The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
"Were you there when they crucified my Lord? ....Were you there when they nailed him to a tree? ....Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…"
After an hour long packed community Good Friday Service at the Stronghurst Bethal Lutheran Church reminding Christian believers of the final words that Jesus Christ had spoken on the cross of Calvary, around fifty believers remained to walk the "Stations Of The Cross" that followed the service.
This moving event was to recall the hard path that Christ walked on the sorrowful day of His crucifixion.
In Jerusalem, many people honor the sacrifice of Jesus by walking fourteen Stations of the Cross, down the Via Dolorosa, (or, “path of sorrow”), the street down which many scholars believe Jesus traveled as He carried His cross.
In Stronghurst, five different stations were used. The crowd followed the cross, first carried by Tucker Peterson from the Lutheran Church to the West Central Middle School where the first message was given and music sung.
Steve Wisslead and Scott Postle continued on carrying the cross to the United Methodist Church where another portion of Jesus' walk to Calvary was presented.
Steve and Scott were then joined by Bob Carmean with carrying the cross as the crowd walked on to the United Presbyterian Church where another segment of Jesus' walk was described and all joined in singing - "Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?"
The walk continued with David Knutstrom taking the cross assisted by the Chockley and Day children who walked the two blocks to the Christian Church and then stood helping hold the cross during the final part of the service.
Don Fry played music on a portable device at each of the stations to accompany the crowd, and Joanne Hilligoss lead in the singing.
The moving program of The Stations Of The Cross was arranged and by the Christian Church Pastor Steve Minkler and sponsored by the Stronghurst Community Church Council.
The crowd followed the cross carried by Tucker Peterson from the Lutheran Church to the West Central Middle School. Elementary School