Good Friday - First United Church of Oak Park

First United Church
of Oak Park

March 29, 2013

Good Friday

Good Friday Service

7:00 p.m.
29 March 2013
First United Church of Oak Park

Please stand for items with *
Speak in unison at the bold type.

Please silence cell phones

*CALL TO WORSHIP from Luke 9:23-24 Leah Fowler

Jesus said: If any of you want to be my disciples,

take up the cross and follow me.

Those who seek to save their lives will lose them,

but those who give their lives for Christ’s sake will be saved.

*PRAYER OF THE NIGHT
Loving God,
you sent Jesus Christ to save us.
We have betrayed him.
We have denied him.
We have abandoned, mocked, and crucified him.
Have mercy, O God,
have mercy on us;
through Jesus Christ, our only hope. Amen.

*HYMN 92 Beneath the Cross of Jesus ST. CHRISTOPHER

(blue hymnal)

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Bob Berry
Holy God, our hope and strength,
we give thanks for your Word made flesh—
for the life that death cannot destroy,
and for the light that darkness cannot overcome.
Enlighten our minds and enliven our hearts
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
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so that we may testify to your light and
share the life of Christ with a hurting world; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, AMEN.

FIRST READING Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Rob Leveridge

PSALM Psalm 22

*HYMN 93 “Ah, Holy Jesus” HERZLIEBSTER JESU

(blue hymnal)

GOSPEL READING John 19:1-42 Marylen Marty-Gentile

*HYMN 102 “Were You There?” WERE YOU THERE

REFLECTION “I Was There” Don Sibley,
Leah Fowler and Bob Berry

ANTHEM O vos omnes Tomas Luis de Victoria

O all you who walk by on the road, pay attention and see if there be any
sorrow like my sorrow. Pay attention, all people, and look at my sorrow.

During the anthem, you are invited to write your reflections and confessions on
the enclosed piece of paper. Following the Solemn Reproaches you will be able to
leave them on the icon cross in the front of the sanctuary if you wish.

SOLEMN REPROACHES OF THE CROSS

Meditation 1:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his
countenance, and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon the earth, your saving health among all
nations.
Let all the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. By your holy cross, you
have redeemed the world.

Period of Silence

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Meditation 2 - Solemn Reproaches:

O my people, O my church, what have I done to you? How have I
offended you? Answer me! I led you out of slavery into freedom, and
delivered you through the waters of rebirth, but you have prepared a
cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

Forty years I led you through the desert, feeding you with manna on the
way; I saved you from the time of trial and gave you my body, the bread
of heaven, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud and fire, but you led me to the
judgment hall of Pilate; I guided you with the light of the Holy Spirit, but
you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

I planted you as my fairest vine, but you have brought forth bitter fruit; I
made you branches of the vine and never left your side, but you have
prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you?
Answer me! I poured out saving water from the rock, but you gave me
vinegar to drink; I poured out my life and gave you the new covenant in
my blood, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

Period of Silence

Meditation 3 - Solemn Reproaches:

O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you?
Answer me! I gave you a royal scepter, but you gave me a crown of
thorns; I gave you the kingdom and crowned you with eternal life, but
you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

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I struck down your enemies, but you struck my head with a reed; I gave
you my peace, but you draw the sword in my name, and you have
prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

I opened the waters to lead you to the promised land, but you opened
my side with a spear; I washed your feet as a sign of my love, but you
have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you?
Answer me! I lifted you up to the heights, but you lifted me high on a
cross; I raised you from death and prepared for you the tree of life, but
you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

I grafted you into my people Israel, but you made them scapegoats for
your own guilt, and you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

I came to you in the least of your brothers and sisters, but I was hungry
and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger
and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and
in prison and you did not visit me, and you have prepared a cross for
your Savior.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on
us.

Period of Silence
In this period of silence, you may put your written confessions and reflections
on the icon cross in the front of the sanctuary. You may stay at the cross during
and after the final hymn if you like.

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*HYMN 98 O Sacred Head Now Wounded PASSION CHORALE

(blue hymnal)

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ABOUT TONIGHT’S SERVICE

Tonight is an evening of solemn reflection. We enter the sanctuary and leave in silence.

The Solemn Reproaches is an ancient text of Western Christendom associated with the
ending of a Good Friday service. The reproaches follow the pattern of Psalm 78, which
rehearses God’s continuing acts of faithfulness and Israel’s repeated rebellion.

An offering will be received in the West Transept and Narthex entry. You may
contribute to the Easter Offering by using the envelopes in the pews; 10% of that offering
will go through the United Church of Christ and our Middle Eastern church partners to
aid Syrian refugees.

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN
THIS EVENING’S SERVICE:

Bob Berry and Don Sibley, and our guest musicians.

HOLY WEEK

The purpose of the last week of Lent (Holy Week) is to reenact, relive, reflect, and
participate in the passion of Jesus Christ. The week begins on Palm Sunday (or Passion
Sunday), as Jesus entered Jerusalem. The people gave Jesus a royal welcome by waving
and laying palm branches along the path. Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday),
Christ came together with the 12 disciples for the Last Supper, at which, Jesus foretold
his betrayal by Judas and began the sacrament of Communion. Good Friday brought
about the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. Holy Saturday is the
Jewish Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave. The sadness and pain of Holy Week
turns into rejoicing Hallelujahs, for Christ was risen on Easter Sunday.

UPCOMING HOLY WEEK SERVICES

FRIDAY 8PM- SUNDAY 8AM PRAYER VIGIL

You are invited to stand witness to the days of mystery and wonder. Sign up for a
one-hour time period of personal prayer and reflection in the chapel. Individuals,
couples, friends and family are invited to sign up for a time to meditate, pray, create
knit, whatever you feel called to do. Devotional and art materials are available to
shape the time.

EASTER WORSHIP SUN, MAR 31

8:30AM: “The Empty Tomb” 1 Cor. 15:1-11 and John 20:1-18
11:00AM: “Cartwheels in the Garden” Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24, John 20:1-18
At both services we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and share communion. Christ is
risen. Christ is risen indeed! Between the services our senior high youth will sponsor
a pancake breakfast in Centennial Hall.

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