The early morning hours proved to not be a bother for many as cars filled the parking lot at the Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour for the annual Good Friday Prayer Breakfast to hear that hope is on the rise.

The room was filled with local pastors, business and community leaders, first responders and others to enjoy fellowship, a message and a hot breakfast.

Mayor Matt Nicholson thanked those for attending before inviting the Seymour Young Marines Color Guard for a presentation of the colors as they marched through the room bearing city and nation flags.

Veteran Chuck Seybold led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance and Andy Schroeder began the invocation. The Lutheran Men’s Chorus followed the invocation with “At the Cross” and “We Remember You.”

Pastor Damon Spurgeon of Peters Switch Church of the Nazarene gave the message about the significance of Friday, but to always have hope come Sunday.

“Easter is about hope,” he said. “We have hope in Jesus for you as individuals, for your families and for this community.”

For Christians, Good Friday is a holy day observing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.

Spurgeon said the question is often asked what is good about Good Friday.

“We answer this every year,” he said. “Absolutely nothing. We know the story and we know what is going to happen on Sunday, but 2000 years ago they had no hope.”

Spurgeon continued to speak on the power of hope.

“I am thinking that for some of you, it took a lot for you to get up and come here,” he said. “You’re struggling. There are things going on in your life maybe none of us know about. It may be your Friday, but Sunday is coming.”

Spurgeon spoke briefly on the need for strength and love within the community during this time.

“We know we have problems in our community,” he said. “We don’t always agree politically I know that, but as business and political leaders and those who love this community we have a responsibility. There are people out there that need us to become the leaders we need to be and join together to love one another. It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming.”

Spurgeon said while he doesn’t have all the answers, he left his message with a reference from Romans 8:28.

“In all things God works for the good of all those that love him.”

Nicholson then took the stage to give the Mayor’s Prayer, something he said has never changed since he took office.

Nicholson said when he took office five years ago there was a file cabinet full of speeches, some that had possibly been around for decades.

“I’ll be honest I have re-written most of those speeches and put them in my own words, but the one that has held true is the one for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast,” he said. “It didn’t need fixed and there was nothing wrong with it.”

He asked those in the audience to pay close attention as he read the prayer, saying this time it hits closer to home.

“We gather together on this Good Friday morning to remember your death and resurrection. We thank you for your sacrifice for us. As the Spring season brings new growth and new life we pray for a renewal and recommitment of life for each person here today. We pray for America and we pray for our world. Help us live in this world as people who have been forgiven. May we who are called by the name of Christ show Christ’s love to the people we meet each day. Help us to be gentle, walking softly with one another. Help us to be understanding, so that we will not add to the worlds’ sorrows. Help us stand for what is right, not because it may yield dividends, but because it is right. Help us to be as anxious for the rights of others as we are for our own. Help us to be eager to forgive others as we are to seek forgiveness from you. Help us to know no barriers of creed, denomination or race, so that our love may be like yours-a love that is for all people.”