Good Friday

On Good Friday, the Church invites us to fast and abstain from eating meat.

As close to three o'clock(the traditional hour of Christ'd death) as possible, we celebrate the Lord's passion. The altar is bare and the celebrant enters and makes the dramatic gesture of prostrating himself before the altar and all pray in silence together. The act of prostration is a recognition of the magnitude of what Christ did for us on the cross. We bow down and acknowledge what we are: fallen creatures whom only he can set on their feet.

We then listen to John's gospel account of the Passion. It tells of Jesus freely submitting to all his sufferings to save us. Just as Christ died for the whole world, the Church then turns its prayerful attention to the whole world and ten solemn intercessions are made. The next part of the liturgy involves a solemn veneration of the cross. We each approach the cross and kiss it or touch it, venerating the wood on which hung our Saviour and the Saviour of the world. It is not a matter of feeling sorry for Jesus, but of gratitude for his saving help.

After the liturgy there are many forms of devotion and prayer among which one of the most beautiful is the Stations of the Cross.

Here in Scarborough

10.00 a.m. Churches Together in Scarborough March of Witness through town and up to the castle.

12.00 noon Stations of the Cross.

3.00 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy.