Order of Service – Friday 29 March 2024 – GOOD FRIDAY
Click th elink below to download the Order of Service.
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”
PRAYER
O mighty God, in whom we know the power of redemption, You stand among us in the shadows of our time. As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life, uphold us with knowledge of the final morning when, in the glorious presence of Your risen Son, we will share in His resurrection, redeemed and restored to the fullness of life and forever freed to be your people. Amen!
RESPONSIVE READING
Father, today we ponder a great mystery of our faith — the death of Your Son, Jesus.
We thank You, O Lord, that in the life and the death of Jesus Christ, our Lord, You have revealed Your immeasurable love to us.
We thank You that He, being in the form of God, humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!
We thank You that You raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest place above, to be for mankind the promise of eternal life.
Grant that this holy day, when we recall Jesus’ dying agony and His redeeming love, may be to Christians everywhere a time of renewal in their commitment to him.
Grant that we might grow in the hope and love of Christ.
May He who came to make all things new begin in us now and continue with each passing day.
May we witness by word and deed for You that others may find harmony and peace with one another.
May we come to the Cross this day and approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Amen!
HYMN: 339 “O Sacred Head Sore Wounded”
SILENT MEDITATION
As the music plays, we bow our heads. Let us envision 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.
PRAYER ON GOOD FRIDAY
Jesus Christ Our Lord: Again and again and even today You repeatedly are crucified. You are crucified, where married couples don’t have anything to say to one another and parents and children live without communication. You are crucified, where elderly people are pushed away and looked upon as a burden. You are crucified, where a lonesome human being awaits visit and help and will not get it. You are crucified, where people are discriminated against by reason of nation, or colour. You are crucified, where people starve, and we don’t do anything to help them. This way, every day, you are crucified anew.
But You, our Lord Jesus Christ, have made Your cross to be a signal of hope for our world. So, we ask You for all nations on earth, help them to stop their hatred, ultra-nationalism and chauvinism, and seek justice and peace. We ask You for our churches, that they not only stick to their tradition, but look for new ways to advance Your salvation to people. We ask You for all those who bear Your name, that they first stop anger and envy, that they become trusted witnesses of Your peace so badly needed in this world. This we ask in Your holy name. Amen! (Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian)
BIBLE READING Chris Butters
John 19:1-16a (Pages 1072-1073)
HYMN: 345 “Were You There When They …?” (Vrs. 1 & 2)
BIBLE READING Ian Butters
John 19:16b-27 (Page 1073)
HYMN: 345 “Were You There When They …?” (Vrs. 3 & 4)
BIBLE READING Penny Goodley
John 19:28-37 (Page 1073-1074)
HYMN: 345 “Were You There When They …?” (Vrs. 5 & 6)
BIBLE READING – Luke 23: 32-43 (Pages 1046)
THE CRUCIFIXTION Video Clip
MESSAGE: “The Forgiven!” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 342 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
NOTICES –
- Easter Sunday Service – Sunday 31 March 9:30 am.
- Movie/ Pizza Nights – Tuesday 2 April 6:30 pm.
- Elders’ & Council Meetings Wed 10 April 12:00 pm.
- Senior Lifesaving Skills Refresher – Friday 3 May 1:30 pm.
- Mother’s Day Fellowship Meal – Sun 5 May 12:00 noon.
- Pentecost Service – Sunday 19 May 10:00 am, St. Aidan’s.
OFFERING – Help us who have received so freely from you to give as
freely in our turn, and so have the pleasure of giving as
well as the happiness of receiving.
HYMN: 233 “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story”
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, the story of Your suffering is written on our hearts, and the salvation of the world is in Your outstretched hands. Keep Your victory always before our eyes, Your praise on our lips, Your peace in our lives. Amen!
COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen. Amen! (Hebrews 13:20-21)
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To contact Krikor call 9453 0787 or 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740