CELEBRATING GOOD FRIDAY: CHRISTIANS MARK DAY OF JESUS' CRUCIFIXION.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer As Christians today mark Jesus Christ's death, a broad array of the faithful will commemorate the most solemn of Christian holy days together at Woodland Hills United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). . Parishioners from Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Community, Christian and Christ churches across the west San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. will pack the 240-seat church on Shoup Avenue for the Good Friday Good Friday, anniversary of Jesus' death on the cross. According to the Gospels, Jesus was put to death on the Friday before Easter Day. Since the early church Good Friday has been observed by fasting and penance. service. Beginning at 7 p.m., the service is the second interfaith gathering on Good Friday, said the Rev. Gilbert Stones, pastor for Woodland Hills United Methodist Church. ``We had been involved a couple of times in daytime community services on Good Friday with other Methodist churches,'' Stones said. ``Our church wanted to do a service in the evening and ecumenically.'' Stones said such interfaith services are not too common. ``By and large, liturgical churches are going to be doing their own services because it's such an important day. It's the day of Christ's crucifixion.'' Seven churches now participate compared with four a year ago. The 90-minute service will feature four musical selections, and each of the pastors will give brief interpretations of the seven last words Last words are a person's final words before death. For a list of well known last words, see or use the link at right. Last words may refer to:
Many of today's services also are expected to feature some mention of the NATO NATO: see North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO in full North Atlantic Treaty Organization International military alliance created to defend western Europe against a possible Soviet invasion. bombing in Yugoslavia and the three U.S. Army soldiers captured near the Yugoslav-Macedonia border. Many services begin near noon on Good Friday to mark the hour Christ was crucified by the Romans. The most traditional services extend to 3 p.m., spanning the three hours Christ remained on the cross until his death. Cardinal Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will preside at a solemn liturgical service beginning at 12:15 p.m. at All Souls Church in Alhambra. The cardinal also will preside at a similar service beginning at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgin of Guadalupe (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe) is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican icon depicting Church in El Monte. ``The theme always is the outpouring of Christ's blood on the cross as a manifestation of God's outpouring of his love for sinful humanity,'' said the Rev. Gregory Coiro, archdiocese spokesman. Stones said what makes this a good day for Christians is ``that's where our salvation is purchased; it's good because it's God's grace for us.'' |
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