While the Bradford Area Ministerium won’t be holding an in-person Crosswalk on Good Friday, the group has found a safe way to observe the holy day.
“Due to COVID concerns the Ministerium will not hold a physical Crosswalk on Good Friday,” explained the Rev. Stacey Fussell, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. “We are hosting a virtual Crosswalk with meditations based on the 7 Last Words of Christ from the Cross.”
Starting this Sunday — Palm Sunday — the Ministerium will post a meditation daily during Holy Week on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BradfordAreaMinisterium.
A video describing the activity is posted to the Facebook page. In the video, Capt. David Means of The Salvation Army and Rev. Jay Tennies of Hill Memorial United Methodist Church talk about why it was so important to the community to celebrate Holy Week together.
“It was such a disappointment,” said Means about having to cancel the 2020 Crosswalk due to COVID-19. “I know for myself that’s one of the things I’ve always looked forward to is getting together with the church body and worshiping together at different locations, different pastors, different music.”
Tennies further described how the Easter season activities bring the community together.
“For all of our differences the one thing that draws us together is Jesus,” he explained. “And we could be able to celebrate that with the Crosswalk.”
They invited people to gather in smaller groups, such as families or Bible study groups, to participate in the meditations together.
These pastors will offer meditations: Rev. Beth Rosler (Duke Center/Rew United Methodist Churches), Fr. Ray Gramata (St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church), Pastor Zoe Hatcher (Open Arms Church), Pastor Andrew Christiansen (Adventist Church), Capt. David Means (Salvation Army), Rev. Rob Jeffrey (Christian Missionary Alliance Church) and Rev. Seth McClymonds (First United Methodist Church).
“Each day’s video will also have music provided by groups from different churches,” Fussell added.
She noted that there is still one problem from the virtual event: collecting money for the Ministerium Scholarship, which is given annually to a graduating senior at Bradford Area High School. In the past, the Ministerium has taken collections at the Crosswalks.
“Not having a physical Crosswalk last year or this year has seriously strained out scholarship fund resources,” said Fussell.
Just as the Ministerium found a new way using technology to observe Holy Week, the group will use technology to collect funds for the scholarship. People will be able to donate to the fund as part of their Holy Week devotions on the Ministerium’s Facebook page.
