Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson welcomes guests to the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Rev. Teresa Poole of First United Methodist Church delivers the message during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Members of the Seymour Young Marines present the colors during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Lutheran Men’s Chorus sings during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Rev. John Desender of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Seymour prepares to give the invocation during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Rev. Ken Davidson of Emanuel Lutheran Church prepares to give the benediction during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson welcomes guests to the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Rev. Teresa Poole of Seymour First United Methodist Church delivers the message during the Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Nearly 150 people gathered early Friday morning to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross before his resurrection on Easter morning.
The Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast, held at The Pines Evergreen Room south of Seymour, featured breakfast, prayer and a message from a pastor. The Lutheran Men’s Chorus provided the music.
“This morning in first century Palestine, Jesus’ disciples were beside themselves,” the Rev. Teresa Poole said. “You could say the world looked like it had been turned upside down.
“Right before their eyes as Jesus was arrested, he quickly went through a mock trial and clearly was heading toward crucifixion. But Jesus knew better. Jesus knows better. Oh does Jesus know. From his selfless act of love, he was about to turn the world right side up, and our world as a result is right side up.”
Poole, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Seymour, read from John 19:25-30 and referenced author Heidi Haverkamp’s book “Holy Solitude.”
Haverkamp says Good Friday is a time when the church must lean into the dark winds of crucifixion.
“Today, we huddle together once more leaning into the dark winds to experience Jesus in his suffering,” Poole said. “For Jesus experienced abandonment from his disciples, betrayal, dismissed as someone expendable, and because Jesus has that experience, we can sit at the cross knowing we’re not alone in our own suffering.”
Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson, who led everyone in prayer before Poole spoke, welcomed those on hand and said the breakfast has been held every year since April 5, 1996, when John Burkhart was mayor. The 2020 event was held virtually, while attendance was limited for the 2021 prayer breakfast due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dominick Neal, Keith LaRance, Erin Murphy and Nathaniel Greene with the Seymour Young Marines presented the colors at the beginning of the event, and Shawn Riley led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Rev. John Desender of Seymour Seventh Day Adventist Church gave the invocation, and Ken Davidson of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dudleytown gave the benediction.
The Lutheran Men’s Chorus sang “When You Prayed Beneath the Trees” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Before the end of the breakfast, they sang, “Go Now in Peace.”
Nicholson thanked everyone for coming out Friday.
“It’s great to see such a good turnout for this event year after year,” he said. “I know we had a digital event a few years ago, but it’s nice to have a full room again.”