Worship at Home
Worship for Good Friday
Friday 15th April
This short act of worship has been prepared for you to use at home. We invite you to spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people across the Methodist Connexion are sharing this act of worship with you.
Opening Prayer
Loving God
We stand at the foot of the cross and remember what happened when your Son was crucified for us. In this act of worship may we know your presence with us.
Amen.
Hymn: StF 287 When I survey the wondrous cross
When I survey the wondrous cross,
on which the Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down;
did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe,
spreads o’er his body on the tree;
then am I dead to all the globe,
and all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Let us pray together
Gracious God, today we remember the sacrifice your son made by his death upon the cross. We thank you that he was willing to suffer and die for us. As we remember, we recognise that we have often nailed Jesus to the cross. We have not always acted in ways that show others your love. And for this we are sorry. Through the cross, we know ourselves forgiven. As we turn from this place, we again commit ourselves to sharing your love with all we meet. We offer these and all our prayers in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Bible Readings
The suffering and glory of the servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him –
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness –
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 19:17-42
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The King of the Jews”, but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’
22 Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 ‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
‘They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.’
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ 27 and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The death of Jesus
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ 37 and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’
The burial of Jesus
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about thirty-five kilograms. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus there.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Time to Reflect
Today is Good Friday. Some people may ask why call it Good Friday when it wasn’t really a good day because of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. For those first disciples it certainly didn’t feel like it was at all, indeed for them it was probably better described as ‘Black Friday’ as they saw their friend and teacher die on the cross and all their hopes and dreams for the future die with him. Or so they thought. But I am jumping too far ahead here. On Good Friday we remember the day when the sky turned black and the Son of God was crucified.
A few years ago I had the privilege of being a part of a town-wide passion play which took place on Easter Saturday. I was one of the team working backstage. One powerful moment for me was during the dress rehearsal the day before on Good Friday itself. Just as the light was starting to fade we reached the crucifixion scene. Our director would have probably told me off for this but I came down from the steps at the side of the stage and on to the square to watch the scene since I wouldn’t see it properly the following day. The atmosphere in that square by that point had completely changed. A few people had stopped to watch. It was that quiet that you could hear a pin drop. It isn’t easy to put into words how powerful that scene was on Good Friday but I certainly felt as though I was at the foot of the cross 2000 and odd years ago watching Jesus die for us all.
The cross suggested that everything was over. But we know that it wasn’t. For we know now that Easter Sunday is coming. But before then we recall and remember Jesus’ suffering on the cross and all that he endured for us. He didn’t have to but he did. Why? Because he loves us so much that he was prepared to die for each and every one of us. So although right now it can seem like all is dark and hopeless we need to remember that over 2000 years ago Jesus was nailed to the cross to bring us peace and hope although it can feel that hope and peace are far away from us right now. He was nailed to the cross that we might know God’s love for each and every one of us. So as we remember and reflect on the events of that first Good Friday over 2000 years ago we remember the love for us that was shown upon that cross.
There is no video for this service
Take a time to sit quietly – a time of prayer
As we remember all that happened on that
first Good Friday we bring our concerns and prayers and lay them down at the foot of the cross.
Lord Jesus Christ, on this day you sacrificed your life, upon the cross, for each and every one of us. You suffered unimaginable pain. You could have chosen not to go through with, it but you did not. In doing so you showed God’s love for the world.
We bring to the foot of your cross our concerns and prayers for the world in which we live. We pray for those areas of the world where there is suffering, violence and conflict.
We pray for peace across the world. May the world know the love for them that you demonstrated upon the cross.
We pray Lord for the church. As the world continues to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic it needs the church more than ever. Help your church to share your love and to offer hope everywhere. Give us your guidance that your church may be equipped and strengthened for the work to which you have called it.
We bring to the foot of your cross those facing challenging times. So many people in our world are suffering. We offer our prayers for those we know who need our prayers. We place their names at the foot of the cross and ask that they may be aware of your love and strength at this difficult time.
We bring to the foot of your cross those who have died. We bring them to you in the knowledge that they are with you and that you have gathered them into your loving arms.
We ask that those who mourn are comforted, knowing that their loved ones are with you and are at peace.
We kneel at the foot of your cross. We remember Lord Jesus how you showed your love for the world. Equip us to share that message with others. Guide us in the right direction and help us to face whatever challenges lie before us. As we stand and look from the cross to your tomb and all that awaits in a few days’ time remind us again of the hope and good news that we can share with others.
We ask these and all our prayers in your name.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn: Listen to StF 270 Come and see
Come and see, come and see, come and see the King of love;
see the purple robe and crown of thorns he wears.
Soldiers mock, rulers sneer
as he lifts the cruel cross;
lone and friendless now, he climbs towards the hill.
We worship at your feet,
where wrath and mercy meet,
and a guilty world is washed
by love’s pure stream.
For us he was made sin —
oh, help me take it in.
Deep wounds of love cry out
Father, forgive.’
I worship, I worship
the Lamb who was slain.
Come and weep, come and mourn
for your sin that pierced him there;
so much deeper than the wounds of thorn and nail.
All our pride, all our greed,
all our fallenness and shame;
and the Lord has laid the punishment on him.
Man of heaven, born to earth
to restore us to your heaven.
Here we bow in awe beneath your searching eyes.
From your tears comes our joy,
from your death our life shall spring;
by your resurrection power we shall rise.
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
A prayer of blessing
Loving God
We step away from the cross and look towards the tomb in which your Son was laid and from which he was raised. As we journey away from the cross towards the tomb and onward to resurrection, we go in the knowledge that you are with us
every step of the way.
Amen.
We are grateful to all the Ministers and Local Preachers from around the Connexion who have contributed to Worship at Home. This resource is administrated by Ministries: Vocations and Worship in the Connexional Team.
For more worship resources see
The Bible (methodist.org.uk)
Singing the Faith Plus (methodist.org.uk)
Webpage: Paul Deakin