Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 52:13—53:12
The innocent servant suffers; surely he has borne our sin.
Psalm 22
A desperate prayer of lament turns to thanksgiving and praise.
Hebrews 10:16–25
Jesus opens the sanctuary for us; trust in him, for he is faithful.
or Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9
In Jesus, we have a great high priest who knows our weakness.
John 18:1—19:42
Jesus is arrested, put on trial, crucified, and buried.
For other resources for Good Friday, see the Book of Common Worship (WJKP, 2018), pp. 284–289.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will face the betrayal and denial.
God is not only God in joy, but also in sorrow.
We will witness the horror and heartbreak.
This, too, is a day that the Lord has made.
We will tell of God’s deliverance.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the mercy you so freely offer us
through the grace of our baptism—
safe passage through the sea,
justice rolling down like water,
deliverance from sin and death forever.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
teach us to love and serve you faithfully
and reconcile us to you and to one another
as members of one, living body;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
God does not sit on high,
judging us from afar.
God sympathizes with our weaknesses.
Our God came to experience our lives,
to be tested as we are,
to know what it is to live on this earth.
So let us approach God with boldness,
to receive mercy and find grace.
O Christ, Son of God,
we want so desperately to look away.
We want to turn away from your suffering;
we do not want to witness your death.
We choke on our own cries of “Crucify!”
and are ashamed of our silence
in the face of hatred.
We still ignore suffering,
we still hurt the innocent,
we still betray those we love,
we still care more about ourselves
than those who are in pain.
Yet we trust in your mercy,
asking your forgiveness
while knowing we do not deserve it.
Jesus Christ, have mercy on us sinners,
not according to our works,
but your inconceivable love.
Lifting water from the font:
Beloved children of God, all is not lost.
Even now, when it seems all has ended,
we wait in hope.
For in the darkness of this night,
salvation is just beginning.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy One, our strength in suffering
and our hope for salvation,
lift up your Word of life
and pour out your Spirit of grace
so that we may follow faithfully
all the way to the cross;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
After the readings:
We proclaim Christ crucified—
the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 1:23–25
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
we bend our knees and lift up our hearts,
giving glory to God forever. Amen.
Philippians 2:9–11
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
God’s reconciling act in Jesus Christ is a mystery
which the Scriptures describe in various ways.
It is called the sacrifice of a lamb,
a shepherd’s life given for his sheep,
atonement by a priest;
again it is ransom of a slave, payment of debt,
vicarious satisfaction of a legal penalty,
and victory over the powers of evil.
These are expressions of a truth
which remains beyond the reach of all theory
in the depths of God’s love for humankind.
They reveal the gravity, cost,
and sure achievement of God’s reconciling work.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.09
Prayers of Intercession
In Christ Jesus, we have a great high priest
who knows our weakness and suffering;
therefore, with boldness, let us seek God’s grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the church . . .
Unite us in the company of the faithful,
the great congregation of your people,
giving thanks for your saving power.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Save this world from a violent end,
so that future generations will rejoice
in the glory of your good creation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for all nations . . .
Rule over the nations with peace.
Silence those who threaten and curse,
and deliver us from weapons of war.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
Give dignity to those who are despised;
let the poor eat and be satisfied;
rescue the lost and bring them home.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
Do not be far away from those in trouble.
Come quickly to help them; save their lives!
Surround them with your healing presence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
To you, O God, we entrust these prayers,
knowing that you alone can provide
grace to help in our time of need;
in the name of our great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Savior. Amen.
Hebrews 4:14–16
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
Jesus says: Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Matthew 6:21
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of grace,
you have gifted us with life in Christ.
Today we bring the gifts of our work
and the gifts of our hearts.
May all that we bring and all that we are
be your means of grace in the world,
that all people may encounter your good news. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
With your people Israel, we remember how you have saved us—
sheltering us from the plagues of sin and death,
leading us through the waters to deliver us.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Kneeling down in humility to wash his disciples’ feet,
Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another.
By this love, the world will know that we are his disciples.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Help us to hand on to others what we have received from you:
the gift of your grace and the promise of salvation in Christ.
As often as we do this, let our lives proclaim your love.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks, Holy One,
for the body and blood of our Lord,
given with love for the world.
Send us out in your Spirit
to share the good news of salvation
and give ourselves for others;
in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the steadfast love of God,
the abundant grace of Jesus Christ,
and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit
be with you this day and always. Amen.
Psalm 51:1, 11
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
If any wish to be my disciples
let them take up the cross
and follow me. Amen.
Mark 8:34
“Crucifixion”
Robert R. Thurman, 21st Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- In the Cross of Christ I Glory (G) RATHBUN GTG 213, PH 84
- Ah, Holy Jesus (OE) HERZLIEBSTER JESU GTG 218, PH 93
- Go to Dark Gethsemane (O) REDHEAD 76 GTG 220, PH 97
- O Christ, You Hang upon a Cross (OEG) GOOD FRIDAY WAS 3084
WORD
- My Song Is Love Unknown (G) LOVE UNKNOWN GTG 209, PH 76
- What Wondrous Love Is This (OE) WONDROUS LOVE GTG 215, PH 85
- Lord, Prepare Me (E) SANCTUARY GTG 701
- My Lord and Master (OG) VESTAVIA Rejoice in God, K. Lee Scott, MSM
EUCHARIST
- Sharing Paschal Bread and Wine (G) TENEBRAE GTG 207
- O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (OG) PASSION CHORALE GTG 221, PH 98
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (G) HAMBURG, ROCKINGHAM GTG 223, 224; PH 100, 101
- How Deep Your Love, O Master / Purihin ka, O Kristo (OE) BANAHAW STB 147
SENDING
- They Crucified My Lord (G) CRUCIFIXION GTG 219
- Jesus, Remember Me (EG) REMEMBER ME GTG 227, PH 599
- Were You There (G) WERE YOU THERE GTG 228, PH 102
- I Will Not Fear Death (OE) THE HARROWING Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- Lord, Why Have You Forsaken Me? [DISTRESS, HARVEY’S CHANT, CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM]; GTG 210, PAS 22B, PH 168
- My God, My God, O Why, O Why [BANGOR]; PLP1 22
- My God, Am I Forsaken? [SUFFERER]; PP 37 (with refrain), PCW 22a (as 7.6.7.6 D)
- Why, Lord, Have You Turned Aside? [7.7.7.7.7.7]; SGP 30
Responsorial
- My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?; PAS 22A
- Scripted Reading [WONDROUS LOVE]; PAS 22C, LUYH 165, SSS 177–178
- My God, My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me?; PFTS2 12 (through-composed vv.), PAS 22D (pointed vv.)
- My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?; PND 13
Organ Music
- “There in God’s Garden,” SHADES MOUNTAIN, Augsburg Organ Library: Lent, Robert Buckley Farlee, AF (ME)
- “Passiontide: ‘O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,’” Chorale—Prelude for the Church Year, Op. 67, Max Reger, public domain (M)
- “Passion,” op. 145, no. 4, HERZLIEBSTER JESU, Max Reger, public domain (M)
- “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” setting 1, A Walter Pelz Organ Anthology, Walter Pelz, AF (E)
- “Were You There,” Augsburg Organ Library: Lent, Emma Lou Diemer, AF (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,” Karl Graun, ed. Walter Buszin, CON, SATB, acap (MA)
- “Were You There?,” Kyle Pederson, MSM, SATB, pno (M)
- “Oh, That Bleeding Lamb,” Undine Smith Moore, AF, SATB, acap (M)
- “When Jesus Wept,” Peter Paul Olejar, MSM, SA(T) B, keybd (ME)
- “My Song Is Love Unknown,” Molly Ijames, BP, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Ah, Holy Jesus,” Daniel Ficarri, ECS, SATB, acap (MA)
- “Thy Will Be Done,” Craig Courtney, BP, SATB div, pno (M)
- “Go to Dark Gethsemane,” Matthew Culloton, MSM, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Wondrous Love,” Eric Nelson, MSM, SATB div, pno (M)
- “Dios itlaçonantzine,” Hernando don Franco, Border CrosSing, SATB, acap (MA)
Handbell Music
- “My Song Is Love Unknown,” Cathy Moklebust, 3–5 oct, opt 3–7 oct hc, opt C inst, CGA, CGB977, Level 2+
- “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” Arnold Sherman, 3–5 oct, BP, HB274, Level 3
- “Were You There,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct, opt 3 oct hc, BP, HB439, Level 2+
Art
- Broken Vessel, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
- Carrying the Cross of Christ, Gabriel Loire, Mosaic (VDL)
- Entwined, Jan Richardson (JR)
- Crucifixion, Robert R. Thurman (VDL)
- Passion of Christ on French ivory diptych, London (VDL)
