Liturgies Online

CALL TO WORSHIP:  Isaiah 53: 5,6.

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed. 

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; 
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

and by his wounds we are healed.

 

HYMN 266 `There is a green hill far away'

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OPENING PRAYER:

Gracious and merciful God, we thank you for gathering us together today
to recall the events which happened on Calvary that first Good Friday.

          We come overwhelmed by the depth of Jesus' love for us,
and his commitment to defeat evil,

even when that meant his own suffering and his own death.

In response to such love and sacrifice,

          we commit ourselves to overcome evil with good,

suffering with wholeness,

           and oppression with justice.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen

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THE SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS

 

TIS 345/AHB 261: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” verses 1-3

 

THE FIRST WORD.

"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. "

(Luke 23:34a)

 

We give thanks that Jesus did as he told others to do, and forgave those who treated him so badly.  And so, God of grace and immeasurable mercy, help us to overcome any hurts caused by wrongs done to us, and to reach out in reconciling love and to pray with Jesus “forgive them.”
 

Following a short time of silence, and while remaining seated sing TIS 635/AHB 564: “Forgive our sins as we forgive” to the tune: ‘Amazing grace’ TIS 129/AHB 56.

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THE SECOND WORD.

"TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."

(Luke 23:43)

 

We pray for all those who want to repent and begin a new life, but who feel that it is too late; let us pray that they will learn from the dying thief that Christ is the one nearest to them, and that paradise is as close as he is.  Give us the assurance, O God,  that whatever we have done, nothing can separate us from your love.  And let us, pray as the thief prayed: "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom".

 

While remaining seated, sing TIS 730 : “Jesus remember me…” a number of times.

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THE THIRD WORD

"DEAR WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON." and to John "BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER."

(John 19: 26,27)

 

We pray for families known to us who are experiencing difficult times - people whose fears and uncertainties about the future are causing stress and conflict; those where relationships are close to breaking down or have broken down; those who suffer abuse within the family circle.  Pray for members of your own family - that Christ may underpin relationships which are faced with the worst blows which life can give.

 

Silent prayer: Pray for families.

TIS 682: When human voices cannot sing”

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THE FOURTH WORD.

"MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

(Matthew 27:46)

 

We pray for all people who feel forsaken; for young and old, whatever their circumstances; and for ourselves when we feel forsaken or rejected.  May we never forget that God ‘s love for us is everlasting and genuine.

 

Silent prayer: Bring to mind and pray for those whom you know to be sorrowful... lonely... separated from friends and family...from culture...from land...

 

TIS 339: “O sacred head sore wounded”

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THE FIFTH WORD.

"I THIRST"

(John 19:28)

 

There are - right now - countless people - men, women and children in the world today who are  undernourished, and dying of starvation. We pray that the Holy Spirit will empower us to answer the cries of those who suffer physical and mental distress through lack of food and water, both here in this country and throughout the world.

 

Sung as a continuation of the prayer: verses 1, 2 and 5 of TIS 674: “Inspired by love and anger”

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MEDITATION FOR GOOD FRIDAY

The shape of God's love

is a cross.

 

It did not begin as a cross -

it began

as an act

of tenderness

towards humanity

 

As we busied ourselves

storing up

treasures on earth;

this treasure from heaven

in human form

taught another way

the way of love.

 

The way of love

and forgiveness

of liberty

and justice and peace.

 

He told us

not to worry

about tomorrow

 

He challenged us

to be like

the lilies of the field

pure

and carefree

and clothed

with the values of God's Kingdom

where healing

and caring

and even loving enemies

is the order of the day.

 

He lived life from the inside out

telling stories

which conveyed life

to those who had ears to hear.

 

He took children

and gave them places of honour;

 

He took women

and gave them dignity;

 

He deluged

the poor

and the sick

and the marginalised

with compassion

and extravagant love.

 

He poured out his power

like pouring water into a basin

and washing disciples' feet.

 

He gave away his power

in unexpected ways

  to a woman who touched his robe

  to a child who had ceased to breathe,

  to a man who looked down from a tree.

 

He used his power

to heal

and to serve

to carry

the burdens

we had been struggling

to bear on our own.

 

He emptied himself of self

and filled himself with others.

 

We tell the story

year by year;

this story

of love

and grace

but again

and again

we are pulled up short

by the tormented one

who betrays.

 

The one who walked with Christ;

a disciple

as close as close could be;

Judas - Judas Iscariot - his name

but

could it be you or be me?

 

Were his dreams shaped by greed?

Prosperity?

Power?

Was he simply corrupt

from the start?

Could he not understand 

that Jesus desired

lives totally lived from the heart?

 

So, how about us?

Are we like so many today?

With Judas-like dreams

of greed

or the need

to prosper

to win

to succeed?

 

On today, of all days

the day of Christ’s death.

 

Where do we really stand

who do we truly follow

the power-hungry Judas?

or the empowering Christ?

This groaning creation

 starting

right here

and right now

needs to know.

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THE SIXTH WORD.

"IT IS FINISHED"

(John 19:30)

 

As Jesus said "It is finished", we give thanks for his life of love and his painful death for us and for our world. Even at the point of death, he cared about others. We pray, O God, for like minds and as deep a care for others, as we commit ourselves, and all those dear to us, into your hands. May they know that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from your love O God, revealed so clearly in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Silent prayer: Offer thanks to God for this incredible gift of love given to us at such cost by Jesus.

 

TIS 602/AHB 525 `O Love that wilt not let me go'

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THE SEVENTH WORD.

"FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT"

(Luke 24:46)

 

Teach us, O Lord, to fear death as little as we fear sleep; and fill our lives with the hope and faith of the resurrection, in the knowledge that in death our lives pass into the hands that made the world - the hands of the Creator. And may we place our lives in those hands while life is strong and full and sweet.

 

O God, with thanksgiving, into your hands we commit our lives.

 

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THE LORD'S PRAYER.

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SHARING A SIGN OF PEACE
We have gathered here this morning in memory of our Saviour's death.  It was his great wish and command that we all should love one another and forgive one another.  Let us express that love and forgiveness to one another by saying "The peace of the Lord be with you always."

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A POEM

I heard two soldiers talking as they came down the hill.

The sombre hill of Calvary, bleak and black and still.

And one said, “The night is late, these thieves take long to die.”

And one said, “I am sore afraid, and yet I know not why.”

 

 

I heard two women weeping as down the hill they came.

And one was like a broken rose, and one was like a flame.

One said, “ man shall rue the day this deed their hands have done.”

And one said, only through her tears, “My son, my son, my son.”

 

I heard two angels singing ere yet the dawn was bright.

And they were clad in shining robes; robes and crowns of light.

And one sang, “Death is vanquished.” And one in golden voice,

Sang, “Love has conquered, conquered all, O heaven and earth rejoice.”

Anonymous poem included in one of William Barclay’s commentaries

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TIS 342/AHB 258 'When I survey the wondrous cross"

 

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BENEDICTION.

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

 

All depart in silence

If it is normal practice to have an offering today, make sure that there is an opportunity to do this through a retiring offering/plate.

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