Rock Hill church members shoulder cross to experience Christ’s journey on Good Friday

They carried the large cross in pairs of twos. On their shoulders lay a towel to pad their shoulders from the weight of the wood.

From Cherry Park, they made their way to Mount Gallant Road, then to Celanese Road – nearly three miles, carrying the 8-foot tall and 3-foot wide cross.

Aldersgate United Methodist Church members and friends wanted to experience part of what Jesus of Nazareth felt nearly 2,000 years ago on Good Friday, as he carried a cross to the place where he would be crucified.

Wayne Maury admitted the Rock Hill journey was easier than what Christ experienced outside Jerusalem.

“When we carry the cross, we usually do two people, but when Christ did it, he was by himself,” said the Rock Hill police officer and member of Aldersgate. “You think about the differences between the cross we had versus his cross – his was heavier, his condition while he was carrying the cross – he was dehydrated and beaten.”

In Rock Hill, cars honked and people waved. When the carriers became tired, two others took their place. Even a child took the lead and smiled the whole way with rosy red cheeks.

“You kind of think, this is what I’m feeling carrying the cross and it’s ten times, 100 times (easier than) what Christ suffered through when he was carrying the cross,” Maury said.

At the end of the journey, a bright orange cooler filled with an ice-cold beverages awaited the group. They set the cross upright facing the road, draped it with a black cloth, listened to a devotional from Aldersgate UMC Church Pastor Ben Herlong and prayed.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Rock Hill church members shoulder cross to experience Christ’s journey on Good Friday."