Good Friday
Preached: April 2, 2010
The devotions for this service are available as several audios below, but they are not written out. Or try the podcast at iTunes (You will be leaving our website.)
Lighting of the Candles -- “Lamb of God”
Isaiah 55:6-11
Good Friday Prayer
Devotion
Reading: Psalm 32:1-7
Hymn 105:1, 4 “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
O sacred head, now wounded
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded,
With thorns your only crown,
O sacred head, no glory
Now from your face does shine;
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call you mine.
My burden in your passion,
Lord, you have borne for me,
For it was my transgression,
My shame on Calvary.
I cast me down before you;
Wrath is my rightful lot.
Have mercy, I implore you;
Redeemer, spurn me not
Congregation Sings (LAPPY 162)
Reading: Luke 23:34b-43
Congregation Sings (LAPPY 162)
Reading: Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-17
Hymn 105:6, 7 “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
My Savior, then be near me
When death is at my door,
And let your presence cheer me;
Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish,
Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away my anguish
By virtue of your own!
Lord, be my consolation,
My shield when I must die;
Remind me of your passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
My eyes will then behold you,
Upon your cross will dwell;
My heart will then enfold you --
Who dies in faith dies well!
Devotion
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Hymn 138:1, 5, 6 “Oh, Perfect Life of Love”
Oh, perfect life of love
All, all is finished now,
All that he left his throne above
To do for us below.
In perfect love he dies;
For me he dies, for me!
O all-atoning Sacrifice,
You died to make me free!
In ev'ry time of need,
Before the judgment throne,
Your works, O Lamb of God, I'll plead,
Your merits, not my own.
Devotion
Reading: Psalm 22:1-8; 14-21
Hymn 127:1, 3 “Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted”
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted
See him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis he, 'tis he.
'Tis the long expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.
If you think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here you see its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate,
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load --
'Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.
Devotion
Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Hymn 714 “The Lamb”
Choir: verses 1-3
Congregation & choir: verses 4
Devotion
Reading: Psalm 2
Hymn 127:4 “Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted”
Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast,
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt --
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built
Reading: Luke 23:46; Matthew 27:51-56; John 19:31-37
The last candle is removed symbolizing the burial of our Lord who is our Light and our Salvation.
Lord's Prayer (all in unison)
The tomb rends with a loud sound; the Light returns, for our Lord rises.
Solo: “Lord, Let at Last Your Angels Come”
Please leave in silence, reflecting on what your Savior suffered to rescue you from sin and death.
There is no blessing spoken tonight, for our worship has not ended. We eagerly await to gather on Easter Sunday for the final portion of our three-day observance.
Come on Easter rejoicing that he lives,
and you, with all his believers, will live with him forever.
Pastor Gregg Bitter