Good Friday 2008 Liturgy

Below you will find the liturgy for the 2008 Good Friday service at Argyle United Methodist Church. I will include the text of The Reproaches in the next post. They are very powerful.


GREETING Liz Edwards
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.
That we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
Let us pray.
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; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
--after The Book of Common Prayer

HYMN Why Has God Forsaken Me? (put the following text in the bulletin and on the screen)
“Why has God forsaken me?” cried out Jesus from the cross
as he shared the loneliness of our deepest grief and loss.

At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus wept with open grief:
Grant us, God, the tears which heal all our pain and unbelief.

Jesus, as his life expired, placed himself within God’s care:
At our dying, Christ, may we trust the love which conquers fear.

Mystery shrouds our life and death but we need not be afraid,
For the mystery’s heart is love, God’s great love which Christ displayed.


SCRIPTURE LESSON: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Todd Mead

PSALM 22 (Text on UMH 752, the Response will be Todd Mead
“Why has God forsaken me?” cried our Jesus from the cross
as he shared the loneliness of our deepest grief and loss.)

PROCLAMATION OF THE PASSSION STORY Liz Edwards
John 18:1-19:42
(Or sermon)
A TIME OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Kyrie Eleison Taizé Community
Kyrie, Kyrie, Eleison

MEDITATION AT THE CROSS
PROCESSION OF THE CROSS: O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, soprano saxophone & vocals, Anastasia Markina, piano

(Process a plain wooden cross into the church, explain that the people may come forward and kneel briefly before the cross or can touch it and pray at any time)

SILENT MEDITATION

THE REPROACHES: CHIRST’S LAMENT AGAINST HIS
FAITHLESS CHURCH
(read by Todd, Liz, Joe from the congregation)

SUNG RESPONSE: No. 488 Jesus, Remember Me

A TIME OF SILENCE

*THE LORD’S PRAYER Liz Edwards

*CLOSING HYMN No. 298 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

*DISMISAL Rev. Joe Stobaugh
May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even
death on a cross, keep you and strengthen you, now and for ever. Amen.
All depart in silence.