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| Rev. Paul Werner and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP Co-preside at Ecumenical Good Friday Service at St. Andrew UCC in Sarasota, Florida |
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ECUMENICAL GOOD FRIDAY
SERVICE
GOOD FRIDAY: “WE
REMEMBER”
Mary Mother of Jesus
Inclusive Catholic Community
and
St. Andrew United
Church of Christ
An asterisk (*)
indicates to rise in body or in spirit.
PRELUDE Bruce Ensinger
GREETING Rev. Paul Werner
We come
here this evening to remember a man. A man…
who had
dreams,
who had
those dreams shattered,
who
needed time to think and pray,
who knew
he was likely to die for what he believed…
A man of
extraordinary religious insight.
A man who
did die—a cruel death.
This
evening we look at the cross, and we remember…
the
betrayal of friendship and its consequences,
the
casual cruelty of Roman authority and execution,
and how
unreliable others proved to be in a crisis.
This
evening may we also remember
that
religious bigotry, cruelty, and unreliability
are
still a part of our everyday lives.
This
evening, then, may we learn some new precepts for living:
Do not
avoid contact with suffering,
or close
your eyes before suffering.
Do not
maintain anger or hatred.
Do not
say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest,
or to
impress people.
Do not
live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature…
This
evening we remember.
OPENING SONG We Remember by Marty Haugen (refrain only)
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 1
Bishop
Bridget Mary: Now after John was
arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and
saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the realm of God has come near; repent, and
believe in the good news.”
(Mark
1:14-15)
Reader
1: Let us remember a man who dreamed of
what might be: that people would be set free from religious ideas and images
that degraded them; that people would believe that through their everyday acts
of human kindness, they are intimately connected with the sacred; that people
would be empowered by his words and actions.
All: We
remember Jesus, a person driven by dreams!
RESPONSE
We remember how you loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate for you are with us here.
And we believe that we will see you,
When you come in your glory.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 2
Rev.
Paul: They went to Capernaum; and when
the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were
astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not
as the scribes.
(Mark
1:21-22)
Reader
2: Let us remember a man who had his
moments of breakthrough, when it must have seemed his dream was being realized;
times when people really listened and responded; times when women and men were
prepared to walk with him and support him; times when he spoke better and more
convincingly than other times.
All: We
remember Jesus, a person inspired by successes!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 3
Bishop
Bridget Mary: Herod had arrested John,
bound him, and put him in prison … and had John beheaded in the
prison. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went
and told Jesus.
Now when
Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by
himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the
towns.
(Matthew
14:3, 10, 12-13)
Reader
1: Let us remember a man who learned
about the cruel death of his cousin. He got into a boat, seeking a lonely place
where he could be with his friends, to absorb the shock, to grieve quietly, to
calm his feelings of powerlessness, of frustration and of fear for his own
future. I wonder what he prayed about that night. I wonder what helped him
leave that lonely place and go forward to confront life rather than retreat
into isolation and safety.
All: We
remember Jesus, a person driven by convictions!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 4
Rev.
Paul: And after Jesus had dismissed the
crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was
there alone.
(Matthew
14:23)
Reader
2: Let us remember a man who found quiet
places to pray and think about things; a man who had to live by faith; a man
who had to search for answers; a man who had to think about which path to
follow; a man who had to look to his friends for support and understanding.
All: We
remember Jesus, a person very much like us!
RESPONSE
We remember how you loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate for you are with us here.
And we believe that we will see you,
When you come in your glory.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 5
Bishop
Bridget Mary: From that time on, Jesus
began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great
suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised.
(Matthew
16:21)
Reader
1: Let us remember a man whose dream was
shattered; who broke down and cried over what could have been; who knew the
pain of failure and powerlessness; who knew what it was like to feel broken and
terribly alone.
All: We
remember Jesus, a man who experienced his emotions!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
CHORAL MEDITATION
Till He Comes Again by Jack Schrader
St.
Andrew UCC Choir
REFLECTION 6
Rev.
Paul: When the hour came, Jesus took his
place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have
eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell
you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the realm of God.” Then he
took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among
yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit
of the vine until the realm of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is
my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
(Luke
22:14-19)
Reader
2: Let us remember a man who knew he was
going to die; who gathered with his friends, knowing it was for the last time;
who spoke to them about what he really believed; who wanted them to remember
him and to keep his dream alive.
All: We
remember Jesus, a testament to love!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 7
Bishop
Bridget Mary: At three o’clock Jesus
cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
(Mark
15:34)
Reader
1: Let us remember a man crucified. He
was seen as a failure, abandoned by his friends—taunted, despised, enduring a
shameful and agonizing death. There was no consoling or heartfelt presence of
his Creator God to help him.
All: We
remember Jesus, a man whose faith in all he believed was tested to the limits!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 8
Rev.
Paul: Two others also, who were
criminals, were led away to be put to death with Jesus. 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, “Creator,
forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to
divide his clothing. 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 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 realm.” Jesus
replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Then Jesus,
crying with a loud voice, said, “Creator, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Having said this, he breathed his last.
(Luke
23:32-34, 39-43, 46)
Reader
2: Let us remember a man who forgave,
not just once, but over and over; a man who embodied the generosity and
limitless outpouring of the source of all life; a man whose life and death
point to another dimension of what it means to be human. No power on
earth—nothing—could move this man from what he believed.
All: We
remember Jesus, a man who inspires us by the way he lived and died!
We remember how you
loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate
for you are with us here.
And we believe that we
will see you,
When you come in your
glory.
We remember, we
celebrate, we believe.
REFLECTION 9
Bishop
Bridget Mary: Jesus said, “Believe me,
the hour is coming when you will worship God neither on this mountain nor in
Jerusalem. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the Creator in spirit and truth, for God seeks such as
these to worship God.” Many Samaritans from that city believed in him
because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.”
(John
4:21, 23, 39)
Reader
1: Let us remember a man of
extraordinary religious insight, a man utterly convinced of the connection between
human love and the source of all; a man determined to give people personal
authority in their relationship with the God they believed in; a man who wanted
to set people free from fear of the unknown; a man who set his heart on
breaking down barriers between people.
All: We
remember Jesus, a man who set us free!
RESPONSE
We remember how you loved us
To your death,
And still we celebrate for you are with us here.
And we believe that we will see you,
When you come in your glory.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
TIME FOR SILENT REFLECTION
How do we, as
followers of “The Way,” live faithfully and not lose hope, especially during
times of pain, struggle, and darkness? In the past year, has there been someone
you know who showed extraordinary courage in facing their life situation(s)? In
the past year, how have you responded to your own personal difficulties,
struggles, and sufferings? Suffering is part of being wholly human. Loving in
the face of suffering makes us whole and holy.
PRAYER
All: O
Holy One, we give thanks for Jesus, who knew the longings and pains of being
human and who inspires our faith journey. Like Jesus, may we listen to the
voices whispering to us, calling us to follow close lest we leave ourselves
behind, calling us to walk into evening shadows one more time. Like Jesus, may
we live beyond the fears that close us in and have the courage to walk past
horizons that we know. May we grown in faith and courage to act justly and love
extravagantly as we seek to make your realm a reality in our world. Amen.
*SONG OF REMEMBRANCE
Creator, Forgive Them by Carolyn Winfrey
Gillette
Tune:
ADELAIDE
*A BENEDCTINE BLESSING
Rev.
Paul: May God bless us with a restless
discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
All: So
that we may speak truth boldly and love deeply.
Bishop
Bridget Mary: May God bless us with a
holy anger at injustice, oppression, and all exploitation of people,
All: So
that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
Rev.
Paul: May God bless us with the gift of
tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the
loss of all that they cherish,
All: So
that we may reach out our hands to comfort and transform their pain into joy.
Bishop
Bridget Mary: May God bless us with
enough foolishness to believe that we really can make a difference in this
world,
All: So
that we are able, by God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. May
it be so, this day and evermore. Amen!
*CLOSING SONG Holy Darkness by John Michael Talbot
Refrain:
Holy darkness, blessed night,
Heaven’s answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
We embrace your holy night.
I have tried you in the fires of affliction.
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
There I will plant your seed.
Refrain
In the deepest hour of the darkness,
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
Will my riches fill your soul.
Refrain
DEPART IN SILENCE
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