May you continue to be blessed by God's movement in your lives over these Holy Days.
Joel
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
(I have often started with a Lord's Supper communion service for those interested prior to the service starting.)
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP/INVOCATION
O
God, by the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, you taught us
the greatness of true humility, and call us to watch with him in his
passion. Give us grace to serve one another in all lowliness, and to
enter into the fellowship of his suffering; in his name and for his
suffering; in his name and for his sake. Amen.
W. E. Orchard, England, 20th Cent. Alt.
HYMN: O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done.................................................................... # 287
TENEBRAE – THE SERVICE OF SHADOWS
Introduction
The Darkness of Misunderstanding
Words in the Temple....................................................................................... Mark 11:15-18
Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer
for all the nations’?
But you have made it a den of robbers.”
And
when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a
way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd
was spellbound by his teaching.
HYMN: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (vs 1, 2 & 4)........................................ #626
The Darkness of Betrayal
Words in the Upper Room........................................................................ Matthew 26:20-28
When
it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were
eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they
became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another,
“Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into
the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written
of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would
be better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him,
said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
While
they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he
broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my
body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them,
saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
CHOIR: Adoramus Te Christe
The Darkness of Temptation
Words in the Garden............................................................................... Matthew 26:36-46
Then
Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his
disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him
Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated.
Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here,
and stay awake with me.” And going a little further, he threw himself
on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup
pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to
the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could
you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may
not come into the time of trail; the spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My
Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again
he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving
them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same
words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still
sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of
Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See
my betrayer is at hand.”
HYMN: Go to Dark Gethsemane (vs 1 & 2)......................................................... #290
The Darkness of Injustice
Words of the Trail...................................................................................... Mark 14:55-64
Now
the Chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony
against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave
false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some
stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him
say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three
days I will build another, not made with hands.’” But even on this point
their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before
them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify
against you?” But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high
priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”
Then
the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need
witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of
them condemned him as deserving death.
HYMN: Ah, Holy Jesus (vs 1 & 2)........................................................................... # 289
The Darkness of Denial
Words of the Courtyard................................................................................ Mark 14:66-72
While
Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high
priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she started at him
and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” But he
denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking
about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And
the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,
“This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. Then after a little
while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of
them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an
oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” At that moment the
cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had
said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three
times.” And he broke down and wept.
HYMN: What Wondrous Love Is This (vs 1, 2 & 3)........................................... #292
The Darkness of Rejection
Words Before Pilate.................................................................................. Luke 23:13-24
Pilate
then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the
people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not
found this man guilty of any charges against him. Neither has Herod, for
he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I
will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
Then
they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Baraabas
for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection
that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to
release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify,
crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?
I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will
therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently
demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their
voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be
granted.
CHOIR: WHEN JESUS WEPT
The Darkness of Crucifixion
Words on the Cross.................................................................................... Luke 23:33-46
When
they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus
there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood
by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “he saved others;
let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and
saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also
an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One
of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
“Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked
him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence
of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned to justly, for we
are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing
wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
Paradise.”
It
was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three
in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the
temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he
breathed his last.
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