Good Friday Prayers

by Caroline Buddery

as published in Great Yarmouth Parish Life

Memorably, in solemn silence,
this cold spring afternoon,
we gather to pray, heavy hearted,
world-wearied, in the beautiful church.
We kneel, we stand, as diverse
as those disciples were
on Calvary, where fateful paths
were trodden long, long years ago.
On this sombre afternoon
in the parish church
we listen to the Gospel texts
while in our longing hearts
we await the final victory
of the Son of God, the Slain.
Here we kneel and pray amidst the age-old walls
and reflect that a thief was freed
whilst Jesus, branded a stranger upon earth,
through incomprehension and bitterness,
was ill-treated, scourged and crucified
by those He came to save