On Wednesday we commemorated Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (I know, but we have to take practical matters into consideration). These are the prayers we used.
Bell
Welcome, explanation, request to leave in silence
Invocation and Introduction
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters, since the early Middle Ages it has been the tradition of the Church to reenact and commemorate the events which took place during that last week before Easter. Of course our calendar is arbitrary, and we also hope and pray that one day East and West will celebrate these events together. Nonetheless, it's important to be reminded that all these events in the life of Christ are interconnected; there cannot be a resurrection on Easter without a crucifixion on Good Friday. May I therefore invite you to reflect and pray on these events together with millions of other Christians around the world. Our worship service here today is just one of the many wonderful and colourful ways this will be done this week, but we can be assured that we too are part of it, even in our own small way.
Lord's Prayer
Isaiah prophesied about the Suffering Servant (Is. 53:1-12)
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Collect
Holy God, source of all love, on the night of His betrayal, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment: to love one another as He had loved them. By your Holy Spirit write this commandment in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The Passover (Ex. 12:1-14)
The Foot Washing (Jn. 13:1-17, 34-35)
Washing of hands
Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, came to serve all. We are all called to serve one another in the freedom and salvation we were granted by God's grace.
May I invite you to come forward and have your hands washed as a symbolic reminder of this wonderful vocation.
Christ came to serve, let us follow His example.
GOOD FRIDAY
Collect
Almighty God, we ask you to look with mercy on your human family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and to be given over to the hands of sinners and suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Via Crucis
Christ told His disciples, "If any want to become My followers, deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow Me."
- Jesus celebrates the Last Supper.
(Lk. 22:) 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
- Jesus is betrayed, arrested and condemned.
One of Your own betrayed You; Your friends fled and left You alone.
Keep us ever true and close to You.
They had sold and bought You for silver.
Teach us the true worth and meaning of love and friendship.
In the middle of the night they condemned You as a common criminal.
Be for us the Light that shines in the darkness.
- Jesus is denied by Simon-Peter.
(Lk. 22:) 57 But [Peter] denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later some one else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.
- Jesus is tried by Pontius Pilate.
You stood before Pilate, Your word rejected, Your innocence ignored.
Keep us from rejecting Your word of truth and salvation.
“See the Man!”
Let us look onto the Saviour of the world.
Pilate washed his hands in water.
You wash away our sins.
- Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns and given the cross.
(Jn. 19:) 1Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; 3 they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.
(Mk. 15:) 20 And they led him out to crucify him.
- Jesus is led to Golgotha.
You carried Your cross on the wounded stripes of Your back, for love of all the world.
Help us to bear our cross, for love of You and for love of others.
As You struggled to bear Your cross to Calvary, a passer-by was drafted to help You.
Make us as willing as Simon of Cyrene to bear the burdens of those in need.
Your suffering under the cross caused the women of Jerusalem to weep.
Comfort us in our hour of need.
- Jesus is crucified.
(Lk. 23:) 33 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. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments… 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”… 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
- Jesus dies.
Then at three in the afternoon the Lord shouted to the Heavens: “Abba! Abba! All things come from You, all things return to You! To You I give up My life!”
And then the Lord was very still…
- Jesus is taken of the cross and laid in the tomb.
Faithful friends and loving women took great care of Your lifeless body.
Turn the darkness of death into the brightness of day for those we love.
In the tomb You were laid, but from the tomb You arose.
Be the Lord of the resurrection for us and for all the baptised.
Lord, give us patience.
As we wait for the third day.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Hear Lord the silent confession of every heart...
The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness, in this faith we ask forgivenesses for all our sins.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for us and, for His sake, forgives us all our sins. Through His Holy Spirit He cleanses us and gives us power to proclaim the mighty deeds of God who called us out of darkness into the splendour of His light. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by His authority, I declare to you the complete forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (LBW482)
Stripping of the Altar
Departure in silence
Have a blessed Easter!