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Worship Order ~ Good Friday Service of Tenebrae (Darkness)
April 7, 2023 ~ 12:00 & 7:00pm
Prelude Take Me to the Cross (Choir)
* Litany of Confession
P: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
C: His mercy endures forever.
P: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
P: And this is the judgment, that the light has come into this world, and we love darkness rather than light.
C: God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
P: For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Silence is kept to reflect upon our complicity in Christ’s death.
Trisagion Prayer (repeated three times to honor the Holy Trinity)
P: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal;
C: Have mercy on us.
P: Every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come into the light. But all who do what is true come to the light.
C: Come, let us worship in Spirit and truth.
Hymn (7:00pm) Go to Dark Gethsemane LBW 109, vs. 1-3
Prayer of the Day
P: Most gracious God, look with mercy upon your family gathered here for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed, given into sinful hands, and suffered death upon the cross. Strengthen our faith and forgive our betrayal as we enter the way of His passion; through Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
C: Amen
We Gather at the Cross and Relive Its Shadows
The Tenebrae – The Seven Last Words of Christ
Luke 23:32–38 (ESV)
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 1-3) LBW 112
Luke 23:39–43 (ESV)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Sermon
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 4-6) LBW 112
John 19:23–27 (ESV)
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 7-9) LBW 112
John 19:28–29 (ESV)
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 10-12) LBW 112
Mark 15:33–39 (ESV)
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 13-15) LBW 112
John 19:30 (ESV)
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Hymn (7:00pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 16-18) LBW 112
Luke 23:44–49 (ESV)
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Hymn (7:00 pm) Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes (vs. 19-21) LBW 112
Supplications
P: Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for the holy Church of God throughout the world, that God the almighty Father guide us and gather us together, so that we may worship him in peace and tranquility.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you have shown your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ. Guide the work of the Church. Help it to persevere in faith, proclaim your name, and bring salvation to people everywhere. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for Bishop Daniel, for all pastors and ministers, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people of God.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, your Spirit guides the Church and makes her holy. Strengthen and uphold our pastors and leaders; keep them in health and safety for the good of the church, and help each of us to do faithfully the work to which you have called us. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for those preparing for Baptism, that God make them responsive to his love, and give them new life in Jesus Christ.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you continually bless the Church with new members. Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for Baptism. Give them a new birth as your children, and keep them in the faith and communion of your holy Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for all our brothers and sisters who share our faith in Jesus Christ, that God may gather and keep together in one Church all those who know Christ as Lord.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you give your Church its unity. Look with favor on all who follow Jesus your Son. We are all consecrated to you by our Baptism; make us one in the fullness of faith, and keep us one in the fellowship of love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the Word of God, that they may receive the fulfillment of the covenant’s promises.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity. Hear the prayers of your Church that the people you first made your own may arrive with us at the fullness of redemption. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Holy Spirit may show them the way of salvation.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, enable those who do no acknowledge Christ to receive the truth of the Gospel. Help us, your people, to grow in love for one another, to grasp more fully the mystery of your Godhead, and so to become more perfect witnesses of your love in the sight of all people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for those who do not believe in God, that they may find him who is the author and goal of our existence.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you created humanity so that all might long to know you and have peace in you. Grant that, in spite of the hurtful things that stand in their way, they may all recognize in the lives of Christians the tokens of your love and mercy, and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God and Father of us all. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray for those who serve in public office, that God may guide their minds and hearts, so that all of us may live in true peace and freedom.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you are the champion of the poor and oppressed. In your goodness, watch over those in authority, so that people everywhere may enjoy justice, peace, freedom, and a share in the goodness of your creation. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Let us pray that God, the almighty and merciful Father, may heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and rid the world of falsehood, hunger, and disease.
The congregation prays silently. The pastor concludes the prayer with:
P: Almighty and eternal God, you give strength to the weary and new courage to those who have lost heart. Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble, that they may have the joy of receiving your help in their need. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
A: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray;
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
The Christ candle is carried from the sanctuary to remind us of how “He who knew no sin was made sin for our sake.” The Christ candle may be viewed on the way out of the sanctuary, reminding us of the truth proclaimed by the Apostle John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Silence for meditation
Hymn (7:00 pm) Ah, Holy Jesus LBW 123
The Litany
P: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world.
C: have mercy on us.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world.
C: have mercy on us.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world.
C: grant us peace.
P: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey.” (1 Peter 3:18-20a) Let us think on His sojourn in death as we await His resurrection in triumph.
C: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
P: Let us depart now in the hope of victory unseen.
