The Diakonia Council of Churches
Ecumenical Good Friday Service.
Durban City Hall: Friday 7 April, 6am
DURBAN: The Diakonia Council of Churches is calling people of faith to its annual ecumenical Good Friday service in front of the Durban City Hall, at dawn on Friday, April 7, starting at 06 am.
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the most solemn day of the Christian calendar.
The service is hosted by Diakonia Council of Churches, working closely with eThekwini Municipality and a team of volunteers.
The initial part of the service takes place in front of the Durban City Hall. Followed by a silent procession around the City Hall precinct, continuing past the Workshop and the old prison wall, then through the streets of the city and back to the Durban City Hall, while the bells of St Paul’s solemnly toll. The service ends with the flowering of the cross.
Each year, the service highlights a particular aspect of national suffering or injustice. The service this year will focus on the theme of “Abundance” – taken from John 10:10 “Jesus said I came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The theme looks at some of the stumbling blocks to living life abundantly: GBV; recovering after covid; rebuilding after the floods; poverty and homelessness; xenophobia; crime and corruption and lack of opportunities for young people.
The sermon will be delivered by Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), spearheading its work to lead common Christian action that works for moral witness in South Africa, addressing issues of social and economic justice, national reconciliation, the integrity of creation and the eradication of poverty.
“There will be a police presence as additional security. Entry to the Good Friday service is free and all are welcome, with a collection being taken up during the service to support the work of Diakonia. All are welcome to participate in this significant, multi-lingual Christian Easter service.” said Diakonia’s Rev Ian Booth.
Meditative music by organist Melvin Peters will start at 05:30 am on the City Hall steps, where-after the first part of the service will take place at 06:00.
Since 1985 the Diakonia Council of Churches has called Christians together on Good Friday to celebrate the central mystery of their faith: The Passion – which (in a Christian context) in essence refers to the short final period of the life of Jesus Christ.
For more info, contact Chundran Chetty at the Diakonia Council of Churches on 031 310 3500 / centremanager@diakonia.org.za
Diakonia needs volunteers to participate in the smooth running of the service.
Please contact their offices if you can help.
