Worship Confessional - Good Friday 2008

In the better late than never category: Good Friday at Copper Hills.

The Back Story:
For us, Good Friday started on Christmas Eve. Let me explain: Our Christmas Eve service included Isaiah 49:16 which talks about our name being 'tattooed' on the palm of God's hand. We had an artist from our church family paint a 12'x8' hand on 3 panels which we processed into the auditorium and hung from a rig on the ceiling. We invited people to write their names in the palm of God's Hand. The result was stunning:

Good Friday:
We hung the painting again for Good Friday. As people arrived they saw the painting and our huge cross which was anchored on the ground in the center of the room with the communion elements and lanterns around it (the pics really don't do it justice, but you get the general idea):
We led the crowd (about 140 = great attendance for a non-Sunday service for us) through songs of the cross, sacrifice and worship. Brad (Lead Pastor) reminded us of God's love for us and our need for God's love. He reprised the Isaiah scriptures about our names being written on the palm of God's hand and connected it with the blood that then oozed from Jesus' hand during the crucifixion. We invited the congregation to come to the painting, find their name (or add it if they weren't there at Christmas), dip a finger in red paint and swipe it over their name to symbolize the sacrifice of blood that was made by Jesus to wipe out our sin. The result, again, stunning:

The congregation moved from the painting to communion at the cross.

The Songs:

• Nothing But the Blood - Redman
• Sweetly Broken - Vineyard (J. Riddle arrangement)
• Amazing Grace - arr. Huska (CHC arrangement)
• Amazing Love - Redman
• Lead Me To the Cross - Frasier
• The Wonderful Cross (When I Survey) - Tomlin

The Impact:

Worship leaders often dialog about the effectiveness of this idea or that idea and constantly evaluate if the congregation is worshipping. Evenings like this leave little to discuss: people come prepared to participate and do so with intent, introspection and soul-full meaning. Worship happened - At the Hand of God and at the foot of The Cross.

My favorite pics of the night occured after the service: Janet (the "Hand of God" artist) talking with her daughter at the painting. And Brian and I at the painting with the boys. Special moments.