Good Friday
April 7, 2023
We proclaim Christ crucified…
I Corinthians 1:23-25
We gather in silence.
Hymn
Lamb of God
Twila Paris
arr. Lloyd Larson
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray.
Almighty God, look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, 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.
First Reading: Isaiah 52:13--53:12
The fourth servant poem promises ultimate vindication for the servant, who made his life an offering for sin. The servant pours himself out to death and is numbered with the transgressors, images that the early church saw as important keys for understanding the death of Jesus.
Psalm 22 (responsively by whole verse)
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
3Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8"Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver —
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"
9Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother's breast.
10On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
17I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19But you, O LORD, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life from the power of the dog!
21Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
22I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
but heard when I cried to him.
25From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.
28For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
29To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.
30Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the LORD,
31and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:16-25
In the death of Jesus, forgiveness of sins is accomplished and access to God is established. Hence, when we gather together for worship and when we love others, we experience anew the benefits of Jesus’ death.
Gospel: John 19:28-42
On Good Friday, the story of Jesus’ passion—from his arrest to his burial—is read in its entirety from the Gospel of John.
The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Reflection
Hymn of the Day
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
ELW 351
O sacred head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred head, what glory,
what bliss till now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call thee mine.
How pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn;
how does thy face now languish,
which once was bright as morn!
Thy grief and bitter passion
were all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever,
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.
Lord, be my consolation;
shield me when I must die;
remind me of thy passion
when my last hour draws nigh.
These eyes, new faith receiving,
from thee shall never move;
for all who die believing
die safely in thy love.
Bidding Prayer
Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for the holy church throughout the world.
Almighty and eternal God,
you have shown your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ.
By your Holy Spirit guide the church
and gather it throughout the world.
Help it to persevere in faith, proclaim your name,
and bring the good news of salvation in Christ to all people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for Elizabeth and Pedro, our bishops, for Pamela, our pastor, and for all servants of the church, and for all the people of God.
Almighty and eternal God,
your Spirit guides the church and makes it holy.
Strengthen and uphold our bishops, pastors,
other ministers, and lay leaders.
Keep them in health and safety for the good of the church,
and help each of us in our various vocations
to do faithfully the work to which you have called us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for those preparing for baptism.
Almighty and eternal God, you continue to bless the church.
Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for baptism.
Give them new birth as your children,
and keep them in the faith and communion of your holy church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for our sisters and brothers who share our faith in Jesus Christ.
Almighty and eternal God, you give your church unity.
Look with favor on all who follow Jesus your Son.
Make all the baptized one in the fullness of faith,
and keep us united in the fellowship of love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God.
Almighty and eternal God,
long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and your teaching to Moses.
Hear our prayers that the people you called and elected as your own
may receive the fulfillment of the covenant’s promises.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ.
Almighty and eternal God, gather into your embrace
all those who call out to you under different names.
Bring an end to inter-religious strife,
and make us more faithful witnesses
of the love made known to us in your Son.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for those who do not believe in God.
Almighty and eternal God, you created humanity
so that all may long to know you and find peace in you.
Grant that all may recognize the signs of your love and grace
in the world and in the lives of Christians,
and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for God's creation.
Almighty and eternal God,
you are the creator of a magnificent universe.
Hold all the worlds in the arms of your care
and bring all things to fulfillment in you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for those who serve in public office.
Almighty and eternal God,
you are the champion of the poor and oppressed.
In your goodness, give wisdom to those in authority,
so that all people may enjoy justice, peace, freedom,
and a share in the goodness of your creation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray for those in need.
Almighty and eternal God,
you give strength to the weary
and new courage to those who have lost heart.
Heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers,
free those unjustly deprived of liberty,
and deliver your world from falsehood, hunger, and disease.
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.
Amen.
Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask.
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.
Musical Offering
Altar of Love
Susan N. Callaway
Grace Choir
Procession of the Cross
(three times)
Behold the life-giving cross,
On which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
And we praise your holy resurrection
For by your cross, joy has come into the world.
May God be merciful and bless us;
May the light of God’s face shine upon us.
Let your way be known upon the earth,
Your saving health among all nations.
We glory in your cross, O Lord.
And we praise your holy resurrection
For by your cross, joy has come into the world.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
Let all the peoples praise you.
May God give us blessing,
And may all the ends of the earth stand in awe.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
And we praise your holy resurrection
For by your cross, joy has come into the world.
A brief silence
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
For by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Hymn
Sing, My Tongue
ELW 356
(vs. 1, 4, 6, 7)
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;
tell the triumph far and wide;
tell aloud the wondrous story
of the cross, the Crucified;
tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,
vanquished death the day he died.
Thirty years among us dwelling,
Jesus went from Nazareth,
destined, dedicated, willing,
did his work, and met his death;
like a lamb he humbly yielded
on the cross his dying breath.
Faithful cross, true sign of triumph,
be for all the noblest tree;
none in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit your equal be;
symbol of the world's redemption,
for your burden makes us free.
Unto God be praise and glory;
to the Father and the Son,
to th'eternal Spirit honor
now and evermore be done;
praise and glory in the highest,
while the timeless ages run. Amen.
All depart in silence.
The service continues with the Festival of the Resurrection on Sunday.
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 and 2022 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676, based on Arnulf of Louvain, d. 1250; tr. composite. Music: German melody, c 1500; adapt. Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612; arr. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750 Public domain.
Sing, My Tongue. Text: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus, 530-609; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, alt. Public domain. Music: Carl F. Schalk, 1929-2021. Music © 1967 Concordia Publishing House. Music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense A-722274. All right reserved.
