T he message of Holy Week will play out in the streets of Gordon again this year.
The 38th annual Trek of the Cross, a re-enactment of Jesus carrying the cross to Calvary for his crucifixion, will be held at noon today, beginning at Simpson United Methodist Church, Biddle Street. The trek will move east on Biddle, turn left onto Hobart Street, then move to McKnight Street and back to Biddle. The trek will stop at the Methodist church for a 1 p.m. Good Friday service, conducted by the Rev. James Christman, pastor. The public is invited to walk along the route.
The trek was started in 1979 by Elmer Yost as a way to get the message of Good Friday to the public who didn’t or couldn’t attend church. His wife, Rose Yost, has participated in almost every trek and plans to walk again this year.
“I intend to walk it unless something happens and I can’t move my feet,” Yost, 82, said.
Yost’s great-nephew, Jeffrey Nemeth, Frackville, will portray Jesus again this year.
Elmer Yost played Jesus for the first 10 years. He had planned to do it for 12 years — one year for each apostle — but shortly after his 10th trek, he passed away. His nephew, Edward Labie, took over the role to complete Elmer’s goal. He continued the tradition until 2009, when he passed it over to his nephew, Nemeth.
Rose said Nemeth plans to keep the tradition in the family and pass it on to his son. She said that will be awhile as the boy is only 7 years old.
“His son is going to take over when he is old enough,” she said.
After almost four decades, Rose said people still accept the message they are sending with the trek. She said it’s similar to when Jesus made his walk. He picked up the cross and the people followed.
Rose said the trek has been affected by the weather in the past, specifically the first year Labie walked the trek. She said the event had to be cut short because it was raining so hard.
According to the National Weather Service, rain showers are likely with wind gusts up to 25 mph. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 50s.
“God willing we have a good turnout and good weather,” Rose said.