 pm in-person and ONLINE. Support received through the Good Friday offering translates into operating funds for hospitals, schools, orphanages, and many other ministries which benefit all people in the Province of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.  

Good Friday is the day during Holy Week when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is considered one of the most solemn days in the Christian calendar. The name “Good Friday” is thought to derive from “God’s Friday” or “Holy Friday,” and it is called “good” because it marks the event that led to the salvation of humanity through Jesus’ sacrifice.

The Good Friday liturgy in the Episcopal Church is characterized by its austerity and solemnity. The service begins with the ministers entering in silence, and it includes the reading of the Passion Gospel, which recounts the events of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and burial. The service may also include the Veneration of the Cross, where a wooden cross is brought into the church for the congregation to honor, and the Solemn Collects, which are prayers for the church and the world.

Traditionally, there is no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. Instead, Holy Communion may be distributed from the reserved sacrament consecrated on Maundy Thursday. The service often concludes with a final prayer and the congregation departing in silence, emphasizing the somber nature of the day. (Source: Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices, The Book of Common Prayer)