This Good Friday was the second year that Zion Blue Mountain United Church of Christ marked the holy day with a procession from the church, through the town of Strausstown, and back, with young people from the church portraying various characters in the Biblical story of Jesus Christ’s journey to the hill at Golgatha and his crucifixion.
Reid Schrack took the Christ role for the second time and, wearing a crown of real thorns this year and shouldering the life-sized wooden cross, led the group of about 20 walkers into town, picking up additional participants along the 1.4 mile circuit. Cail Schrack, Colton Guinther, Caleb Schaeffer and Noah Wagner also portrayed Biblical characters, with Olivia Lesher serving as the Angel of Death dressed in black.
When the procession returned to the church, Pastor Joshua Knappenberger conducted a short outside service and reminded the group that God’s love surrounds them as well as those who do not know Jesus, and that is why it is important to carry the cross through the streets as a visible reminder of that love.
