Christians remember Good Friday
Mar. 30—Christians from all over Ashtabula County gathered to remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Friday.
"So much is being done to divide our country in anger I think this is very important," said Rev. Preston Watkins, pastor of Ashtabula First United Methodist Church.
Watkins was speaking of the united front of churches participating in a cross walk on Friday morning.
A large wooden cross was carried by volunteers from place to place throughout downtown Ashtabula, with specific prayers shared in each location where the cross walk stopped.
Participants from a variety of churches in the area took turns carrying the cross and singing hymns along the walk.
More than 45 people turned out for the event and took turns helping carry the large cross.
Watkins said it is important for Christians to take note of all the events leading to the Crucifixion.
More than 50 people attended the walk from numerous churches, including First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Peoples Baptist Church. After the cross walk, eight churches were represented at a Good Friday service at First Baptist Church.
Fifteen miles away in Conneaut more than 70 people gathered at Conneaut Township Park upper pavilion for a Stations of the Cross ceremony. Instead of walking the different stations, church leaders switched leadership in the middle of the pavilion.
People lined the south side of the pavilion to read responsive readings and sing hymns after each scripture reading was complete.
The Good Friday Via Dolorosa, or way of grief, has been a part of the Holy Week experience for worshippers for centuries. Each church had a different cross to bring to the ceremony.
The Conneaut churches participating on Friday included New Leaf United Methodist Church, Church of Christ, United Church of Christ, Corpus Christi Parish, Amboy United Methodist Church, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
In Andover, Christians from a variety of churches walked to numerous stops along Route 7 in the village carrying a large wooden cross and 21 miles southwest church members also participated in a cross walk in Orwell.
The Jefferson Ministerial Association also sponsored a service at Jefferson Baptist Church and followed it with a walk through the village, with more than 100 people carrying a cross and singing hymns along the way.
