Easter Sunday and Good Friday’s Origin

Every year Easter Sunday is preceded by Good Friday.  Today is 2011’s Good Friday, a day when some may fast, many go to church and others just continue on as if it were any other Friday.  Let’s see where all this began.

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday or Great Friday marks the day on which Jesus Christ is believed to have been crucified.  It takes place every year on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and sometimes coincides with the Jewish Passover. According to Holy Scripture, somewhere around AD 33, the Roman governor Pointius Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified under charges of subverting the nation, opposing taxes to Caesar and making Himself a king. Christ was crucified alongside two criminals and suffered around six hours before surrendering His spirit.  As the Scripture goes, He is resurrected from the dead three days later on what is today celebrated as Easter Sunday.

Many churches will hold a special service on Good Friday to commemorate this Holy Day.

Here are a few of San Diego’s Good Friday Observances:

This year marks the 50^th Annual Good Friday Breakfast, hosted by the San Diego Downtown YMCA.  The Guest Speaker this year is Miles McPherson, Senior Pastor at The Rock Church in San Diego.  The breakfast will be held Friday April 22, 2011 at 7:30 am at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley.  All of the proceeds go towards funding programs for low-income, at-risk youth.  Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children.

First United Methodist Church of San Diego will host a Good Friday observance on Friday, April 22 at 12:10pm.  Music will begin at 11:4am by the Chancel Choir with organ background. 2111 Camino del Rio S. in Mission Valley west of Texas St.

First Presbyterian Church, San Diego will host a  Good Friday Tenebrae service at 7:00 pm in the main Sanctuary. The Westminster Choir, under the direction of Dr. Keith Whitlock will present Joseph Martin’s Song of the Shadows.  The service will also feature Renee Calvo, a local soprano jazz vocalist, accompanist and educator who has background with the San Diego Opera and other classical and jazz ensembles.