The Silence of the Dark: Good Friday 2026
We live in a world that has declared war on the dark. From the "Always-On" glow of our smartphones to the digital noise we use to drown out the 3:00 AM "Quiet," we have become a people desperate for distraction. We would often rather feel the "shock" of a busy schedule or a scrolling feed than sit for even sixty seconds with our own thoughts.
But Good Friday is different.
Good Friday is the day the "system" failed. Socially, religiously, and politically, the world collapsed around Jesus until the sun itself stopped shining. For three hours—180 minutes of heavy, weighted silence—the Light of the World went out.
This year, we invite you to stop reaching for the "shock button." We invite you to step out of the neon museum of modern life and into the sanctified darkness where Christ has already gone before you. Join us as we inhabit the "In-Between," find the Father in the silence, and remember that we are never truly alone in the dark.
Service Times & Locations
We are gathering as a collective community across two locations to observe the darkness together. Please join us at the time and place that fits your journey.
Noon Service
Location: Flowery Branch United Methodist Church
Address: 5212 Spring St, Flowery Branch, GA 30542
Focus: A midday observance of the three hours of darkness.
Evening Service - 6:00pm
Location: Bethlehem United Methodist Church
Address: 3219 Bethlehem Church Rd, Buford, GA 30519
Focus: An evening of reflection, silence, and entering into Holy Saturday.
What to Expect
In these services, we will do something we almost never do: we will sit in the actual, physical dark. There will be no glowing watches, no vibrating phones, and no digital noise. We will create a space for the "Quiet" to talk. Whether you are navigating a "system failure" in your own life, a season of grief, or the heavy silence of a lonely room, this service is a reminder that Jesus has already inhabited that space for you.
"He stayed in the dark so that when your life goes dark—and it will—you can know that you aren't alone."