The annual community Good Friday service will feature Ironton clergy reading the story of the Passion of Christ from the Gospel of John.

“It will be played out by the pastors who will basically read it in character,” the Rev. David Ritchie, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, said.

The event sponsored by the Ironton Ministerial Association will be at the First Church of the Nazarene with pastors from St. Paul, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian, Ironton City Mission, First Church of Nazarene and Christ Episcopal.

“This is another chance to experience the first part of the cross event,” Ritchie said. “Good Friday is to focus on the death and many Christians don’t like to focus on the death. Death is too ugly and human nature is to try to get over the ugliness.

“Without the death there is no resurrection. The cross event, the death and resurrection, is one complete event and that is what saves us.”

Following the reading there will be a meditation.

“There won’t be a sermon,” Ritchie said. “The Gospel played out is enough for a message.”

The service begins at noon and is open to the community.