03 29 24 Good Friday

Pastoral Welcome
 
Invocation
Leader:  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All:  Amen.
 
Hymn
“Go To Dark Gethsemane”

Confession
Pastor: We gather before God, remembering the cross in sorrow and in shame. We seek His forgiveness, strength, and mercy. We remember the day of our Savior’s death. We mourn and struggle to understand the depth of Christ’s love—that He should suffer and die in our place. Father, our hearts are heavy as we gather in the name of Christ, bearing witness to the terror of His crucifixion, knowing full well that we are guilty sinners, in need of Your forgiveness, life, and salvation.
People: Christ our Savior has died for our sins.
Pastor: At times, we have failed to strive against evil in the world.
People: Christ our Savior has died for our sins.
Pastor: At times, we have denied our Lord.
People: Christ our Savior has died for our sins.
Pastor: At times, we have betrayed our Lord.
People: Christ our Savior has died for our sins. Have mercy on us, Lord, and grant us forgiveness. Amen.
 
Hymn
“Jesus I Will Ponder Now”

Tenebrae
 
God’s Word
Luke 23:32-34a (Pew Bible page 1505)
[32] Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Meditation
 
Hymn
“Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain”
 
God’s Word
Luke 23:35-43 (Pew Bible page 1505)
[35] The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” [36] The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar [37] and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” [38] There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. [39] One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” [43] Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Meditation
 
Hymn
“O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken”

God’s Word
John 19:25-27 (Pew Bible page 1544)
[25] Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” [27] and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Meditation
 
Hymn
“Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”
 
God’s Word
Matthew 27:45-46 (Pew Bible page 1421)
[45] From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. [46] About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Meditation
 
Hymn
“O Sacred Head Now Wounded”
 
God’s Word
John 19:28-29 (Pew Bible page 1544)
[28] Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” [29] 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.

Meditation

Hymn
“Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted”
 
God’s Word
John 19:30 (Pew Bible page 1544)
[30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Meditation
 
Hymn
“Were You There”
 
God’s Word
Luke 23:44-46 (Pew Bible page 1506)
[44] It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, [45] for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Meditation
 
God’s Word
Mark 15:38-46 (Pew Bible page 1453)
[38] The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. [39] And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” [40] Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. [41] In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. [42] It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, [43] Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. [44] Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. [45] When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. [46] So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Experiencing Darkness
 
Prayers Of The Night
 
The Lord’s Prayer (whispered)
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.
 
Strepitus
 
The Pastor and Congregation Leave In Silence