Good Friday - Morning - Christian Worship Tools

(This is the Friday prior to Easter.)

“THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM”

John 18:1-19:42

GREETING

It was on this day, at this time, so many years ago,

that your Son stood waiting for crucifixion, O God.

Ignorant, angry, self-preserving words mocked him,

while spit directed at his face dried hard on his skin.

The ragged purple robe thrown over his shoulders,

soaked up the blood oozing from Jesus’ torn back.

Bruises swelled and darkened wherever fists struck,

and every movement screamed pain from his body.

It was on this day, early spring in the holy land,

as buds swelled on every tree, birds sang joyfully,

gentle rain coaxed open the first flowers of spring;

that Jesus waited for spikes in his wrists and feet.

And it is on this day, O God, that we worship you;

recognizing our culpability in Jesus’ crucifixion,

seeking your forgiveness in the gift of his grace,

and now daring to call this, his holy day, “good.”

HYMN 290 “Go to Dark Gethsemane”

PSALM 22:1-21

PRAYER

(Consider some of the following concerns of people for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)

The Son of God judged by human minds Treachery

The Son of God rejected by human hearts Betrayal

The Son of God executed by human hands Lies

The horror of God’s Son dying Pride

The worst day in human history Hatred

The greatest day in human history Jealousy

That God so loved the world Brutality

That God would make such a sacrifice for us Cold-bloodedness

For the countless hearts Christ’s sacrifice has won Selfishness

For those not pausing to worship on such a day Power-mad

Christ’s pain Denial

Christ’s sacrifice Abandonment

Christ’s death Fear

Whether we are willing to take up our own crosses Love, love, love

For a renewed commitment to serving Christ ____________________________

For complete faithfulness in our lives ____________________________

For strength to live our love for Christ ____________________________

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SCRIPTURE LESSON

(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)

Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.

Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.

Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.

Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.

PRAYER

It was the fourteenth day

of the Jewish month of Nissan,

the time of choosing lambs for slaughter.

Your own chosen people,

chose a Lamb precious to you,

your beloved Son, our Jesus of Nazareth.

Nailed to a Roman cross,

to die in a horrible execution,

for nonexistent sins and unbroken laws;

abandoned by his friends,

sacrificed by you, his Father,

Jesus gave his life in obedience and love.

Convicted by others’ lies,

tortured and beaten by soldiers,

he was taunted and abused by the crowd.

Whips had torn his back,

a crown of thorns and the nails,

spilled his blood on the soil of Jerusalem.

The sky turned night-black,

the earth quaked with grief,

people looked with horror on their deed.

We turn away unseeing,

not wanting to be reminded,

avoiding the ugly scene whenever we can.

But not seeing my Savior,

keeps me from seeing his love,

never lets me know its depth and strength.

Hiding from his suffering,

saves me from feeling his pain,

but also lets my love for him grow feeble.

I could not be in Jerusalem,

to carry his cross or to mourn,

but I stand with him here as we remember.

By standing near his cross,

I speak to him of my own love,

and offer my life to serve him eternally.

His cross will be the anchor

for my undying hope and faith,

his love the light guiding my steps forever.

I am his, and he is mine.

My fate on earth and in heaven

holds firm in his unbreakable bond of love.

Amen.

SILENCE AND COMMITMENT

(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)

HYMN 292 “What Wondrous Love Is This”

CLOSING PRAYER

Almighty, merciful, loving God,

let the vision of your dying Son,

go with us all through this day,

and through all of our tomorrows,

until we finally meet him face to face,

in your undying and eternal Kingdom. Amen.