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Good Friday
Seven Last Words of Christ
April 2, 2021 at 12:00 Noon
The congregation is invited to light their candle as a sign of God’s presence with us as we begin worship.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
OPENING SENTENCES
(Officiant 1) - In the shadow of our suffering, is the suffering of Jesus. In the shadow of our weakness, is the vulnerability of Christ. In the shadow of our pain, is the God who cried out. We are never rejected. We are never left alone.
Opening Hymn
To Mock Your Reign John Pratt Green
Kingsfold
GREETING
(Officiant 1) - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
All: And also with you.
(Officiant 1) - This worship is not a celebration but a service of mourning.
All: We are ready.
(Officiant 1) - A cradle and a cross and between these - a life.
All: Bethlehem and Jerusalem, a birth and a death.
(Officiant 1) - One of sorrows, who often wept, one of joy, who also kept sensitivity and compassion alive and real.
All: Today let us feel the surge of that life, the beauty of that love, the power of that cross, that we might continue to work for love and justice in our world.
COLLECT
(Officiant 1) - Holy God, in this darkness of this day, we see the betrayal of friendship and its consequences, and we see how unreliable your followers proved to be in crisis. But even today, as we gather at the foot of your cross, we confess that just like your disciples we, too, are guilty of betrayal. We, too, are guilty of denial. And we, too, are guilty of abandoning you. Forgive us, and remember us according to your steadfast love. Walk with us into the darkness of tomorrow, that we may know your abiding presence, even in the shadows. Step-by-step, reveal your love to us, bursting through the suffering, pain, and death of your Son, that we might come to experience your grace anew. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SEVEN LAST WORDS
One
(Bill Hooper) - “It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Jesus.” (Mark 15:25)
“Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then Jesus said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:25b-27a)
Hymn Response
Were You There?
composed by enslaved African-Americans at the turn of the 19th century.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Two
(Officiant 1) – “Then Jesus said, “Abba, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Hymn Response
Were You There?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Three
(Officiant 2) - “One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding Jesus and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into reign.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
Hymn Response
“Jesus Remember Me” (sing 3 times) Jacques Berthier
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Four
(Allen Hill) - “After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said, (in order to fulfill scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.” (John 19:28-29)
Hymn Response
Were You There?
Were you there when they gave him sour wine?
Were you there when they gave him sour wine?
Oh! Sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they gave him sour wine?
Five
(Officiant 1) - “From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:45-46)
Hymn Response
Were You There?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh? Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Six
(Officiant 2) - Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Abba, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
Musical Response
"Largo" from Symphony No. 9, "From the New World" Antonin Dvorak
Seven
(Bill Hooper) - “When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
Hold silence together
SOLEMN PRAYERS Bill Hooper
(Officiant 1) - Let us pray for the Church of Christ throughout the world:
For its unity in witness and service, for all bishops and other ministers and the people whom they serve, for Alan and Gayle, our bishops, and all the people of this diocese, for all Christians in this community, for those about to be baptized, particularly Bradley Deibel, that God will confirm the Church in faith, increase it in love, and preserve it in peace.
Silence
Faithful and compassionate God, your Spirit guides the Church and makes it holy; hear the prayers we offer, that in the particular ministry to which you have called us, we may serve you faithfully, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us pray for all nations and peoples of the earth, and for those in authority among them: for Joseph, our president, Charlie, our governor and for the government of this country, for all who serve the common good; that by God’s help they may seek justice and truth; that all might live in peace and harmony.
Silence
Faithful and compassionate God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those in authority, that justice, peace, and freedom may increase, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us pray for all who suffer: for the hungry and the homeless, for the deprived and the oppressed, for the sick, the wounded, and the handicapped, for those in loneliness and in fear, for those in confusion, doubt, and despair, for the sorrowful and bereaved, for prisoners, and all at the point of death, that God’s love will comfort and sustain them, and that we may be stirred up to minister to them.
Silence
Faithful and compassionate God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer, hear the cry of all who call on you in any trouble, grant them the joy of receiving your help in their need, and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Let us pray for all who do not believe the gospel of Christ: for those who have never heard the message of salvation, for those who have lost their faith, for those who are indifferent to Christ, for those who actively oppose Christ by word or deed, and persecute Christ’s disciples, for those who in the name of Christ have persecuted others, that God will open their hearts to the truth, and lead them to faith and obedience.
Silence
Faithful and compassionate God, you create and love all the peoples of the earth; may your good news be so lived and proclaimed, that all are brought home to your presence, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us commit ourselves to God, and pray for the grace of a holy life, that with all who have died in the peace of Christ, and with those whose faith is known to God alone, we may enter the fullness of life in the joy of Christ’s resurrection.
Silence
God, our refuge and strength, accept the fervent prayers of your people, and bring to fulfillment your plan for all creation, through Jesus Christ who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Adapted from liturgy.co.nz)
LORD’S PRAYER
(Officiant 2) - Gathered into one by the Spirit, even at a distance, let us pray as Jesus taught us…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven..
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The candle should be blown out as the prayer is concluded.
(Officiant 1) - All Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church, peace and concord; and to us sinners, everlasting life and glory; for with the Our Blessed God and Holy Spirit, you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BENEDICTION
(Officiant 1) - “Christ has no body now on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. Ours are the eyes through which to look out at Christ’s compassion to the world; Ours are the feet with which Christ is to go about doing good; Ours are the hands with which Christ is to bless people now.”
DISMISSAL
As a symbolic reminder of Christ’s death, the very light of the world dying on this day, you are invited to extinguish your candle before we close with our dismissal.
(Officiant 2) – Jesus, in every corner of darkness and suffering, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us your peace.
We adore you, Lord Jesus, and we bless you.
For by your holy cross, your love has redeemed the world.
Let us remember your love in the dark corners of today.
(Please hold a moment of prayerfulness and leave in silence)
Special thanks to our readers:
Readings of Seven Last Words Bill Hooper and Allen Hill
Solemn Prayers Bill Hooper
Voice of the People Allen Hill
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