From: Bass Mitchell <bassm@va

From: Bass Mitchell <bassm@va.tds.net>

Worship Resources

Good Friday

April 9, 2004

HYMNS

Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed

Hallelujah! What a Savior

He Never Said a Mumbalin' Word

I Am Thine, O Lord

Near to the Heart of God

Woman in the Night

'Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies

To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Were You There

Go to Dark Gethsemane

Behold the Savior of Mankind

The Bread of Life for All is Broken

My God, I Love Thee

CALLS TO WORSHIP/GREETINGS

L: Almighty God,

L: Graciously behold this your family,

L: For whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing

L: To be betrayed into the hands of sinners,

L: And to suffer death upon the cross;

L: Who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

L: One God, for ever and ever.

ALL: Amen.

L: We do not gather to worship a Christ unfamiliar with our limitations.

P: We come to worship the Christ who took our limitations unto himself.

L: We do not gather to worship a Christ who lays his cross upon us.

P: We come to worship the Christ who takes our cross upon himself.

A: O come, let us worship the Christ who reveals the divinity of true

humanity!

OPENING PRAYERS

O Christ, help us relive this day in your life that we may relive your life in our day. You went to your death—the innocent for the guilty, the gentle for the violent, the obedient for the rebellious—opening not your mouth. Now we have learned that, before our world can experience a resurrection like yours, we must experience a death like yours. Teach us how to die as you died, O Christ, that we might live as you lived—for God, enduring the cross and despising the shame.

Almighty God, we ask you to look with mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and to be given over to the hands of sinners and to suffer death on the cross, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

PASTORAL PRAYER

On this Good Friday, O Lord, we recognize all that is not good about our lives, because it stands in such contrast to all that is good about you. We seem so concerned about our own comfort, but you sent your Son to a land where he had no place to call his home, no place to lay his head. We are consumed by advancing our own cause, but you sent your Son to become a sacrifice for others. We love ourselves most of all, but you so loved the world that you gave your only Son. This day is good, Lord, not because of anything we have done but because of what you have done for us. And because of your love and its incredible demonstration on the cross, we gather this day to confess our sins, to recommit our lives, and to praise your holy name. May the days ahead also be good ones, as your Holy Spirit works through our lives to demonstrate your love and power to a lost world. For we ask it in the name of the One who gave himself for us. Amen. (from the Preaching Library)

LITANY

L: On this, a most faithful and a most fateful day in the long history of God's people, we reach the climax in the unfolding drama of the life and ministry of Jesus.

P: We confess, O Lord, that this is a fateful day because we have been a faithless people.

L: We have been too much like the innkeeper, who could not find room in his inn for Jesus; and the rich young ruler, who could not find room in his life for Jesus; and even Herod, who could not find room in his world for Jesus.

P: We confess, O Lord, that this is a fateful day because we have been a faithless people.

L: We have been too much like James and John, who promised to follow you, but demanded the choice seats in your kingdom; and Peter, who hailed you as the Christ, but denied knowing the suffering servant; and even Judas, who loved you much, but betrayed you for thirty pieces of silver.

P: We confess, O Lord, that this is a fateful day because we have been a faithless people.

L: We have been too much like the Pilate who wanted to release Jesus, but released Barabbas; and the Pilate who could find no fault in Jesus, but left him to the mercy of those who did; and even the Pilate who could have prevented the crucifixion, but chose instead to wash his hands.

P: We confess, O Lord, that this is a fateful day because we have been a faithless people.

L: As we recall the cross you chose to bear in taking our side, we remember the crosses we have shunned to avoid taking your side.

A: O Christ, who was faithful to God unto death, grant us the grace to be faithful unto you in life.

THE REPROACHES:

CHRIST'S LAMENT AGAINST HIS FAITHLESS CHURCH

Any or all of the following reproaches may be spoken, with the congregation responding as indicated below or singing after each stanza, Jesus, Remember Me or Remember Me. A time of silence may be kept after each stanza.

1) O my people, O my Church, what have I done to you, or in what have I offended you? I led you forth from the land of Egypt and delivered you by the waters of baptism, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior. (Response)Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal One, have mercy upon us.

2) I led you through the desert forty years and fed you with manna; I brought you through times of persecution and of renewal and gave you my body, the bread of heaven; but you have prepared a cross for your Savior. R

3) I made you branches of my vineyard and gave you the water of salvation, but when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar and gall and pierced with a spear the side of your Savior. R

4) I went before you in a pillar of cloud, but you have led me to the judgment hall of Pilate. I brought you to a land of freedom and prosperity, but you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me. R

5) I gave you a royal scepter, and bestowed the keys to the kingdom, but you have given me a crown of thorns. I raised you on high with great power, but you have hanged me on the cross. R

6) My peace I gave, which the world cannot give, and washed your feet as a servant, but you draw the sword to strike in my name and seek high places in my kingdom. R

7) I accepted the cup of suffering and death for your sakes, but you scatter and deny and abandon me. I sent the Spirit of truth to lead you, but you close your hearts to guidance. R

8) I called you to go and bring forth fruit, but you cast lots for my clothing. I prayed that you all may be one, but you continue to quarrel and divide. R

9) I grafted you into the tree of my chosen people Israel, but you turned on them with persecution and mass murder. I made you joint heirs with them of my covenants, but you made them scapegoats for your own guilt. R

10) I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters. I was hungry but you gave me no food, thirsty but you gave me no drink. I was a stranger but you did not welcome me, naked but you did not clothe me, sick and in prison but you did not visit me. R

A brief silence follows.

BENEDICTIONS

May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, keep you and strengthen you, now and for ever. Amen.

O Christ, as you answered God's call to live for others, you have called us to go and do likewise. Occasionally we have, but living for others has yet to become our way of life. So we pray, dear Lord, for the vision to find this way and the courage to take it.

Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord.

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. AMEN.

The Minister leaves in silence.

Worshippers remain for a moment of prayer and reflection.

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Bass Mitchell, Hot Springs, VA

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