First Posted: 4/3/2015
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Church Council wanted to leave a lasting impression with its first Good Friday Service, and it delivered with “A Passion Walk to Remember” Friday at the Fourth Street Gymnasium.
“This was our first Good Friday service that we have put on together,” said Ken Pollitz, of New Creation Lutheran Church. “We wanted to do something different and outside the box.”
The program was a walk through Christ’s entry into Jerusalem to the anointing and burial in the tomb. Pollitz was the creator of the program. Ottawa Missionary Church, Ottawa Presbyterian Church, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and Trinity United Methodist Church also are members of the council and helped out with the performance.
The program featured both video and live acting, at times with both interacting together. Attendees were given palm branches to shout “Hosanna” as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Other props were the Anointing at Bethany, in which the crowd was given anointing oil packets. Other items handed to the crowd included a thorn and a strip of leather to symbolize Jesus’ flogging at the hands of Pilate, a small wooden cross necklace symbolizing carrying the cross and a spike symbolizing how Jesus was hung on the cross. The crowd also had a glass of juice and piece of bread to symbolize the Last Supper.
The crowd was constantly invited to participate, such as shouting “crucify him” as Jesus faced being judged by Pilate, who tried to pass off his sentence.
The community responded to the program, with 124 people attending.
“We wanted to have something that would have the crowd involved and make them remember,” Pollitz said.
Lynda Lockwood, of Trinity United Methodist Church, said the program was held at the gymnasium to encourage more people to come.
“We know there are a lot of people who are uncomfortable in a church,” Lockwood said. “We thought it would draw more people if we had it away from a church.”
A freewill offering was accepted at the program. Pollitz said the donations will help with the costs of organizing the program.
