THE WAY OF THE CROSS

GOOD FRIDAY

APRIL 10, 2009

ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

400 Sparks Street

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada, K1R 5A2

613-233-9911 Fax: 613-233-9936

e-mail: stpeters@rogers.com

URL: http://stpeters.digitalents.com

The Rev. Dr. Barton Beglo, Pastor

Karen Holmes, Organist/Choir Director

Introduction

            The Way of the Cross is a deeply beautiful devotion, based on longstanding Christian tradition. While it may be used anytime during the Season of Lent, it is particularly appropriate on Good Friday. The service includes hymns, scripture readings, responsive readings and prayers. In keeping with the solemnity of the day, the organ prelude and postlude are omitted, as well as the Pastor’s greeting at the conclusion of the service. Following the benediction, the congregation leaves quietly, in a contemplative spirit of prayer. Copies of The Fourteen Stations of the Cross are available in the parish hall to take home for use in personal devotions.

Preparatory Prayer (Stand)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. IN HIM IS SALVATION, LIFE AND RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God grant us grace as we contemplate the Passion of Our Lord, that we may find forgiveness for sin; through the same Your Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord. AMEN.

Let us go forth to follow Jesus along the Way of Sorrows.

(Sit)

I. Jesus is Condemned to Death

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

And in the morning the chief priests and the whole council bound Jesus and carried Him away to Pilate and said, “He is guilty of death”. Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away. He was oppressed and afflicted. YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH.

Let us pray: Almighty God, we ask You graciously to behold this Your family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of the wicked, and to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Hymn 345:      Jesus I Will Ponder Now        (Remain seated)

II. Jesus Receives His Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

And bearing His Cross, He went forth to a place called Calvary.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF HIS PEOPLE HE WAS STRICKEN.

Let us pray: O Blessed Jesus, grant us by virtue of Your Cross and bitter Passion cheerfully to submit to and willingly to embrace all trials and difficulties of this our earthly pilgrimage, and give us readiness to daily take up our cross and follow you. AMEN.

Hymn 338:      Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain    (Stand)

III. Jesus Falls Under the Cross

(Sit)

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

O Come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God. HE WAS DELIVERED UNTO DEATH THAT HE MIGHT BRING HIS PEOPLE TO NEW LIFE.

Let us pray: O Jesus, who for our sins did bear the heavy burden of the world’s sin, and who did fall under its weight; let the thought of Your suffering make us watchful against any temptation and stretch forth Your hand to hold lest we fall into any grievous sin. AMEN.

Choir:             A Medieval Prayer for Good Friday                                            Marvin R. Johnson

                         (Solos: Maureen Monsebraaten, Wayne Michael)

IV. The Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless you. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

And as they led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.

WHOSOEVER DOES NOT BEAR HIS CROSS AND COME AFTER ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who did give your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin and also an example of the godly life; Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive His benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. AMEN.

When Jesus was about to dieJ. Christoph OleyV. Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

And there followed Him a great multitude of the people, and women, who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children”.

THEY THAT SOW IN TEARS SHALL REAP IN JOY.

Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, who did tell the heavy-hearted women who followed You to Your martyrdom to weep for themselves; lead us in Your way, that with them we may daily follow the footprints of Your Passion; that with all your heart we may hate evil and all sin for which You had to make satisfaction with Your innocent death, and give us true sorrow for our own sinful weakness, and the full realization of all our need of your Grace and forgiveness. AMEN.

Hymn 349:      Ah, Holy Jesus           (Stand)

VI. Jesus is stripped of his Garments

u. BY YOUR HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

And they brought Him to the place called Golgatha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered Him wine mingled with myrrh; but He did not take it. When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took His garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also His tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be”. This was to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them and for My clothing they cast lots.”

GOD SPARED NOT HIS ONLY SON BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL.

Let us pray: O Lord Jesus, You did suffer shame for our most shameful deeds. Take from us, we ask You, all false shame, conceit and pride, and make us so to humble ourselves in this life, that we may escape everlasting shame in the life to come. AMEN.

Hymn 337:      Alas! And did my Saviour bleed       (Remain seated)

 VII. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY CROSS AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross. It read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’, but ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

One of the criminals who was hanged raled at Him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save your-self 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 justly; for we are receiving due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in your kingly power.” And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

I, IF I BE LIFTED UP WILL DRAW EVERYONE UNTO ME.

Let us pray: O Jesus, crucified for us, subdue our hearts with Your holy fear and love, and since our sins were the cruel nails that pierced You, grant that in sorrow for our sins and past life we may pierce and nail to Your cross all that offends you. AMEN.

Hymn 339       Christ, the life of all the living (Stand)

ved standing near, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed...Then Jesus crying with a loud voice said, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” And having said this He breathed His last.

(Sit. The Pastor goes to the Altar and joins the Congregation in silent meditation and prayer).

And behold, the veil of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the Holy City and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”

Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.

Let us pray: O God, heavenly Father, whose well beloved Son, when He died in agony upon the cross forsaken and rejected, knew You near, and with His last breath committed His spirit into Your almighty hands: Be with us when the hour of our departure comes, and grant unto us also a blessed end; so that conscious of Your loving Presence we may resign ourselves in fullest trust into Your eternal keeping, and awake in Your Paradise. AMEN.

Hymn 351:      O Sacred Head, Now Wounded         (Stand) 

 O Christ, and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

Since it was the day of preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the others who had been crucified with Him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness – His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth – that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate give him leave. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus also, who had first come to Him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

They shall look on Him whom they have pierced. A BONE OF HIM SHALL NOT BE BROKEN.

Let us pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, most glorious Redeemer, our dear Lord: We adore and praise You who did not permit Yourself to be taken from the cross until the world was fully redeemed; grant unto us that after our earthly life is over we may by Your grace share Your eternal life in Heaven. AMEN.

Choir: Surely he has borne our griefs                                                     Leonardo Leo (1694-1744)

 X. Jesus is Laid in the Sepulchre

We adore You, O Christ and we bless You. BY YOUR HOLY AND PRECIOUS BLOOD YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD.

Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So, because of the Jewish Day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Next day, that is after the day of Preparation, the chief Priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that imposter said while He was still alive, after three days I will rise again. Therefore, order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples go and steal Him away and tell the people His is risen from the dead, and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers, go and make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

My flesh also shall rest in hope. FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL.

Let us pray: O Lord, crucified Saviour, have mercy upon us; spare us by Your glorious intercession and as You did restore the thief on the cross as a citizen of Paradise, so through the victory of Your Cross free all the world from evil and restore Your creation. And although now You are hidden from our sight by the darkness of the tomb and the blindness of our sin, may soon the perfect splendour of Your resurrection bring Your victory once again to light; through Your mercy, O God, who are blessed forevermore. AMEN.

Hymn 601: Saviour, when in dust to you                                                                (Remain seated)

(The offering is received during the hymn and brought to the altar.)

Concluding Prayers    (Stand)

God forbid that I should glory: save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. IN HIM IS SALVATION, LIFE AND RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

Let us pray: Almighty and most merciful God, who has appointed us to endure sufferings and death with our Lord before we enter with Him into eternal glory; grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will, and to continue steadfast in true faith unto the end of our lives and at all times to find peace and joy in the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

God of all grace, who did send Your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to light: Most humbly and heartily we give You thanks, that by His death He has destroyed the power of death, and by His glorious resurrection has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Grant us assuredly to know that because He lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost one God, world without end. AMEN.

Choir: Kyrie                                                                                                        Stephen Eisenhauer

Lord, have mercy upon us,                 

Christ, have mercy upon us.               

Lord, have mercy upon us. 

The Lord’s Prayer      (Stand)

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN,

            HALLOWED BE THY NAME,

            THY KINGDOM COME,

            THY WILL BE DONE,

                        ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

            GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD;

            AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

                        AS WE FORGIVE THOSE

                        WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US;

            AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

                        BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

            FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,

                        AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY,

                        FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

The Divine Praises

BLESSED BE GOD

BLESSED BE HIS HOLY NAME

BLESSED BE JESUS CHRIST, TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF JESUS

BLESSED BE JESUS CHRIST IN THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR

BLESSED BE THE HOLY GHOST

BLESSED BE THE TRIUNE GOD

BLESSED BE GOD IN HIS ANGELS AND IN HIS SAINTS

BLESSED, PRAISED, AND ADORED BE JESUS CHRIST

UPON HIS THRONE OF GLORY AND IN THE HEARTS OF HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE. AMEN.

The Benediction

The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN.

(Worshipers leave the church in silence.)

Illustrations by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)