Good Friday Worship - April 15, 2022
Welcome/Announcements
A moment of silence to center our minds and hearts
You are invited to light a candle or two or several at the beginning of this service and we will slowly extinguish them during and at the end of the service.
Facing God (from Psalm 22)
Leader: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning?
All: Oh my God, I cry by day,
but you do not answer,
and by night, but find no rest.
Leader: I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
All: But You, O Lord, Do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Leader: You are holy enthroned on the praises of Israel.
All: In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
Leader: Let us worship God!
O sacred head now wounded
Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance
(Moment for silent prayer)
Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
The term “Tenebrae” is taken from the Latin for “darkness” or “shadows” and reminds us of the darkness that covered the earth during Jesus’ crucifixion. Candles are extinguished one at a time until no light remains in the service.
The First Reading — John 18:1-14 — He Is Arrested
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Were you there verse 1:
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?
The Second Reading — John 18:15-27 — He Is Denied
First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Were You There, v. 2
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
The Third Reading — John 18:18-40 — He Is Tried
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Were You There, v. 3
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
The Fourth Reading — John 19:1-12 — He Is Condemned
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
The Fifth Reading — John 19:13-16 — He Is Handed Over
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Were you there verse 4:
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
The Sixth Reading — John 19:17-25 — He Is Crucified
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves and for my clothing they cast lots.”
And that is what the soldiers did.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Homily
Flags by Brooke Fraser
Prayer of Intercession
We stand near the cross, O God--disturbed, distraught, discouraged. Yet we gather here as disciples, those whom Jesus loves. In the face of such suffering, show us the face of our Savior. In the shadow of such evil, show us the light of your grace. Be with those who are suffering, who are mourning, who are lost in deep grief. Be with those who care for the ill, the bereaved, the lonely. We pray all may feel your comfort as we kneel at the foot of the cross. On this day of great solemnity, let us stand as witnesses to your great love for all the world, revealed in the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ our Lord. We pray all this in his name, and pray together the prayer he taught us, saying,
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.
Offering
Every worship service we have a time of offering to connect, send private prayers, offer financial gifts, and dedicate all that we have given to our community. Let us pray.
To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org
God of provision, we thank you for the opportunities we have to participate in your work in the world. We offer up to you the gifts of our prayers, our presence in gatherings like this one, our financial resources, our time and energy in service to you and to others. Bless all our efforts, multiply them, so that all our neighbors would know the depths of your love for them. Amen.
song of offering: Anthem by Leonard Cohen
The Seventh Reading — John 19:26-29 — He Dies
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, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the 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. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
All: Christ Have Mercy
Leader: Lord Have Mercy
Were You There, v. 5
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Moment of silence
Blow out final candle/turn out final lights
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