070406 Friday Focus - Good Friday Service

The Church of Jesus Christ is one church at the foot of the cross. This is exemplified during this service of worship for Good Friday when Lutheran pastor, Rev. Bob Graetz, Episcopal pastor, Al Perkins, Anglican pastor, Rev. Rusty DeMoss, Baptist pastor, Johnny Davis, and United Methodist pastor, John Sawyer, Jr. give 5 minute reflective homilies on 5 of the seven last words of Christ from the cross.

Worship Service for Good Friday on April 6, 2007– 11:45 AM

Pray and meditate during Gloria Dowty’s organ prelude.

** GREETING AND PRAYER

All: Almighty God, graciously behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross. We your Church confess that often our spirit has not been that of Christ. Where we have failed to love one another as he loves us, where we have pledged loyalty to him with our lips and then betrayed, deserted, or denied him, forgive us, we pray; and by your Spirit make us faithful in every time of trial, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Leader: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ is. But Christ suffered and died for us, was raised from the dead and ascended on high for us, and continues to intercede for us. Believe the good news: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen.

CHRIST’S SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS FOLLOWED BY REFLECTIONS

All Sing: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (2x)

Luke 23:33-34 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Reflection by Rev. Bob Graetz

All Sing: Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (2x)

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding Him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Reflection by Rev. Al Perkins

Allow a moment of silence and reflection to allow
the Holy Spirit to give reflection on the 3rd and 4th Last Words from the cross:

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. (Pause for silent prayer & reflection.)

Matthew 27:45-46 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Pause for silent prayer & reflection.)

All Sing: Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (2x)

John 19:28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, He said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”
Reflection by Rev. Rusty DeMoss

All sing: Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (2x)

John 19:30a A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, He said, “It is finished.”
Reflection by Rev. Johnny Davis

All sing: Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (2x)

Luke 23:44-46 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, He breathed his last.
Reflection by Rev. John Sawyer, Jr.

All Sing: Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (2x)
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

** DISMISSAL

All: We go in peace. May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, keep us and strengthen us this today and forever. Amen.

All depart in silence and retire to the fellowship hall for $4.00 Friday Focus lunch. If you are still fasting, please ask for a to go box.

*All who are able may stand

A PRAYER FOR HOLY WEEK

Almighty God,
you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ,
to suffer death on the cross.
Grant that we may share in his obedience to your will
and in the glorious victory of His resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and ever. Amen.