Order of Service – Fiday 7 April 2023 – GOOD FRIDAY

Click the link below to download the Order of Service.

Order-of-Service-7-April-2023-HPDownload

CALL TO WORSHIP

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry out day by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel.

In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them.

They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.           (Psalm 22: 1-5)

HYMN:       350       “There Is a Green Hill Far Away”

OPENING PRAYER

Holy God, who has opened our ears to hear Your word and our lips to proclaim Your truth, open our eyes this day to see in the cross the revelation of Your love; through Jesus the Crucified, to whom with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, be honour and praise, now and forever.

Crucified Saviour, Servant Lord, on the cross we see Your love and our shame; here You bear the world’s sorrows and sin, here You share the fate of the godforsaken. Open our ears to hear Your word of grace, our eyes to see Your thorn-crowned brow, and our hearts to know You in the least of our sisters and brothers. Amen!

A PRAYER SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE

Lord Jesus, our Saviour, let us come to You:

Our hearts are cold; Lord warm them with Your selfless love.

Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with Your precious blood.

Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with Your joyous Spirit.

Our hearts are empty; fill them with Your divine presence.

Lord Jesus, our hearts are Yours;

possess them always and only for Yourself.               (Augustine of Hippo 354-430)

PSALTER:           Psalm 22: 1-8, 22-31 (In Unison)

HYMN:       339       “O Sacred Head Sore Wounded” 

BIBLE READING                                                                     Ian Butters

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (Pages 731-732)

A LITANY FOR GOOD FRIDAY

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering?    (Lam. 1:12)

The Lord says:

My people, what have I done to you?

How have I offended you? Answer me!

I led you from slavery to freedom,

but you led your Saviour to the cross.

I brought you out of Egypt,

but you handed me over to the high priests.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal One,

have mercy on us.

My people, what have I done to you?

How have I offended you? Answer me!

I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,

but you led me to Pilate’s court.

I bore you up with manna in the desert,

but you struck me down and scourged me.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal One,

have mercy on us.

My people, what have I done to you?

How have I offended you? Answer me!

I gave you a royal sceptre,

but you gave me a crown of thorns.

I raised you to the height of majesty,

but you have raised me high on a cross.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal One,

have mercy on us.

My people, what have I done to you?

How have I offended you? Answer me!

I gave you saving water from the rock,

but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.

For you I struck down the kings of Canaan,

but you pierced your Saviour with a lance.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal One,

have mercy on us.

We adore You, O Christ, and bless You.

By Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.

If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him.

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.

By Your holy cross You have redeemed the world. 

SILENT MEDITATION

As the music plays, we bow our heads. Let us envisage the cross of Calvary upon which our Lord and Saviour gave His life to save us with the promise of eternal life.

Let us meditate and feel the pain and suffering, which He bore for our sins. Seeing the cross let us open our hearts and accept His forgiveness.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BIBLE READING

John 19:1-30 (Page 1073)                                                                                 Chris Butters

CHOIR              “The Power of the Cross”   by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

MESSAGE                     “Good Friday”                    Krikor Youmshajekian

NOTICES –Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 12 April 12:30 pm

  • Mother’s Day Lunch – Sunday 7 May 12:00 noon.
  • Trip to Narrabri – 22-30 May. If interested, register!

OFFERING    – In hope, trust and humility we make our offering to God.

HYMN:       233       “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story”

BENEDICTION

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!

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To contact Krikor call   0418 417 411

Church Website:  http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au

Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au

Church Office phone: 9427 4740