FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2023 GOOD FRIDAY
CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH
PASTOR: Rev. Harry M. Krolus
CHURCH: 410-356-3400 CELL: 410-707-7663
Church email: ctklclcms@yahoo.com
Church Web Site: ctklchurch.org
****************************************
WELCOME to everyone who is worshiping with us today. We are glad that you are here! We pray that your worship experience here at Christ The King is spiritually uplifting and rewarding. If you are visiting, please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to Pastor Harry.
(Please turn off all electronic devices before worship begins; or, if you are using a Bible app to enhance your worship experience or to use PayPal, please enable the do not disturb function on your phone.)
*********************************************************************************
Tonight’s service is a version of the ancient Office of Tenebrae, traditionally used on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night of Holy Week. Tenebrae is the Latin word for darkness. The Office makes symbolical use of darkness and silence to impress on worshipers the consequence of sin and the greatness of our Savior’s sacrifice. The symbolism of the Office of Tenebrae includes.
1. The worshipers penitent sorrow for sins which caused Christ’s suffering;
2. The three hours of darkness at the time of the Crucifixion;
3. The sense of abandonment experienced by Jesus in his passion; and
4. The final triumph of our crucified Lord.
The office begins in silence. The absence of an organ prelude intensifies the somber mood. The Office ends in almost total darkness. The 13 special candles symbolize Jesus and the 12 Disciples. The periodic extinguishing of the 12 candles signifies the flight of the Disciples. The removal of the Christ Candle symbolizes Jesus’ death and its return symbolizes the resurrection. The noise of the closing of the book recalls Jesus’ words, “It is finished” and acknowledges that the meaning of the cross is fulfilled. In keeping with the solemnity of this day, there is no organ postlude and all leave the Church in silence.
***********************************************************************
THE INVOCATION
P. We begin our worship on this solemn night, as we observe the death of our Lord Jesus, in the name of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
C. Amen.
THE OPENING PSALM: Psalm 22:1-24
P. 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?
C. O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.
P. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.
C. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
P. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
C. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
P. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
C. "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
P. Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
C. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
P. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
C. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
P. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.
C. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
P. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
C. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
P. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
C. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
P. But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
C. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.
P. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
C. I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
P. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
C. For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
THE HOMILY: “What’s It All About?”
text: Matthew 26:52-54
THE OFFERING
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE OFFICE OF TENEBRAE
THE VOICE OF PROPHECY
Isaiah 53: 1-6
(The first set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 425 “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” (1-2)
A TIME FOR PRAYER
Luke 22:39-46
(The second set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 425 “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” (3-4)
THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL
Luke 22:47-53
(The third set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 438 “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth” (1-2)
THE SHAME OF DENIAL
Luke 22:54-62
(The fourth set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 450 “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (1,3,5,)
THE CRUCIFIXION
Luke 23:26-38
(The fifth set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 451 “Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted”
COMPASSION IN DEATH
Luke 23:39-43
(The sixth set of candles is now extinguished.)
HYMN: 452 “O Perfect Life Of Love” (1,5,7)
JESUS DIES
Luke 23:44-46
(The Christ Candle is now removed for a short time, symbolizing Jesus’ death. The light is returned in anticipation of the light of Easter.)
PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come;Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
CLOSING RESPONSES
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced
C. And we too look on the One who died and wonder…We wonder why – Why this final insult on one already dead.
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced and saw blood flowing from his hands – his feet – his side
C. And we too look upon the One who died and wonder ... we wonder that such an offering had to be made - the blood of a spotless lamb. Was God so angry with his people?
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced and saw water flowing from the wound in his side.
C. And we too look upon the One who died and wonder ... we wonder at the greatness of this gift: Water from his side - that washes our sin away - water from One who died offering us a way to new life.
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced and thought that they had won – the Word of God was silenced – the Light of the World was extinguished – the Way was blocked – the Truth questioned – the Life was dead.
C. Father, forgive them - they did not know what they were doing. Father, forgive us - for often we do not know what we are doing.
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced and thought that they had judged rightly – the Son of God who challenged their gods was wrong and they had defeated him.
C. But God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it. God sent his Son into the world to save it - to save us.
P. They looked upon the One they had pierced and saw death and emptiness.
C. And we too look upon the One who died and wonder ... we wonder at so great a love - a love that does not count the cost of loving - a love that offers its very self so that we might live - a love that would have done the same had I been the only one who needed it.
P. The sacrifice of love stretched out his arms on the cross.
C. One for all.
P. So great a love
C. So great a sacrifice…
THE BLESSING
P. May the Lord Almighty order our days and our deeds in his peace.
C. Amen.
P. We leave this evening grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.
C. Amen.
HYMN: 537 “Beautiful Savior”
We now leave the church in silence, remembering that it was for our sins that Jesus died.
