DURBAN - The Diakonia Council of Churches will be hosting its ecumenical Good Friday service this year.
The service will start at 6am on April 15.
In a statement, the council said the venue this year would be the steps of the Durban City Hall before processing – in silence – around the City Hall precinct, past the Workshop and the old prison wall, through the streets of the city, back to the Durban City Hall.
“Each year, the service highlights a particular aspect of national suffering or injustice. The service this year will focus on the pertinent theme ‘Living together with the alien in our midst’.”
The council said now that public gatherings are permitted once again, it was re-introducing the Good Friday Service, which wasn’t possible over hard Covid lockdown.
It said the eThekwini Municipality would be providing infrastructure support.
“Being mindful of Covid protocols, the service will be a slightly simplified and pared down, and the entire service will be outside in the fresh air, so dress accordingly.
“The well-established tradition of the ecumenical Good Friday Service has become not only the flagship of Diakonia but also a major event in the Durban calendar, attended by thousands of people who gather together at the most auspicious time for Christians to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death on Calvary.”
The sermon will be delivered by the retired Anglican Bishop of Natal, Bishop Emeritus Rubin Phillip.
One of the organisers of the event, Reverend Ian Booth, said: “People of faith will be challenging the notion of ‘othering’ that is judging people who are different from ourselves, in whatever form that takes”.
“For us to be authentically following in the footsteps of Christ, himself a refugee, we need to lead others in bringing peace to our homes, our communities and our country,” said Booth.
The council said 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.
For more information, contact the Diakonia Council of Churches on 031 310 3500 or visit www.diakonia.org.za