Good Friday at Trinity AME Church
This service was celebrated on Good Friday at Trinity AME Church in Smithtown, Long Island, New York. My friend and colleague theologian Rev. Brenda Ford is the Pastor at this church.
I never had the opportunity to experience this service from the perspective of women. Seven as they said is “one of the perfect numbers chosen by God.” This number was perfect, indeed. The seven women Brenda chose to preach and meditate on the last words of Jesus were connected.
We did not have a previous rehearsal or exchange ideas before the service. Some of us just met at the church during the Good Friday celebration. Few of us knew Brenda from Union Theological Seminary. Brenda and I graduated the same year. It was an ecumenical service where we honored “oikoumene” the essence of the word.
Oh Brenda! Oh Sister! I thank you for your wisdom. You gathered the perfect group of women. This group was supported by different traditions, one Episcopalian, two Baptists, and four AME. Later, during the fellowship hour I discovered these four AME, were and are Brenda’s extended community of support in so many levels.
Our messages were perfectly intertwined. One followed the other. The first word: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) by Rev. Alicia Bailey, Bridge Street A.M.E Church, Brooklyn, NY. It was an insightful reflection about the theology of letting go. I really appreciate her words at an intimate level. These were the words I needed to hear.
The second word: “This day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) by Sister Terri Baxter, Second year Seminarian at Union Theological Seminary. She gave us a deep theological reflection about the broken paradise. I, we… really need to experience paradise to experience hell; otherwise, we are not going to value what paradise means for us. You delivered the message so eloquently. I was able to follow your intention for us to get the message. You got us with love to the place were the broken paradise needs to be experienced.
The third word: “Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26-27) by your servant, the author of this blog, St Edward’s The Martyr Episcopal Church, New York. I offered an invitation that was revealed through me nine years ago by a local Episcopal church. That church made me feel I belonged there; therefore, I became part of that family. Trinity AME church made me felt I was part of that family on Good Friday. Most importantly, Jesus from the cross extends his invitation to be part of the new family founded by Mary and the beloved son. All of us have the right to love and to be loved.
The fourth word: “My God, my God why you have forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) by Dr. Tracie Saunders, First year Seminarian at Union Theological Seminary. My sweet Tracie what a suitable word came to you. You expressed the intimate relationship we experience with God even if we feel we are not seen by him/her. I felt encouraged even when I feel I’m not seen by him/her. I have felt I cannot cling to God, yet I cling to him/her for help becoming the apple of his/her eye.
The fifth word: “I thirst” (John 19:28) by Rev. Kym Clemons-Jones, First Presbyterian Church, Valley Stream, NY . Dear Kym, you reminded me how thirsty I am from God’s works in my life. How I thirst… from God’s revelation of what ministry looks like… How thirsty I am to do more… for what I’m called to do… what Jesus wants me to do for him! What a reminder…sister Kym.
The sixth word: “It is finished!” (John 19:30) by Rev. Jackie Jones, Mt. Moriah A.M.E Church, St. Albans, NY. Oh Jackie! How many times I have asked God to inspire me to look at his/her word from a different angle because I am stuck. Preparing a sermon or a theological reflection I am afraid to use what people already said. The angle you offered us is what keeps resonating in my ears … Jesus came to us because of love. Jesus lived among us because of love. Jesus died for us because he loved us so much. It is finished! = It is love!
The seventh word: “Father into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46) by Rev. Linda Hill, St. Luke A.M.E Church, Harlem, NY. Commitment … A reminder to commit our lives as Christians to the Christian way of life, it is a reminder that works at the bottom of the cross in the ninth hour but also, it is timeless… We are always reminded to commit to God at the ninth hour of Jesus’ death at the cross and after this event. Linda you interpreted commitment for me as faith.
I feel so indebted to these women. All of them are awesome because their awesomeness comes from their love and relationship with God. Brenda you completed for me a beautiful bush of seven.
I feel fulfilled by a theological reflection that started a Good Friday of 2009 at Trinity AME Church, at least perfect for me… because it was the first time I ever experienced the seven last words of Jesus at the cross. This tradition is not part of the tradition I follow. I never expected not only experienced it but also participated in delivering a message.
Brenda, let me finish this reflection with the words you used to introduce ourselves in your outline… words taken from the biblical texts …words from Jesus at the cross…
into your hands, with love …your servant, friend, and hermana.
I never had the opportunity to experience this service from the perspective of women. Seven as they said is “one of the perfect numbers chosen by God.” This number was perfect, indeed. The seven women Brenda chose to preach and meditate on the last words of Jesus were connected.
We did not have a previous rehearsal or exchange ideas before the service. Some of us just met at the church during the Good Friday celebration. Few of us knew Brenda from Union Theological Seminary. Brenda and I graduated the same year. It was an ecumenical service where we honored “oikoumene” the essence of the word.
Oh Brenda! Oh Sister! I thank you for your wisdom. You gathered the perfect group of women. This group was supported by different traditions, one Episcopalian, two Baptists, and four AME. Later, during the fellowship hour I discovered these four AME, were and are Brenda’s extended community of support in so many levels.
Our messages were perfectly intertwined. One followed the other. The first word: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) by Rev. Alicia Bailey, Bridge Street A.M.E Church, Brooklyn, NY. It was an insightful reflection about the theology of letting go. I really appreciate her words at an intimate level. These were the words I needed to hear.
The second word: “This day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) by Sister Terri Baxter, Second year Seminarian at Union Theological Seminary. She gave us a deep theological reflection about the broken paradise. I, we… really need to experience paradise to experience hell; otherwise, we are not going to value what paradise means for us. You delivered the message so eloquently. I was able to follow your intention for us to get the message. You got us with love to the place were the broken paradise needs to be experienced.
The third word: “Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26-27) by your servant, the author of this blog, St Edward’s The Martyr Episcopal Church, New York. I offered an invitation that was revealed through me nine years ago by a local Episcopal church. That church made me feel I belonged there; therefore, I became part of that family. Trinity AME church made me felt I was part of that family on Good Friday. Most importantly, Jesus from the cross extends his invitation to be part of the new family founded by Mary and the beloved son. All of us have the right to love and to be loved.
The fourth word: “My God, my God why you have forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) by Dr. Tracie Saunders, First year Seminarian at Union Theological Seminary. My sweet Tracie what a suitable word came to you. You expressed the intimate relationship we experience with God even if we feel we are not seen by him/her. I felt encouraged even when I feel I’m not seen by him/her. I have felt I cannot cling to God, yet I cling to him/her for help becoming the apple of his/her eye.
The fifth word: “I thirst” (John 19:28) by Rev. Kym Clemons-Jones, First Presbyterian Church, Valley Stream, NY . Dear Kym, you reminded me how thirsty I am from God’s works in my life. How I thirst… from God’s revelation of what ministry looks like… How thirsty I am to do more… for what I’m called to do… what Jesus wants me to do for him! What a reminder…sister Kym.
The sixth word: “It is finished!” (John 19:30) by Rev. Jackie Jones, Mt. Moriah A.M.E Church, St. Albans, NY. Oh Jackie! How many times I have asked God to inspire me to look at his/her word from a different angle because I am stuck. Preparing a sermon or a theological reflection I am afraid to use what people already said. The angle you offered us is what keeps resonating in my ears … Jesus came to us because of love. Jesus lived among us because of love. Jesus died for us because he loved us so much. It is finished! = It is love!
The seventh word: “Father into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46) by Rev. Linda Hill, St. Luke A.M.E Church, Harlem, NY. Commitment … A reminder to commit our lives as Christians to the Christian way of life, it is a reminder that works at the bottom of the cross in the ninth hour but also, it is timeless… We are always reminded to commit to God at the ninth hour of Jesus’ death at the cross and after this event. Linda you interpreted commitment for me as faith.
I feel so indebted to these women. All of them are awesome because their awesomeness comes from their love and relationship with God. Brenda you completed for me a beautiful bush of seven.
I feel fulfilled by a theological reflection that started a Good Friday of 2009 at Trinity AME Church, at least perfect for me… because it was the first time I ever experienced the seven last words of Jesus at the cross. This tradition is not part of the tradition I follow. I never expected not only experienced it but also participated in delivering a message.
Brenda, let me finish this reflection with the words you used to introduce ourselves in your outline… words taken from the biblical texts …words from Jesus at the cross…
into your hands, with love …your servant, friend, and hermana.
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