Meeting Jesus at the Table
Good Friday Service

Good Friday had always been one of the most meaningful services of the year for me because it gave us time to slow down and remember the death of Jesus in a personal way. Communion naturally fit that day. Even though the Last Supper happened on Thursday, it pointed us toward the cross on Friday, and I wanted our church to feel the weight and wonder of that moment, not just think about it from a distance.

Years ago, our Good Friday service was small. Over time, it grew into something our church deeply valued. What made it special was the way we built the whole evening around personal communion. Instead of simply passing the elements through the rows, we invited people to come forward. Pastors and elders placed the bread and the cup into each person’s hands, looked them in the eyes, and shared that moment face to face. For me, that kind of closeness reflected something important about the heart of Jesus. He did not love people in a rushed or mechanical way. He met them personally, and we wanted our service to echo that same care.

Over the years, as the service grew, it also became more challenging. What worked with fifty people took much more thought with two hundred. We tried to protect the time and intimacy of the evening without making the experience difficult for anyone. We especially wanted to care well for those with limited mobility, so we looked for ways to serve them where they were and make sure they were not left out. That mattered to me because the meaning of communion was never just in the elements themselves, but it was also in the welcome, the attention, and the reminder that everyone belonged at the table.

This year carried an unexpected ache for me. I dealt with some back problems, so although I gave the message, I was not able to stay and serve communion the way I usually did. I missed that deeply. Looking into people’s eyes and handing them the bread and cup had always been one of the most meaningful parts of my ministry. Even so, the service still reminded me why Good Friday mattered. In a world that moves quickly, we paused together to remember the cross, receive grace, and respond to Jesus with love. That kind of quiet, personal worship stayed with me long after the night ended.

Mike Rybka
Sr. Pastor