Real Live Preacher

Oh my gosh, they actually did have nails to take home at the church where I went for Good Friday! And a bizarrely cheerful Good Friday service, sort of really missing the point.

For the messiah on the go!

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 18, 2006 - 6:12pm.

For the messiah on the go!

It's not incongruous.

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 18, 2006 - 7:23pm.

It's not incongruous. Actually, it looks interesting, and a great way to get people to see, maybe for the first time, what the crucifixion was all about. Did any of you try it?

...it's "Merriam-Webster"

Of course it's incongruous.

Submitted by rlp on April 18, 2006 - 7:59pm.

Of course it's incongruous. The church has historically commemorated the crucifixion on Good Friday, properly somber, and the resurrection on Easter Sunday, properly festive and joyous. Methodist churches usually follow the liturgical calendar, so I know they understand this.

There is nothing joyous about the crucifixion. And to present it as such is going to be only confusing to anyone who is new to the church.

It's rather like saying, "Come and see a screening of Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ.' We'll celebrate the joy of it together."

No, it's not incongruous.

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 18, 2006 - 9:07pm.

No, it's not incongruous. The crucifixion event on the sign is on Friday and Saturday. The invitation to celebrate with joy refers to Easter, which is on Sunday.

I suppose every church does some things in their attempts to be true to their calling that cause others to raise an eyebrow at their seeming silliness...

Really? That's really how

Submitted by rlp on April 18, 2006 - 9:18pm.

Really? That's really how you read it? You see a clear invitation to two events on this banner? The drive-through crucifixion event and a separate worship service at their sanctuary on Easter Sunday.

Sorry, I don't see it. But okay. Good for you. I guess if you lived in their town, you'd get it easily and enjoy the whole thing. I and some others are confused by it.

I'm not raising an eyebrow at them. I think it's funny. I don't mean them any harm. I don't even know where this church is located.

I would be interested to

Submitted by see through faith on April 20, 2006 - 1:04am.

I would be interested to know how did this event go. I mean did it attract new people. What did they make of the Passion story, presumably acted out in front of their eyes.

I agree that the sign is rather eyecatching - and the implication is that the crucifiction is a joyous event - which it is not - but the idea is, surely, to make Easter relevent to people.

The sign made me laugh. The real question though is did this 'event' get the attention of the people in that town. Did they find out what Jesus' death meant for them ... was their life changed because of it ... and come Easter morning could they say - with understanding - He is risen indeed (or whatever they say in that rather hip-looking churc h)

oh and rlp -not all UMC churches do follow the liturgial year :) though all I think know when Easter (and Christmas) are - grin!

Are you allowed to roll your

Submitted by visual-voice on April 18, 2006 - 7:57pm.

Are you allowed to roll your windows down... or, for safety purposes, do they require they stay rolled up?

A literal sign the

Submitted by digory on April 18, 2006 - 8:34pm.

A literal sign the apocolypse is upon us.

Heh. Reminds me of rush-hour

Submitted by xyp on April 18, 2006 - 10:32pm.

Heh. Reminds me of rush-hour on the L.A. freeways.
(wait--that's worse than crucifixion)

Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

As the photographer (and I'd

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 18, 2006 - 11:46pm.

As the photographer (and I'd be curious to know the path of travel of that photograph; I didn't think I had that big a readership), I'd mention that I took this photograph on Holy Saturday. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to actually attend.

It's related, I believe, to the drive-through Nativities that have been popular in the area for the last decade or more. You drive through the church parking lot and pass scenes from the Nativity. Still lifes, not active scenes, with church members (and donkeys and sheep and whatnot) illustrating scenes from the Nativity story. I'd imagine that this is similar--scenes from the Passion presented to people driving through. A Protestant Stations of the Cross, so to speak. On the go.

Someone emailed me the

Submitted by rlp on April 19, 2006 - 5:44am.

Someone emailed me the photo. I asked where they got it. I was struck by it for some reason. It has a certain "American tackiness" to it. I have no serious quarrel with the church that put it on. I'm sure they are wonderful people.

It just seemed, well incongruent to me. The crucifixion and the joy of Easter put so close together on one sign. Seemed funny to me.

I agree that it is likely an offshoot of the "drive through" religious experience that seems to be fairly common. To be honest, the whole drive through thing seems out of place for me. But I have a pretty deep suspicion of church marketing techniques.

I had no idea there was such

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 10:03am.

I had no idea there was such thing as fairly common drive-through religious experience, but it makes me happy that such meta-comedic performance art exists.

The audience is fairly limited, but that's how you know it's Art.

Had I logged in, that would

Submitted by Keith on April 19, 2006 - 10:04am.

Had I logged in, that would have been me.

But is there a clerk at a

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 12:14am.

But is there a clerk at a window with a nailgun?

My mom saw a passion-like

Submitted by FluffyN on April 19, 2006 - 6:13am.

My mom saw a passion-like procession on Saturday (a day late) along the main drag of my SoCal hometown. Complete with battered-looking Jesus and cross. He was accompanied by folks carrying signs saying "honk if you love Jesus". That seems so wrong. Like "Beep-beep! Go Jesus! Go get crucified! Woooooo!" Ew.

Ewwwwwww Ewwwwwwwwwwww

Submitted by Alice in Wonderbread on April 19, 2006 - 9:07pm.

Ewwwwwww Ewwwwwwwwwwww Ewwwwwwwww
What an awful experience, FluffyN.
Go get crucified. I still to this day wonder what may have happened if instead he were freed before death.

Even as a nearly-certified agnostic, I understand the crucifiction of Christ is not the celebration part. It's who he is, what he meant, what he said, and above all- what he DID that changed so many millions of lives for the better.

The fact he was killed is not the joyful part of anything. It is the ultimate display of love a man had for humankind- to understand so well the nature of spirit he sacrificed himself.

yuk!

Submitted by see through faith on April 20, 2006 - 1:06am.

yuk!

I am a United Methodist and

Submitted by harper on April 19, 2006 - 6:58am.

I am a United Methodist and I find this tacky and incongruous. While I am sure that the intention is to bring the story to the "unchurched", making it a drive-through attraction trivializes Jesus' death to say the least. What's next? Drive-through communion? What message is being given with drive-through anything? It's all about convenience --"Drive right up,folks, you can have a close encounter with God and never leave the safety and comfort of your car, never risk the messy entanglements of being part of a religious community, and most of all it won't impinge on your busy schedule."

At least they realize that

Submitted by abiding on April 19, 2006 - 7:22am.

At least they realize that Christ has paid the price for us all since there is "no charge".

Gordon, What kind of camera

Submitted by smpuckster on April 19, 2006 - 7:28am.

Gordon,

What kind of camera do you use?

Steve

smpuckster@mac.com

www.zzpuck.notlong.com

I didn't take this picture.

Submitted by rlp on April 19, 2006 - 2:10pm.

I didn't take this picture. found it on the web. But I use a Canon Elph powershot SD400.

Thanks for the camera info,

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 5:49pm.

Thanks for the camera info, Gordon. Peace.

Steve

*Cringe!* I'm also United

Submitted by producer girl on April 19, 2006 - 7:47am.

*Cringe!* I'm also United Methodist, and that's just freaking creepy. Hopefully it did attract some with no Christian memory and introduce them to our faith-- and I'm sure that was the point. But, uh, it gives me the willies. Like when people say "Happy Good Friday."

(adapts Monty Pyton English

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 8:12am.

(adapts Monty Pyton English accent)
"Crucifixion? yes...good...line on the left, one cross each. Off you go now..." Monty Python "The Life of Brian"

Jane - wanders off whistling Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Exactly. I was singing the

Submitted by Alice in Wonderbread on April 19, 2006 - 11:54pm.

Exactly. I was singing the same song, attempting to whistle but could not, as A-I cannot and B-I was eating crackers.

Wow...

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 8:46am.

Wow...

Sometimes, though, the grief

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 9:31am.

Sometimes, though, the grief of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday legitimately end up mixed together, as described here.

I don't really think that's the intention of the photo (which I, too, found incongruous!) But perhaps it's worth thinking about?

Anneke

Thanks for that beautiful

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 21, 2006 - 9:12am.

Thanks for that beautiful link, Anneke. I think what is incongruous to me about the photograph is that it makes Christianity over in our image, rather than the other way around. Faith as an accessory to our secular lives, "weather-permitting." Drive through the convenient resurrection on your way to the mall or the multiplex. But the image of mothers and children shouting Alleluia when they've lost so much is gonna stick with me, make me ponder how the last are first.

So you drive right up and

Submitted by Sparky on April 19, 2006 - 1:22pm.

So you drive right up and they nail your hands to your steering wheel?

(chuckle) This one's worthy

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 2:32pm.

(chuckle)

This one's worthy of the "Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction" feature in "The Wittenburg Door."

http://wittenburgdoor.com/archives/stranger054.html

That reminds me...I have at

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 2:35pm.

That reminds me...I have at least *three* very bizarre spiritual-related signs within a couple of blocks of my house. I really need to walk out there and take pictures of them. I mean, how can you possibly *not* take a picture of a sign for the "Free Meth Church"?

Oops, sorry. I didn't mean

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 12:23pm.

Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to be anonymous. This is Melanie Teegarden. Or Althaea, whatever. :) I guess I'm not currently logged in.

Having grown up Methodist I

Submitted by TheEdge on April 19, 2006 - 3:37pm.

Having grown up Methodist I am sad to say...this doesn't suprise me. I wish it did.

My first reaction was to

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 4:18pm.

My first reaction was to laugh, but then the mantra of "tacky, tacky, tacky" began. But then I'm one of those people that also cringes when I see frisbees with the name of "Jesus" on it too. There's always big ruckus over the commercialization of Christmas; it's sad to see that some of the most guilty of commericializing sacred holidays are done by Christians themselves. Hairspray

I can't believe this is

Submitted by sandrajackson on April 19, 2006 - 7:05pm.

I can't believe this is serious. I mean really. They honestly feel the need to attract people to faith using drive through anything? What this message portrays is “quick and easy faith from the comfort of your car”. Sounds like fast food faith to me. Will the "body" and "blood" of Christ be offered in a to go meal? And do the kids get a special toy?

No special toy, but you get

Submitted by Sparky on April 21, 2006 - 9:40am.

No special toy, but you get to take home the nifty shot gl.. er communion cups.

I can't remember where I

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 19, 2006 - 7:34pm.

I can't remember where I first read the phrase (I don't think it was you, RLP) so I can't credit the original but:

That's Theotainment!

"Weather permitting"?!! So

Submitted by Wandering Willow on April 19, 2006 - 8:18pm.

"Weather permitting"?!! So hilarious! Of course you wouldn't want to crucify someone in the rain. That would be too uncomfortable, for them to be all wet and chilly and everything.

I also like the suggestion of a guy at the window with a nailgun!

This was a lot of laughs. Thanks for posting it!!

http://blogs.salon.com/0003947
www.wanderingwillowblog.blogspot.com

Well... All the jokes I

Submitted by Big Simon on April 19, 2006 - 10:28pm.

Well...

All the jokes I would have made have already been used, so I'll just site here slack-jawed and astounded.

simon (of the big sort)

P.S.: This goes hand-in-hand with the drive-thru communion one church in Wichita, KS offers. It even has a fast-food style drive up window!

Maybe not incongruous if

Submitted by Roberta Smith on April 20, 2006 - 12:02am.

Maybe not incongruous if read in the order displayed. A crucifixion with 'drive through' timber-hangers sounds ghastly. But if cancelled due to appalling weather, that certainly would be a reason for big joy.

"drive thru" anything is

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 9:01am.

"drive thru" anything is unusual in the UK, but a Drive-thru Crucifixion seems totally inappropriate and lacking in propriety to me. Was there popcorn and cola in case anyone got bored?

I would agree that exhorting people to share the joys of Easter in what seems like the same breath as inviting them to experience a crucifixion seems incongruous, whatever they actually meant.

Karin @ http://www.blogger.com/profile/5025397

Classic humor. The

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 9:28am.

Classic humor. The unintentional kind is usually the funniest.

"Free Meth Church" -- pic please! Are they offering Sunrise Easter Service at the 'crack' of dawn? Etc.

Do you want fries with that?

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 11:19am.

Do you want fries with that? Supersize your drink?

Drive Thru Cruxifixion!

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 1:04pm.

Drive Thru Cruxifixion! Atonement While-U-Wait!

=================

John 19:29 NDTT (New Drive Thru Translation):

A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips and asked, "Would you like fries with that?"

==================

notarev

If you do a web search on

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 20, 2006 - 10:27pm.

If you do a web search on Philippines "crucifixion" and/or "crucifiction", you'll come up with, what I can only describe as DISTURBING, pictures and articles about Philippinos reenacting the ordeals for Good Friday.

Celle T.

There's been some coverage

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 21, 2006 - 2:56am.

There's been some coverage here in the UK of a DJ/TV presenter from these parts(no-one I've ever heard of, but then I'm not young and hip) who planned to try being crucified, possibly in the Philippines, but backed out in tears at the last minute.

Karin @ http://www.blogger.com/profile/5025397

That's awesome. Truly

Submitted by donandval on April 21, 2006 - 9:28pm.

That's awesome. Truly amazing. Some church actually spent money to have that banner made. It boggles the mind.

What gets me are the reader-board signs, where they can arrange they letters into clever new sayings on a whim.

One of the churches I have to drive by every day has a sign like that that says "God answers KNEE mail"... nyuk, nyuk, nyuk... it wouldn't be sooo bad except they haven't changed it in about a month now. I'm thinking of a midnight raid to rearrange the letters - any suggestions?

Another local church has a sign that says "Soul food served here" .

I could go on and on... but it's starting to depress me. I'd better send God a knee mail.

:) V

with the same letters: "A

Submitted by spidey on April 24, 2006 - 12:50pm.

with the same letters:

"A less demeaning work"
"A leaked germ sin sown"

I found you again!

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 22, 2006 - 1:18am.

I found you again! Yippee.
I like the bilboard: Don't make me come down there!........God

Does it come with cheese or

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 22, 2006 - 9:36pm.

Does it come with cheese or is that on the side?

Wess

http://gatheringinlight.com

Well, we do one here. We

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 25, 2006 - 11:04pm.

Well, we do one here. We have around 200 people come through. It's not marketed as a celebration. It is rather meaningful for those here in our city. I must say, I do see the lighter side to it that you all have pointed out. www.parsonagemusings.blogspot.com

please don't feed the Marys'

Submitted by Anonymous User on April 28, 2006 - 4:52am.

please don't feed the Marys'

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