Categories: Melbourne

Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Walk In Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Florida — Everyone is cordially invited to take part in a Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Walk in solidarity with the poor and suffering of our community and the world. Members of many different Christian faith communities will gather at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 6th for the start of the 1 ½ mile walk.

The devout will follow a Cross and stop to share prayer, Scripture, and song at six sites in the downtown Melbourne area that represent a response to the question: “Where is Jesus suffering today?”

More than 40 different congregations and community organizations took part in last year’s walk with many co-sponsoring this Fourth Annual event. Organizers hope “this will be a wonderful occasion for Christians of our community to join hearts and hands, and lift voices in praise to the crucified Jesus for the sake of His people.”

Please join us. (Our Lady of Lourdes is located at Fee and Hickory Avenues across the street from the Melbourne Main Public Library. The route will take walkers back to this location by 11:00 a.m.) Email goodfridaywalk@live.com for more information.

Local Clergy have jointly issued the following bulletin:

Dear Friends in Christ,

Committed to our mission to follow Jesus, we stand firm in our resolve and joyfully ask you and your congregation to join us as we witness publicly to the Gospel and its call to solidarity with the poor and suffering of the world at the South Brevard’s Third Annual Ecumenical Good Friday Prayer Walk on April 6, 2012.

We will share in Scripture, prayer, and song as we process through downtown Melbourne, stopping at six sites where we are reminded of the many ways that Jesus, indentifying with the poor and voiceless, suffers today… places such as the railroad tracks, calling to mind international refugees; the cold night shelter, reminding us of those without a home; a veterans facility where we will pray for all who bear the scars of war.

The walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, at Fee Avenue and Hickory in Melbourne (across from the Melbourne Main Public Library). Carrying a cross, we will travel a 1 ½ mile route, returning to Our Lady of Lourdes for closing prayers by 11:00 a.m. Those who may wish to do so are invited to carry a small cross of their own as they walk. (Since this is a time of prayer and not a political rally, protest signs are inappropriate.)

For your convenience, we are enclosing sample parish bulletin announcements about this worship event. If you would like electronic copies to easily place in your bulletin, posters or more information, please email goodfridaywalk@live.com or phone Betsy Glasenapp at (321) 254-1595 ext.3080.

Last year, some 300 Christians from more than 40 Melbourne congregations and community organizations participated in the Good Friday Walk. It was a grace-filled occasion, as we joined hands and hearts across denominational boundaries to bear unified witness to our crucified and risen Lord. We sincerely hope you and many members of your congregation will join us for the Good Friday Walk this year. Also, please share this information with your youth ministry leaders. Many young people truly have a heart for the poor and vulnerable, and will enter into this prayer deeply. Let us come together to worship and to witness to the glory of our God and the values of our Christian faith.

Fr. Eamon Tobin

Ascension Catholic Community

Pastor David Jahn

Advent Lutheran Church

Pastors Craig and Dionne Hammond

First United Methodist Church

Pastor Ethel Williams

Faith Deliverance Temple

Pastor Enrique Pachecho

Iglesia Cristiana La Novia Del Cordero

Faith Fellowship Church Hispanic Ministry

Rev. Joy Willard-Williford