Holy and Great Friday Retreat

Preparing for the Sessions

Familiarize yourself with all the content of the session. Additionally make yourself learn about the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Visit the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for a wealth of information on this topic.

Introduction

Once the Royal Hours have been completed, have the parishioners exit the Church.  The GOYAns (junior high and high school age) will remain in the Church.  Have the JOY and HOPE children (Kindergarten through 6^th grader) gather in a separate place.

Sample Schedule

9:00 AM                               Royal Hours
10:30 AM                             Introduction
11:00 AM                             Session I
11:45 AM                             Session II
12:30 PM                              Lenten Lunch
1:30 PM                                Service Activity
3:00 PM                                Great Friday Vespers

Session I - GOYA

Objective

To better understand the Crucifixion and the sacrifice Jesus made for us. 

Materials Needed

Opening Prayer (all together)

Let us Pray to the Lord.  Lord Have Mercy.

Today is hung upon the Cross, He Who suspended the Earth upon the waters (3x).  A crown of thorns crowns Him, Who is the King of Angels.  He, Who wrapped the Heavens in clouds, is clothed with the purple of mockery.  He, Who freed Adam in the Jordan, received buffetings. He was transfixed with nails, Who is the Bridegroom of the Church.  He was pierced with a lance, Who is the Son of the Virgin.  We worship Your Passion, O Christ.  We worship Your Passion, O Christ.  We worship Your Passion, O Christ.  Show us also, Your glorious Resurrection. 

-From the Service of the Passion of our Lord (Holy Thursday)

Activity

Have the young people and youth advisors/workers gather around the Cross.  (If the church is unavailable due to the decoration of the Kouvouklion, use an icon of the Crucifixion.)  Wait until it is completely silent before beginning the session.  Ask the young people to remain silent and place their focus upon Jesus on the Cross.  The Priest or Group Leader (Youth Director, Advisor, Parent) should stand off to the side so that the focus is not on them – but rather on the Cross.  

After a moment of silence, read the following scripture passage reverently and slowly. 

Read: Matthew 27:39-50

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’” that is “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Discuss (accept all answers and reflect back)

State (paraphrase in your own words)

Now that you have heard from Scripture the account of Jesus’ Crucifixion, we want you to listen to the following medical description of what took place.This is what Jesus experienced on the Cross.

Read: The Cross (description of a crucifixion as published in a Journal of Medicine)

The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood.  The soldier feels for the depression at the front of the wrist.  He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood.  Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement.  The cross is then lifted into place.  The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.  The victim is now crucified.  As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain – the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.  As he pushes himself upward to avoid this trenching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet.  Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.  As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep, relentless and throbbing pain.  With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe.  Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled.  He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath.  Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided.  Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.  Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-renting cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber.  Then another agony begins:  a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with fluid and begins to compress the heart.  It is now almost over.  The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level.  The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues.  The tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.  He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues.  Finally, he allows his body to die.  All this the Bible records with simple words, “and they crucified Him.” (Mark 15:24)

Have the youth remain silent, keeping their focus on the Cross.

Ask (Give them 2 to 3 minutes for silent contemplation.)

Why would Jesus willingly go through this much pain and suffering for us? 

Discuss (accept all answers and reflect back)

Ask the group to place their index finger on the place where the nail went into the wrist.

Pass the nail around and have each member of the group hold it – a few second each.

Once again, read Matthew 27:39-50.  Tell the group to listen to it in a new way – in a way they have never thought of before. 

Once again ask: Why would Jesus willingly go through this much pain and suffering for us?  (Accept all answers, if necessary steer them to answers such as: His love for us, it was God’s will, He knew it had to be done so we could have eternal life.) 

Closing Prayer(all together)

Let us Pray to the Lord.  Lord Have Mercy.

When the thief beheld the Author of Life hanging on the Cross, he said: ‘If He, who was crucified with us, was not God incarnate, the sun would not have hidden its rays, neither would the earth have quaked with trembling.  But, all-forbearing Lord, remember me in Your Kingdom.’

Session II - GOYA

Objective

To illustrate how Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified because of His deep love for us.

Materials Needed

Opening Prayer(all together)

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

When You were crucified, O Christ, tyranny was destroyed and the power of the enemy was trampled upon.  For it is neither an angel nor a man, but the Lord himself who saves us.  Glory to You.

Read (Written by Jim Burns)

Once there were two identical twins named John and Peter. They looked so alike that even their closest friends could not tell them apart by their looks. But look was the only way they were alike. They certainly didn’t act alike. John was the perfect child. He always obeyed his parents; he was kind to other people; he studied hard in school; and he had high moral standards and values.

Peter on the other hand, was a different story. He was constantly being disobedient to his parents; he mistreated other kids; he lied; he took things that didn’t belong to him; and he was always in trouble. He was continually breaking his parent’s hearts.

As John and Peter grew older, the differences between them also grew. John continued to be the model student, applying himself and excelling in everything he did.

Peter, however, got into deeper and deeper trouble. He began to have run-ins with the law. First it was for minor offenses like traffic violations and truancy. But the older he got the more serious the trouble became. He was in and out of jail as a teenager, then as a young adult he committed the ultimate crime. He killed someone and was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to die in the electric chair. He was placed on death row. Finally, he exhausted all the appeals and the execution date was set.

The day before he was to die, John came to visit him on death row. The guard opened Peter’s cell and let John in and then walked away. Immediately John began taking off his clothes and told Peter to do the same. John then put on Peter’s clothes and had Peter put on his. A few minutes later the guard came back to let John out of the cell, but instead it was Peter who walked out, down the hall and out the door to freedom.

The next day they came to take Peter to the electric chair, without realizing he was actually John. They walked him down the hall to the electric chair, strapped him in and ended his life.

Peter was free, but he had a decision to make. He could either continue to live his life like he had always lived it – chances were he would be discovered and end up back on death row. Or he could take on John’s lifestyle and try to imitate his life.

Small Group Discussion

Discuss(accept all answers and reflect back)

Closing Activity

Hand everyone a piece of paper, an envelope and a pen.  Have participants write letters to God.  They should list what they can do differently to show that Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection affected their lives.  What would they change knowing that they have a second chance?  When time is finished, collect letters in sealed self-addressed envelope to be mailed to participants next week as a reminder of what they were hoping to achieve after Pascha. 

Wrap Up (paraphrase in your own words)

Today we have been given another opportunity to change for the better.  On Saturday night, (Easter morning,) after the services are over, your priest will read a sermon that was written 1600 years ago but its message is true today, “Whoever may be spent from fasting, enjoy now your reward.  Whoever has toiled from the first hour, receive today your just settlement.  If any came after the third hour, celebrate gratefully.  If any of you arrived after the sixth, have no misgivings, you have lost nothing.  If some have been as late as the ninth, come forward, do not be at a loss.  If any of you have arrived only at the eleventh hour, do not be dismayed for being late.  The Master is gracious; He accepts the last even as the first…”

You see, although it is Friday afternoon and tomorrow night we will be singing the beautiful hymn, “Christ is Risen!” it isn’t too late.  In a short while, Christ will be taken down from the Cross and placed in the tomb.  He will descend into Hades for He has defeated death.  And by now you understand what that means and that He did it for you too.  Use the rest of your life to show God that you are grateful for what He did. Start right now! If you’re not sure how to begin, use the tools the Church gives us:  participating in the Sacraments, fasting, praying and giving.  It isn’t too late.  Make this Easter one that will change the rest of your life. 

Closing Prayer(all together)

O Christ our God who at all times and at every hour are worshiped and glorified both in heaven and on earth, who are long in patience, great in mercy and compassion, who love the righteous and show mercy to sinners, who call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come; receive our prayers at the present time.  Direct our lives according to your commandments.  Sanctify our souls.  Purify our bodies.  Set our minds aright.  Cleanse our thoughts and deliver us from all sorrow, evil and distress.  Surround us with your holy angels, that guarded and guided by them, we may arrive at the oneness of the faith and the comprehension of your ineffable glory.  For you are blesses to the ages of ages.  Amen.

- Prayer to Christ

Session I - JOY & HOPE

Objective

To illustrate how we use our hands (actions) to express our love for God and each other.

Materials Needed

Opening Prayer  (all together)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. They kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Opening Activity:  A Show Of Hands

Break the group up by age, approximately four to five children per group.  Each group should be given a large piece of butcher paper and different colored crayons or markers. Ask the groups to draw different types of hands: mechanics, doctors, pianists, painters, mothers and fathers.  Give them 15 minutes to do this and after they have finished, have each group present what they have done to the other groups about their hands.  Have them explain why they made some hands different than others.

Discuss (accept all answers and reflect back)

Read: The Most Beautiful Hands

Two girls worried how they could have pretty hands. They were using the most expensive perfumes and lotions, and were spending much time to make their hands beautiful.

One day, however, when the two girls were standing at the foot of a hill, another girl came along. This girl listened to their conversation about their hands and she looked at her own hands: They were calloused from hard work, ugly, and very dry. The two girls also looked at her hands and laughed in ridicule.

Just then a very old lady, dressed in ragged clothes as passing by. She asked if one of the tree girls would help her carry her heavy load up the hill where she was going. The two girls with the beautiful hands were not willing even to touch her rough sack. The other girl with the ugly hands picked up the sack and started off with the old lady.

At the top of the hill, the girl with the ugly hands and the old lady stopped, and the old lady, now in the form of an Angel, took the hands of the girl who carried the heavy load for her and said: “The prettiest hands, my daughter are the hands that help others.”

Discuss (accept all answers and reflect back)

State (paraphrase in your own words)

We have learned that it is not what is on the outside – but what is in our hearts that matters most.  Doctors heal us with their hands, Moms hug us with their hands, the priest blesses us with his hands.  Remember, what you do with your hands shows what is in your heart. Let Christ’s love shine through all your works.

Closing Prayer(all together) 

Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.  Hear me O Lord.  Amen.

Objective

To illustrate how Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified because of His deep love for us.

Materials Needed 

Opening Prayer (all together)

Your cross, O Lord, is life and resurrection to your people, and putting our trust in it, we praise you, our crucified God.  Have Mercy on us.

Read (adapted from Jim Burns)

Once there were two identical twins named John and Peter. They looked so alike that even their closest friends could not tell them apart by their looks. But look was the only way they were alike. They certainly didn’t act alike. John was the perfect child. He always obeyed his parents; he was kind to other people; he studied hard in school.

Peter on the other hand, was a different story. He was constantly being disobedient to his parents; he mistreated other kids; he lied; he took things that didn’t belong to him; and he was always in trouble.

As John and Peter grew older, the differences between them also grew. John continued to be the model student, applying himself and excelling in everything he did.

Peter, however, got into deeper and deeper trouble. When he was at Wal-Mart he stole some candy and he was caught. The store security guard picked him up and called his parents. His parents came to the store and picked him up. Angry his parents took him home and sent him to his room so that they could think about the best punishment for him.

While their parents were talking, John went into Peter’s room and insisted they switch places. When their parents came in, they were really giving a punishment to John not Peter. They decided that he would not be able to use the computer or watch television for 2 weeks in addition he would have to do all of John’s chores.

John gladly took the punishment for Peter because he loved him. Peter had a decision to make. He could either continue to live his life like he had always lived it – which means he would eventually end up with many if not more of the punishments that John got or he could try to learn from his brother’s example.

Discuss(accept all answers and reflect back)

Why do you think John did what he did?

Closing Activity

Hand everyone a piece of paper, an envelope and a pen.  Have participants write letters to God.  They should list what they can do differently to show that Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection affected their lives.  What would they change knowing that they have a second chance?  When time is finished, collect letters in sealed self-addressed envelope to be mailed to participants next week as a reminder of what they were hoping to do after Pascha. 

For the Hope children, have them draw a picture of how Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection affected their lives. 

Wrap Up (paraphrase in your own words)

Gather everyone together and say: Today we have been given another opportunity to change for the better.  On Saturday night, Easter morning, after the services are over, your priest will read a sermon that was written 1600 years ago but its message is true today, “God is gracious; He accepts the last even as the first…” You see, although it is Friday afternoon and tomorrow night we will be singing the beautiful hymn, “Christ is Risen!” it isn’t too late.  In a few minutes (hours) Christ will be taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb.  And by now you understand what that means and that He did it for you too.  Use these next few hours, (days) to show God that you are grateful for what He did.  If you don’t know how, use the tools the Church teaches: (even if you haven’t yet) you can still fast, pray, give, prepare!  It isn’t too late. 

Closing Prayer (all together)

You were lifted up upon the cross of your own free will, Christ our God.  Grant your mercy upon your people who bear your name.  In your strength make glad the Orthodox giving them victory over their adversaries.  May they have your alliance as a weapon of peace, and an invisible trophy.

Ideas for JOY and HOPE Service Activities for Holy Friday