The
Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United
Church of Canada
Port
Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Ministers:
The Whole People of God; Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister
of Music: Al Fougere
March
25th, 2016-Good Friday
We
Gather to Worship God
Lighting
of the Christ Candle in the Lenten Triad
One:
The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit
*Introit Jesus, Remember Me VU 148Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Good
News of Good Friday For quiet reflection as we gather
The
story can seem predictable. And yet for all the predictability we
read the story again year after year, and marvel at the selflessness
of Jesus, prepared to stop at nothing – not even death – to
proclaim God’s unconditional and never-ending love.
From Seasons
of the Spirit™
SeasonsFusion
Lent • Easter 2016 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2015,,
p.10
As
the Passion story is read today from John's Gospel, pause and notice
things that surprise you.
Call
to Worship At the cross
“What
is Good Friday and why are we gathered here?”
It
is a day of contradictions, to be sure.
Now
is the “acceptable time” of which Paul spoke
on
Ash Wednesday (2 Corinthians 6:2).
We
are always dying and rising to new life,
but
especially on this day.
We
are all the actors in this story: the people shouting “Crucify
him!”
and
the women who stand vigil at the foot of the cross,
the
soldiers who cast lots for his tunic
and
Joseph of Arimathea who gave his own tomb for Jesus’ burial.
Today
we lament the pain of this world
and
we face our complicity in that pain;
We
seek to be witnesses to--and participants in
--God’s
power over the evil of this world.
Now
is the acceptable time – the time when Christ’s death sets us
free to choose life.
We
Listen for God's Word
Lament Based on Psalm 22:1-21a
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far away?
I
cry out to you by day, but you do not answer;
and
at night, I find no rest.
I
am scorned and despised, all who see me mock me and shake their
heads.
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Our
ancestors trusted in you, cried out to you, and you delivered them.
They
enthroned you with praise.
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Yet
you took me from the womb, and from my birth you have been my God.
Do
not be far from me, for trouble is near.
My
troubles surround me like lions ready to pounce.
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I
am poured out like water, and all my bones are dust; my heart is like
wax, melting inside; my tongue is dry and I cannot speak; my limbs
are nothing, and my ribs are bare.
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
My
enemies encircle me; they stare and gloat;
they
divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast
lots.
My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
But
you, O Savior, do not be far away!
O
my Help, come quickly to deliver me!
Sung
Response Jesus, Remember Me VU 148
The
Passion Narrative John 18:1-19:42
Responsive
Hymn Beneath the Cross of Jesus VU 135
(one
verse to be sung after each reading)
We
Respond in Faith
Draping
of the Cross & Meditative Action
Prayers
of Confession and Intercession
for
the Affliction of the World
Response:
One: O God, All: how have we forsaken you?
Sung
Response:
Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison, kyrie elison.
Lord
have mercy, Lord have mercy,
Lord
have mercy on us. VU 946
One:
Now is the acceptable time!
Help
us to be your hands, Holy One,
All:
reaching out to heal the hurting of this world.
One:
Help us to be your ears, Holy One,
All:
hearing and understanding the cries for justice and mercy.
One:
Help us to be your arms, Holy One,
All:
embracing the sorrow and offering comfort.
One:
Help us to be your feet, Holy One,
All:
walking with those who suffer and guiding the journey toward peace.
One:
Let us not forsake you any longer, O God.
All:
Now is the acceptable time!
The
Lord's Prayer
We
Go To Serve God
Words
of Hope based on Psalm 22:21b-31
The
Righteous One has not hidden from us,
but
has heard our cries and come to our aid.
You
who stand in awe of our God, shout for joy!
Our
Rescuer saves us from the mouth of the lion and the horns of the wild
oxen.
You
who stand in awe of our God, sing praises!
The
poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek comfort shall find
it.
You
who stand in awe of our God, tell of God’s goodness!
The
ends of the earth, the families of nations, will worship our
Deliverer.
You
who stand in awe of our God, bow down and rise up!
Proclaim
deliverance to all generations, saying that God has done this!
Thanks
be to God!
Extinguishing
of Christ Candle
The
service ends without a benediction but rather in silence. Use the
silence as an opportunity for personal reflection, and then leave
in your own time.
Service
adapted from:
See!
Now is the Acceptable Time: Part II: Good Friday Noon Prayer Service
was
written by the Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott, Pastor of Malletts Bay
Congregational Church UCC in Colchester, VT.
Copyright
2016 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United
Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100.
Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in
services of worship or church education. All publishing rights
reserved.
