Community Corner

Good Friday Brings Out Christians for Annual Crosswalk

Several hundred members of churches from throughout the southwest Riverside County area walked along Temecula streets to mark Good Friday.

Though they attend different churches, good friends Kim Corcoran and Penny Mielke cross paths every year for the annual Crosswalk, organized by Calvary Chapel Murrieta for the 27th time this Good Friday.

"We believe it is important for people to remember what today is about," said Corcoran, who was among several hundred people who met at 11 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of Temeku Cinemas on Ynez Road in Temecula for the 2.3-mile walk.

Good Friday, according to Christian beliefs, was the day Jesus Christ, God's son, was crucified on the cross.

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"It is about Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins and he rose for us," said Mielke, who attends Sunridge Community Church in Temecula.

"The biggest thing I enjoy about this event is that we are part of something that happened so many years ago," Mielke said. "There are so many people in the valley who don't even know about Jesus or anything about what today represents or Sunday represents."

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For Christians, Sunday is Easter, the day Christ was resurrected.

Carrying wooden crosses of all sizes, the large group traversed the Overland Drive freeway overpass, then made its way south on Jefferson Avenue to Sam Hicks Monument Park in Old Town Temecula.

Temecula police were on hand to ensure the group traveled safely.

"They'll be on the sidewalks, but it is our responsibility as law enforcement to make sure everybody is safe," said Temecula police Sgt. Terry Scanlon. "We've got five motor officers here, we've got volunteers out there and the city will be out there. We'll making sure everybody is safe all along the way."

Once walkers rested up at the park, Rancho Community Church of Temecula provided shuttle rides back to Friday's starting point.


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