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Local residents, clergy continue tradition of Good Friday Cross Walk

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by Geoff Fox

Good Friday started off a little on the cool side and wet grass after overnight rain, but that didn’t stop roughly 50 people from walking from Hancock’s Widmeyer Park to St. Peter’s Catholic Church last Friday, April 3 to commemorate the Passion of Jesus during the Easter weekend.

Each year, residents gather for the Cross Walk to remember and reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ from his trial before Roman Governor Pontius Pilate to the rock being rolled in front of his tomb.

The annual Community Cross Walk began at 10 a.m.  in Widmeyer Park in front of the Lions Pavilion with Pastor Jean Squires of Mt. Zion and Hedgesville United Methodist Church reading from Matthew 26:36-50 and sharing a reflection.

Each of the six stops – Hancock United Methodist Church, Martha’s House, Rail Trail Gazebo, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and St. Peter’s Catholic Church – had a reading from Gospel of Matthew 26 and 27 followed by a reflection and hymn.

Pastor Becki Wessinger, Hancock United Methodist Church; Deacon Barbara Suffecool, Hancock United Methodist Church; Pastor Jeff Hawbaker, Orchard Ridge Church of God; Deacon Kirk Devore, St. Thomas Episcopal Church; and Decon James Mason, St. Peter’s Catholic Church led readings and reflections at each stop.

As is tradition, those among the gathered could help carry the cross from stop to stop.

Those who carried the cross were Ryder Montgomery and Bennett Dail from Widmeyer Park to the United Methodist Church, Joe Weller from the church to Martha’s House, Levi Van Meter from Martha’s House to the gazebo, Stephen Van Meter from the gazebo to St. Thomas, and Emma Cowger and Robert McCarthy from St. Thomas to St. Peter’s.

After the final stop at St. Peter’s, there were small refreshments for everyone.

Pastor Jeff Hawbaker of the Orchard Ridge Church of God read from Matthew 27:15-25 and reflected on the trial of Jesus before Pilate at the water fountain in town during the cross walk on Good Friday.
Deacon Kirk Devore of St. Thomas Episcopal Church reads from Matthew 27:32-50 in front of his church as Stephen Van Meter holds the cross he carried from the last stop on the Community Cross Walk last Friday, April 3. Devore would also give a reflection on the reading.
Pastor Becki Wessinger of the Hancock United Methodist Church reads from Matthew 26:57-68 and reflects on the reading the parking lot of her church as Ryder Montgomery and Bennett Dail, who is from Wake Forrest, NC, and visiting family in Hancock, hold the cross during the Community Cross Walk last Friday.
Levi Van Meter took up the cross along Main Street from Martha’s House to the fountain in the Civil War Heritage Park during the cross walk last Friday.
Deacon James Mason of St. Peter’s Catholic Church reads from and reflected on Matthew 27:57-66, which is the burial of Jesus after His death on the cross. Emma Cowger and Robert McCarthy carried the cross the last leg of the cross walk from St. Thomas Episcopal Church to St. Peter’s.
About 50 believers from churches in the Hancock area make their way up Main Street from Widmeyer Park to the Hancock United Methodist Church during the first leg of the annual Good Friday Community Cross Walk. The walk is a way for believers to remember and reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Joe Weller took up the cross at the Hancock United Methodist Church and carried it up Main Street to Martha’s House for the next stop on the annual cross walk last Friday, April 3.