GOOD FRIDAY
SERVICE OF DARKNESS
Tenebrae
The minister enters in silence.
The Tenebrae candles are lit.
GOSPEL John 19:17-30
M: A reading from the Gospel of St. John:
Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: God Most Holy, look with mercy on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, be given over into the hands of the wicked, and suffer death upon the cross. Keep us always faithful to him, our only Savior, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God.
C: Amen.
CHOIR “A Purple Robe”
PSALM (Sung) Psalm 22 (page 71)
PSALM PRAYER
M Father, when your Son hung on the cross, he cried out to you in agony and grief. You gave him the strength to endure so that
death might be destroyed and life restored. Have mercy on us all our days and preserve us in the true faith unto everlasting life;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS
Luke 23:33-34
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The first candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
Their nails were freshly driven, their hatred clearly shown,
when, “Let them be forgiven,” was heard at heaven’s throne.
Your enemies, O Jesus, you loved beyond degree,
a love so pure and precious it even pardoned me.
SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS
Luke 23:35-43
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The second candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
On you, my King, depending, I’m rid of all my sins!
My final day here ending, my first in heav’n begins.
As you have truly spoken, in paradise I’ll be,
with you in bliss unbroken—you will remember me.
THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS
John 19:25-27
“Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”
The third candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
A Savior like no other, all self-concern denied,
you served your grieving mother while you were crucified.
My sin had made me filthy, but you, the perfect child,
were designated guilty, and I am reconciled.
FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
Matthew 27:45-49
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”
The fourth candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
Condemned, cut off, forsaken, outside the Father’s care,
by terror overtaken, no ear would hear your prayer.
On you God’s wrath was vented, on you his fury fell,
when, on the cross tormented, you took my place in hell.
FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
John 19:28-29
“I am Thirsty.”
The fifth candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
My Lord, in death’s dark valley, both soul and body drained,
one drink would help you rally what little strength remained
to raise your voice in vict’ry, to sound your foe’s defeat—
the highest point in hist’ry—my rescue was complete.
SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
John 19:30a
“It is finished.”
The sixth candle is extinguished.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
Though sin’s most lethal wages to me, O Christ, were due,
the guilt of all the ages came crashing down on you.
Most surely, “It is finished”—my debt is fully paid;
my joy is undiminished; my heart is unafraid.
SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
Luke 23:44-46
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
The seventh candle is carried from the chancel.
HYMN “The Seven Words” sung to the tune of #105
My death will be triumphant no matter how I die;
Lord Jesus, in that instant escort my soul on high
into my Father’s keeping, all-blameless and all-blest,
like waking up from sleeping, his hands my place of rest.
THE SENTENCE
M: Christ became obedient for us unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has exalted Him to the highest place and given Him the name that is above every name.
PRAYER FOR GOOD FRIDAY
Lord Jesus Christ, in humble awe, in reverent silence, and in solemn trembling, your people have gathered around your cross to remember your death. O Christ, friend of sinners, have mercy on us; O Christ, Savior and Redeemer, have mercy on us; O Christ, only hope of a lost world, have mercy on us.
At your cross let us see all the ugliness, horror, and misery that sin, death, and Satan brought into the world and that you willingly took on yourself. Open our eyes to see that we deserved the death and torments of hell that you suffered for us.
But open our eyes also to see that by your death you destroyed death, by your sacrifice you reconciled us with your Father, and by the blood you shed you purchased us to belong to you forever.
Help us believe that we are worth that much to you. Fill us with joy and peace in believing that we are truly free from condemnation and forgiven by your Father. Help us dedicate our lives in thankful love to you, who gave yourself for us. Hear us, O Lamb of God, who bore all sin for us. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER:
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
forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN (#120) “What Wondrous Love is This”
The Passion History of Our Lord
The Burial
M: Going to Pilate, Joseph of Aramathea asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he had learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. He took the body down and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, which he had bought. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
C: Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices,
in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
M: At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in
the garden a new tomb cut out of rock in which no one had ever
been laid. They laid Jesus there because it was nearby and also because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
C: Joseph rolled a big stone in front of the entrance of the tomb
and went away. The women went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
M: The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and
the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that
while he was still alive that imposter said, ‘After three days I will
rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until
the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body
and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last
deception will be worse than the first!”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as
you know how.”
C: So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the
stone and posting a guard.
M: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
C: By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Seventh Candle is returned
SILENCE FOR MEDITATION
M: Go in peace.
The minister exits the chancel.
The Congregation Disperses Quietly (without ushers).
