Good Friday
Sermon
Wounded For Us
Scriptural Cures For Our Wounds: Lenten/Easter Resources
The climax for examining the areas of our lives where we may be wounded individually as well as corporately is Good Friday. An especially meaningful and moving way to bring this portion of Wounded For Us to a close is with a Tenebrae service that has been adapted to include the five wounds of Christ. The sample Tenebrae service comes from the Crescent Avenue United Methodist Church and is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday service. Following the Tenebrae service is a community Good Friday service that was sponsored by the East Noble Ministerial Association that used as its focus the five wounds of Christ.
The Tenebrae service begins with a greeting that comes from John 3:18, 19. The opening hymn is the first stanza of "Were You There?" In this service, rather than listing the stanza of each of the verses to be sung, the words are printed. The anthems noted are those that were used by the chancel choir of the Crescent Avenue Church. Churches using Wounded for Us will want to choose their own hymns and special music.
The first major section of the service, "The Passion Of Our Lord," picks up where the Maundy Thursday service left off. Its focus is the arrest and trial of Jesus. The second major section, "The First Four Wounds Of Christ," as well as the third section, "Seven Last Words," recount Jesus' agony on the cross. As the appropriate verse of "Were You There?" is sung, one of the Lenten candles should be extinguished. In this service, Jesus being pierced in the side has been moved from the second wound to the fifth wound. The order for the wounds during the first five weeks of Lent follow a progression that was dictated by how we are wounded. The order for the Tenebrae service is dictated by how Jesus was wounded.
The readings for the seven last words of Jesus from the cross can come directly from the scriptures or may be adapted from standard Tenebrae service readings. Following each reading a candle should be extinguished. A seven-light candelabra works well for this purpose. At this point in the service the process of turning off the lights in the sanctuary should begin. The result then is that following the reading of the seventh word the church is in nearly complete darkness.
The death of Jesus is the focus of the fourth section of the service with the final section dealing with the response of those who were there the first Good Friday as well as those who are a part of the congregation. When the final Lenten candle is extinguished during the singing of "Were You There?" enough light should remain for the stripping of the church in the final section. If a Lenten wreath has been used with a center black candle for Good Friday, it should be extinguished following the stripping of the church. For the reading from Isaiah 53:4-9, the final verse of "Were You There?" and the dismissal the sanctuary should be given in total darkness. In the service, the choir sings the final verses. When the service was used at Crescent Avenue the choir had helped with the stripping of the church, taking their items to the back of the church. Following the dismissal, enough lights should be turned on to allow the people to safely leave the sanctuary.
The community Good Friday service assumes a wide participation by the pastors of the community. Different pastors are assigned to give a short meditation on each of the five wounds. Other pastors serve as liturgists. Special music may be added or substituted for the suggested hymns. Good Friday candles could be lighted instead of being extinguished.
Tenebrae Worship Service
Good Friday
Prelude
Greeting
And this is the judgment, that the light came into the world, and we loved darkness rather than light.
God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Come, let us worship in spirit and in truth.
Lenten Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they crucified my Lord)
Opening Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Most gracious God, look with mercy upon your family gathered here for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was wounded and betrayed, given into sinful hands, and suffered death upon the cross. Strengthen our faith and forgive our betrayals as we enter the way of his passion; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
The Passion Of Our Lord
Hymn
"Go To Dark Gethsemane"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:47-55
Jesus Arrested
Anthem
"O Love, How Deep"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:57-69
Jesus Before The Sanhedrin
Anthem
"To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:69-75
Peter Denies Jesus
Hymn
"O Sacred Head Now Wounded"
First Four Wounds Of Christ
First Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:26
Wounded On The Back
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they scourged him on the back)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Second Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:28-31
Wounded On The Head
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they crowned him with the thorns)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Third Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:32-34
Wounded On the Hands
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they nailed him to the tree)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Fourth Wound Scripture Reading
John 19:16-18
Wounded On The Feet
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they nailed him to the tree)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Seven Last Words
First Word
Luke 23:32-34
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Second Word
Luke 23:39-43
"Today, you will be with me in paradise."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Third Word
John 19:25-27
"Woman, behold your son! ... Behold your mother!"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Fourth Word
Matthew 27:45-47
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Fifth Word
John 19:28
"I thirst."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Sixth Word
John 19:29, 30
"It is finished."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Seventh Word
Luke 23:44-47
"Father, into thy hands I commit my Spirit!"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
The Fifth Wound Of Christ
Fifth Wound Scripture Reading
John 19:33-34
Wounded In The Side
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they pierced him in the side)
(Extinguish final Lenten candle)
Response To The Death Of Christ
Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:51-61
Death And Burial Of Jesus
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when the sun refused to shine)
Stripping Of The Church
(Extinguish Good Friday candle, church in total darkness)
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 53:4-9
Jesus, The Suffering Servant
Anthem
"Were You There?"
(... when they laid him in the tomb)
Dismissal
Going Forth
(Tell the people they are welcome to stay and meditate)
To Be Continued ...
The Tenebrae service begins with a greeting that comes from John 3:18, 19. The opening hymn is the first stanza of "Were You There?" In this service, rather than listing the stanza of each of the verses to be sung, the words are printed. The anthems noted are those that were used by the chancel choir of the Crescent Avenue Church. Churches using Wounded for Us will want to choose their own hymns and special music.
The first major section of the service, "The Passion Of Our Lord," picks up where the Maundy Thursday service left off. Its focus is the arrest and trial of Jesus. The second major section, "The First Four Wounds Of Christ," as well as the third section, "Seven Last Words," recount Jesus' agony on the cross. As the appropriate verse of "Were You There?" is sung, one of the Lenten candles should be extinguished. In this service, Jesus being pierced in the side has been moved from the second wound to the fifth wound. The order for the wounds during the first five weeks of Lent follow a progression that was dictated by how we are wounded. The order for the Tenebrae service is dictated by how Jesus was wounded.
The readings for the seven last words of Jesus from the cross can come directly from the scriptures or may be adapted from standard Tenebrae service readings. Following each reading a candle should be extinguished. A seven-light candelabra works well for this purpose. At this point in the service the process of turning off the lights in the sanctuary should begin. The result then is that following the reading of the seventh word the church is in nearly complete darkness.
The death of Jesus is the focus of the fourth section of the service with the final section dealing with the response of those who were there the first Good Friday as well as those who are a part of the congregation. When the final Lenten candle is extinguished during the singing of "Were You There?" enough light should remain for the stripping of the church in the final section. If a Lenten wreath has been used with a center black candle for Good Friday, it should be extinguished following the stripping of the church. For the reading from Isaiah 53:4-9, the final verse of "Were You There?" and the dismissal the sanctuary should be given in total darkness. In the service, the choir sings the final verses. When the service was used at Crescent Avenue the choir had helped with the stripping of the church, taking their items to the back of the church. Following the dismissal, enough lights should be turned on to allow the people to safely leave the sanctuary.
The community Good Friday service assumes a wide participation by the pastors of the community. Different pastors are assigned to give a short meditation on each of the five wounds. Other pastors serve as liturgists. Special music may be added or substituted for the suggested hymns. Good Friday candles could be lighted instead of being extinguished.
Tenebrae Worship Service
Good Friday
Prelude
Greeting
And this is the judgment, that the light came into the world, and we loved darkness rather than light.
God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Come, let us worship in spirit and in truth.
Lenten Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they crucified my Lord)
Opening Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Most gracious God, look with mercy upon your family gathered here for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was wounded and betrayed, given into sinful hands, and suffered death upon the cross. Strengthen our faith and forgive our betrayals as we enter the way of his passion; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
The Passion Of Our Lord
Hymn
"Go To Dark Gethsemane"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:47-55
Jesus Arrested
Anthem
"O Love, How Deep"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:57-69
Jesus Before The Sanhedrin
Anthem
"To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:69-75
Peter Denies Jesus
Hymn
"O Sacred Head Now Wounded"
First Four Wounds Of Christ
First Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:26
Wounded On The Back
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they scourged him on the back)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Second Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:28-31
Wounded On The Head
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they crowned him with the thorns)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Third Wound Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:32-34
Wounded On the Hands
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they nailed him to the tree)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Fourth Wound Scripture Reading
John 19:16-18
Wounded On The Feet
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they nailed him to the tree)
(Extinguish a Lenten candle)
Seven Last Words
First Word
Luke 23:32-34
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Second Word
Luke 23:39-43
"Today, you will be with me in paradise."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Third Word
John 19:25-27
"Woman, behold your son! ... Behold your mother!"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Fourth Word
Matthew 27:45-47
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Fifth Word
John 19:28
"I thirst."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Sixth Word
John 19:29, 30
"It is finished."
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
Seventh Word
Luke 23:44-47
"Father, into thy hands I commit my Spirit!"
(Extinguish one of the candelabra candles)
The Fifth Wound Of Christ
Fifth Wound Scripture Reading
John 19:33-34
Wounded In The Side
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when they pierced him in the side)
(Extinguish final Lenten candle)
Response To The Death Of Christ
Scripture Reading
Matthew 27:51-61
Death And Burial Of Jesus
Hymn
"Were You There?"
(... when the sun refused to shine)
Stripping Of The Church
(Extinguish Good Friday candle, church in total darkness)
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 53:4-9
Jesus, The Suffering Servant
Anthem
"Were You There?"
(... when they laid him in the tomb)
Dismissal
Going Forth
(Tell the people they are welcome to stay and meditate)
To Be Continued ...
