A meaningful tradition of faith and remembrance continued in Gordon this Good Friday, as Simpson United Methodist Church held its 47th annual “Jesus Christ's Trek of the Cross.”
Dozens gathered to witness and participate in the reenactment of Jesus’s path to Calvary—a custom that has been faithfully carried out since it was first introduced by the late Elmer Yost nearly five decades ago. This year, Jeffrey Nemeth of Frackville once again portrayed Jesus Christ, carrying a 25-pound cross and walking barefoot through the streets of Gordon.
The solemn procession, which began on Biddle Street and wound its way through Hobart and McKnight Streets before returning to Biddle, lasted about 45 minutes. While modest in size, with around a dozen participants, the group was united in reverence, pausing traffic and conversation to reflect on the crucifixion and its enduring significance.
Nemeth’s steady walk and the quiet support of those behind him served as a public act of devotion, drawing onlookers and residents to momentarily observe or join in the sacred journey. At the conclusion of the route, participants reconvened at Simpson UMC for a Good Friday service, followed by a free lunch provided by the church.
Pastor Susan Hocking, who has shepherded the continuation of this event in recent years, said the tradition remains a vital part of the church’s mission to honor Jesus’s sacrifice while making the message accessible to all—including the homebound, which was Yost’s original inspiration.
The event remains one of the longest-standing public Good Friday observances in the region.
