7 Grove City unite to reflect on words Jesus uttered on cross

Mar. 29—GROVE CITY — To celebrate Good Friday in Grove City, churches from all over the town came together to deliver a service on Jesus's crucifixion.

Seven pastors from seven churches gave sermons based around seven words from sentences Jesus spoke while on the cross.

"Our goal is to be able to show our unity as churches," Pastor Pam Schelzer, who organized the event, said. "We want all of our people to be able to spend time together to glorify the lord. We just want to be able to present that God is real."

After every few speeches, Michael and Hannah Giffone performed a worship song. Michael has been performing in church for the last 14 years and is a member of Wayside Community Church.

Pastor Luke Vogan, also from Wayside Community Church gave a sermon on "forgiveness," which comes from the first words Jesus said on the cross: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

After Vogan, pastor Patricia Lavery had the topic "salvation." This comes from Jesus saying "Amen, I say to you, today will be with me in paradise."

Pastor Corey Shaughnessy from the Church of the Nazarene read bible passages John 19:25-27 and John 15:5 as he discussed "relationship" from the sentence, "Woman, behold, your son... son, behold your mother."

"I thirst" inspired the sermon from pastor Steve Renicks from Grove City Alliance Church, who spoke about distress.

Pastor Veda Holland from Mount Olive Baptist Church delivered a heartfelt speech on "abandonment." Holland was nearly in tears, overwhelmed with emotion, as she spoke about the phrase, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?".

The mood turned to triumph and the phrase "it is finished," with pastor Rusty Stuart of North Liberty Presbyterian Church relating it to being an amateur chef. He said in the kitchen he will experiment with new ingredients and will always feel like something needs to be added — until he adds the wrong ingredient. His point was the folly of people wanting everything until it becomes too much.

Pastor Ed Saxman from Grace Methodist Church concluded the sermons, speaking on "reunion." He drew comparisons to the upcoming solar eclipse. He spoke about how people have this fascination with darkness, and how people feel hopeless if God's answers come too late. He finished his thoughts by saying all who believe in God and avoid the darkness will be rewarded in the afterlife. The final sentence Jesus uttered was, "Father, into your hands I command my spirit."

When all the sermons were through, pastor Paul Goodman gave a final benediction before the service ended.

The churches have more activities coming up where they will be united, with the next being on May 2 for the National Day of Prayer.

Ty Kohler can be contacted at tkohler@alliednews.com.