This Good Friday Service was designed by Rev. Samual Lundquist.
Prelude
(No music, nature sounds)
Opening Song (Give e Jesus)
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world.
But give me Jesus
Welcome + Instructions
Tonight, we gather around the sacred story of the symbol of our faith: the cross.
It is at the cross that we encounter the fullness of humanity—our beauty, our frailty, our shadows, everything that our hands and hearts are capable of.
But, it is here that we also witness the fullness of God—unwavering grace and love for the whole world in all of its brokenness and suffering.
It is all here at the cross.
This evening, we also mark the end of our Lenten journey, a journey that we’ve been prayerfully walking together for the last six weeks. If you’ve been with us on Sundays, you know we’ve been practicing five different prayers during Lent: Wow, Confession, Help, Lament, and Gratitude.
Tonight in this safe and quiet place, we’ll be praying those five prayers together. And as our evening comes to a close, you’ll be invited, if you’d like, to bring those prayers to the cross and we’ll offer these prayers out loud.
As we spend this time together, you’re invited to sing if you’d like or just listen. You can sit or move. May this time be whatever you need it to be this evening as we reflect on the story of Jesus’s last days.
We begin first with a prayer—and as we pray, you’re invited to respond with the words, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Opening Prayer
Liturgist
Holy One,
We come to you on a strange night:
where winter meets spring,
where storm clouds meet sunshine,
where dusk meets dawn—
as we call out to you:
All
Come, Holy Spirit.
Liturgist
We bring to this room
all of who we are and all that we carry:
our joy for the simple gift of life,
our hearts heavy with care and concern for those we love,
and our trouble in a difficult and confusing world—
as we call out to you:
All
Come, Holy Spirit
Liturgist
We come because you promise to be here
in this sacred story,
in our humble prayers,
in the faces of this community,
as we call out to you:
All
Come, Holy Spirit.
Liturgist
Holy Light of Resurrection,
shine upon us with hope,
as we call out to you:
All
Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.
The World Said, “Give Me Jesus” (Prayers of Wow)
In a time of great trouble, the world said, “Give me Jesus.” People cried out for a savior, someone who would heal this world. And so, Jesus came, bringing light to the darkness of life. But also showing those he encountered that the light and love of God was always with them—in the calm after a storm, in the flight of a sparrow, in the dust of the earth. That light would never leave them, no matter where they were or what they were going through.
Scripture: John 1
Ritual
When, where, how have you been amazed by the light and love of God? When has, as Anne Lamott puts it, “your mouth dropped open with wonder at the just sheer beauty of creation?” These are the moments that make us say, “Wow.” And that leads us to a prayer of praise and it is the prayer we begin with tonight.
Instructions:
As you listen to this next song, consider what you would like to praise God for. Write those on your prayer card that says “Wow, I’m amazed…” Then, fold it in half when you’re done.
Song (Give Me Jesus)
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world.
But give me Jesus
And when I see the sun
And when I see the sun
And when I see the sun
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world.
But give me Jesus
And when the day is done
And when the day is done
And when the day is done
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world.
But give me Jesus
The Disciples Said, “Give Me Jesus” (Prayers of Gratitude)
On Thursday, as their time with him was drawing to a close, the disciples said, “Give me Jesus” as they gathered around a table passing bread of Jesus’ life and wine of Jesus’ promise. Together, as they wondered and worried about the future, they remembered the time they shared: the miraculous moments, the joyful community, and most importantly, the love for one another.
Scripture: Matthew 26
Ritual
What are you grateful for today—just today? Think about just the last 24 hours… What’s been good? When have you felt loved and cared for? When did you laugh? What was beautiful? These are the moments that invite us to say, “Thank you,” and remind us that no matter what is happening in this world, there is still goodness around us, too. This is our second prayer: a prayer of gratitude.
Instructions:
The communion table is a table of thanksgiving, and you’re invited to come and feast. Take some bread and a cup. And as you do, consider what you are grateful for today. Write those on the prayer card that says “Thank You.” Fold it in half when you’re done.
The table is set. Whenever you’re ready, come, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Song (O Taste and See)
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
The night is dark but the Lord is good.
The night is dark but the Lord is good.
The night is dark but the Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
All the time, the Lord is good.
All the time, the Lord is good.
All the time, the Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
The Lord is good.
The Authorities Said, “Give Me Jesus” (Prayers of Confession)
On Friday, after plotting to take him away for disrupting the peace of the people, the authorities said, “Give me Jesus.” Then, one-by-one—even after sharing a meal filled with gratitude and love—those closest to him turned away and turned him over into their hands. The shadow of betrayal took over the people, just as he had predicted.
Scripture: Luke 22-23
Ritual
It is hard to be human. We don’t always get it right—even with the best intentions. We make mistakes and pull ourselves apart from one another and from who God calls us to be. Good Friday reveals the shadows that arise in even the most good-hearted people, while at the same time proclaiming forgiveness over it all. Our God is a gracious God. This is our third prayer: the prayer of confession.
Instructions:
As we listen to this song together, consider anything on your heart that you need to ask forgiveness for—to God, to yourself, to another. Hold your “I Confess” prayer card as you do this, but we won’t write these down. These are between you and God with the promise of unconditional forgiveness. Fold your card when you’re done.
Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak, that is the human family. To forgive another from the heart is an act of liberation. It means that I continually am willing to forgive the other person for not being God, for not fulfilling all my needs. And I, too, must ask forgiveness for not being able to fulfill other people’s needs. When you can forgive people for not being God, then you can celebrate that they are a reflection of God. Forgiveness, therefore, liberates not only the other but also ourselves. It is the way to the freedom of the children of God. (Henri Nouwen)
Song (Hosanna Song by Paul Zach, John Guerra
With one breath, “Hosanna” we cry
With the next one we say, “Crucify!”
With one voice we praise your name
With the same voice we condemn you to shame
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to the Lord
With palm leaves we welcome your reign
With twisted thorns we crown you with pain
You wash our feet to show us your love
We wash our hands of your innocent blood
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to the Lord
We claim you when you come in power
But we leave you in your terrible hour
We hail you for victory won
But we mock you as you say “It is done”
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to the Lord
Heaven Said, “Give Me Jesus” (Help and Lament)
On Friday, as Jesus’s life came to an end, heaven said, “Give me Jesus.” At the cross, surrounded by shouting soldiers, the crowd cried out for help and wailed with grief at what they saw. The world was not as it should be.
Scripture: Matthew 23 + Luke 27
Ritual
What are the challenges in your life? Or someone else’s? What do you need strength and wisdom for? What suffering do you see in this world that fills you with confusion and anger? Where is the world not as it should be?
These are our fourth and fifth prayers: the prayer of help and lament.
Instructions:
We’ll now be spending the next few minutes in silence. And in this quiet time, consider your prayers of help for yourself, your loved ones, the world, as well as what you’re grieving and frustrated about. Write those on the prayer cards that say “Help” and “Why?” Then, fold them in half when you’re done.
You’ll hear music that will bring us out of silence, and when you do, you’re invited to bring all of your prayers to the cross and place them in the twine.
[SILENCE]
The People Say, “Give Me Jesus.” (Our Prayers Together)
On Friday evening, the body of Jesus was taken down and taken away. But people stopped the authorities and said, “Give me Jesus.” His followers—the loud ones and the secret ones—took his body, prepared it, and buried it in a garden. And then, they sat and prayed.
Scripture: John 19 + Matthew 27
Prayer
Note: prayers are picked from the cross and read aloud when prompted.
Tonight, we pray with these two women. All of our prayers from this evening will be woven together with the words of the Psalms that these women would also have known. In our Good Friday world, this is our prayer for resurrection.
Let us pray:
Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is your name throughout the earth!
You made your glory higher than heaven!
When we look up at your skies,
at what your fingers made—
the moon and the stars
that you set firmly in place—
we stand humbly in awe.
We’re amazed by…
[Read the prayers of wow]
You are refuge and strength,
a help always near in times of great trouble.
That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart,
when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea,
when its waters roar and rage,
when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.
Nations roar; kingdoms crumble.
And we cry out:
[Read prayers of help and lament.]
Have mercy on us, God, according to your faithful love!
Wipe away our mistakes, according to your great compassion!
We confess to you.
[Pull the prayers of confession and put them in the basket.]
Create a clean heart for us, God.
Put a new, faithful spirit deep inside us.
We trust in your faithful love.
Our hearts rejoice in your salvation.
Yes, we will sing to you
because you have been good to us.
Let our whole being bless your name
and never forget all your good deeds:
[Read prayers of gratitude.]
Faithful God,
hold our prayers tight in quiet of the tomb
as we hold on to you in hope.
May we never grow cold to your Love
or be convinced that darkness will ever have the final word.
We pray for new life.
We pray for resurrection.
Hear us, O Lord.
Song (“Keep Watch and Pray” mashup with “Give Me Jesus”)
Keep watch and pray.
Keep watch and pray.
Just for an hour.
Keep watch with Christ our Lord.
Oh see his tears.
Come now, draw near.
A single hour.
Keep watch with Christ our Lord.
Stay at his side.
Await the time.
The final hour
Keep watch with Christ our Lord.
Stay at his side.
Await the time.
The final hour
Keep watch with Christ our Lord.
In the morning, he will rise
In the morning, he will rise
In the morning, he will rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world.
(Liturgist) I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of Egypt.
You can have all this world.
(Liturgist) Remember, I am with you always—even to the end of the age.
You can have all this world.
(Liturgist) I am the one who goes with you.
I won’t let you down, & I will never abandon you.
But give me Jesus
Exit in Silence
(No music, nature sounds)
Still Waters 