On each Good Friday in the last three years, some combined churches in the Moonee Valley area have hosted a Good Friday Reflective Journey in Queens Park, Moonee Ponds. As a member of St John’s Uniting Church, Essendon, Neil Ritchie has played a personal role in helping to organise this event with members of other denominations, for example, the Essendon Baptist Church, St. Thomas’s Anglican Church, Moonee Ponds and St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church, Moonee Ponds. When Bruce Chote from St. John’s Uniting Church was alive, he played an important role in organising this event and his participation is sadly missed, however others have filled the gap.
Queens Park is an ideal venue to host this event as a large group of people gather to reflect on Jesus journey to the cross and its relevance for people today. The people actively participate in journeying between stations located in Queens Park. They also join in singing, while some help to carry the cross between the stations. Readers read out prayers and reflections at each station, which are connected to this significant narrative of Jesus journey to the cross in the New Testament.
The success of this event is a sign of the ecumenical spirit at work as various churches in the area combine to worship God and Lord Jesus in this manner. Moonee Valley City Council are kind enough to permit the event to be held in Queens Park and the local press gives good coverage. There are many other gatherings held throughout Melbourne to commemorate Good Friday in a similar manner, but it is good that Moonee Valley is able to hold a Reflective Journey at a local level and still draw a large crowd. The event provides people with an opportunity to worship in a public place in a manner that is appropriate for Good Friday. This year the Reflective Journey will be held on the Good Friday in Queens Park on 6th April. Gather at the gates of Queens Park on the corner of Kellaway Avenue and Mt. Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds at 10.45 a.m. for the journey between 11.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. All are welcome. Enquiries about the event may be directed to Neil Ritchie on 9375 2428.
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