Holy Week/ Good Friday

Good Friday:
It is a paradox;
they call this day 'good' when so much sadness and violence and despair
wells up and covers the land in the darkness of grief and hope lost.
It is a paradox:
we worship the upside down God who upends our words,
who bids us open our eyes to new ways of seeing, being, understanding.
Bad Friday is turned good,
for out of death, springs life.
We walk through the darkness of this day,
remembering...
sorrowing, even,
taking time to ponder the great love story
shown in the One who loved humanity with the whole of his very being.
And we continue walking -
as hope is reborn,
as the story merely pauses a moment:
for, this is not the end;
we walk through the darkness of this day
and move onwards, toward the light.

MUSIC/ Within our darkest night
 a chant from the Taize Community...
 St Augustine said that when we sing, we pray
 twice. Use this simple chant as a prayer -
 either to listen and pray with, or to sing it as a
 form of prayer as we think of the One whom
 the darkness can not overcome...

Within our darkest night, 
 you kindle a fire that  
 never dies away, never dies away...





PRAYER/
Holy God,
on this Good Friday,
we stop, make time,
and wonder once more at your love for us.
We do not understand why Jesus had to die,
why he had to endure
the pain and suffering of the cross.
On this day of days,
we pause awhile
to meditate and contemplate
the death of Jesus.
We come to  wonder
at the sacrifice of our beloved Lord.
We come  in silence,
awe and amazement
unsure of what to say or do,
knowing that we need to be here.
Draw near to us
and reveal to us ever more clearly
your love for us, now and forever.
Amen.

READING/ Luke, chapter 23
This is a long reading. As you read, perhaps pause in different places, take a moment of quiet to reflect on the verses, then move on... reading in prayerful contemplation.

1Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ 3Then Pilate asked him,
‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
He answered,
‘You say so.’
4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,
‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’
5But they were insistent and said,
‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and 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 of your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’
18 Then they all shouted out together,
‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’
19(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21but they kept shouting,
‘Crucify, crucify him!’
22A 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.’
23But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said,
‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” 31For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When 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. 34Then Jesus said,
‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’
And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And 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!’
36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying,
‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’
38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
40But the other rebuked him, saying,
‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’
42Then he said,
‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
43He replied,
‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ 48And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

We give thanks to God for His word contained in scripture, Amen.

PRAYER/
Forgiving God,
we come before you,
on this most difficult of days,
prayerful, reflective,
and forever thankful,
for the love poured out,
on all humanity, in the life and death
of your son Jesus Christ.
How can we weather the sorrow
that comes as we reflect on the events
that we remember today?
How, O God, can we stand,
in this place
in your salvation...
when our ancestors,
nailed our Saviour to a cross?

How?
In your forgiveness, which surpasses all.

Loving God,
we offer ourselves to you;
in your mercy, we pray that your love,
shown on that day,
and every day since,
continues to shine a light in our lives.
How can we thank you,
when you have given everything for us?
For our lives, our loves, our joys.
How, O God, can we express our gratitude
for the constant embrace of your love,
for the knowledge of the life of Christ,
on this day, as we remember the darkest day?

How?
In your love, which surpasses all.

Gracious God,
we commune with you and are glad,
as spiritual descendants of those
who walked with,
wept over, buried,
and loved Jesus.
We come also, and are mortified
at the betrayal, torture, rejection and denial
of Christ, our Saviour.
We are a people of contradictions.
How can we call ourselves your people,
most loved by your constant care,
gathered up in your eternal love,
forgiven and blessed today and always,
saved through that darkest hour of our history?

How?
In your grace, which surpasses all.

Eternal God,
on this day of sorrow,
we cannot escape the promise of hope,
the surety that the darkness will pass,
and the light of the world will shine forever.
Amen.

 MUSIC/ Jesus, remember me -
 Use this simple chant as a prayer -
 either to listen and pray with, or to sing it
 as a form of prayer as we think of the request
 of the man hanging next to Jesus

 Jesus, remember me, 
 when you come into your kingdom,
 Jesus, remember me, 
 when you come into your kingdom....




REFLECTION/
What could have been said?
In the garden, surrounded by friends,
knowing what is coming,
defence rejected,
no-one lost.
Jesus accepted the cup that was given.

What could have been said?
Before the high priest,
no denials,
only truth.
The Messiah questioned and rejected.
Jesus stands, accused and beaten.

What could have been said?
Before Pilate,
no arguing, no violence,
his kingdom is not of this place,
those who belong to the truth,
belong to Christ.
Jesus is imprisoned.

What could have been done?
Sentenced to death,
here is the man
that no earthly power could contain,
flogged and crowned.
Jesus is sent to death.

What could have been done?
Crucified,
the king of the Jews,
hung from a cross,
taunted, robbed, broken,
it is finished,
our Saviour has been killed.

What could have been done?
He died for us,
gave everything for us,
he is buried, and will rise again,
in love, for us.
What can we do?

PRAYER/
Holy one,
on this day when we remember
Jesus dying on the cross,
suffering pain and breathing his last,
we come humbly before you. 
We come to say thank you
that Jesus loved us so much
that he was willing to die for us.
We come to say thank you
that Jesus knows exactly what it feels like
for all people who suffer pain and loss,
fear and rejection,
trauma and persecution.
Lord God,
our world is still a place
where too many people die at the hands of violence,
where too many people suffer persecution,
where too many people die alone and often in pain...
a world now feeling jangly, disjointed,
as we find ourselves living in strange times...
Lord, many of us are fearful -
we think of the power of microbes
that can bring entire systems,
whole countries and continents
to a standstill.
Lord Jesus,
you are in our midst,
Light in our darkness
and so we pray that, as the world walks
through this present darkness
we find your comfort and strength.
Be with all who watch and wait this night:
for deliveries of food, medicine, ventilators
and for safe working equipment...
for news of loved ones...
for clear test results...
for patients to recover...
for the end of the shift and welcome sleep.
Lord,
give us patience and hope,
help us not to give up,
and help us to do your will -
whatever that might be,
that your glory may shine brightly
in a world full of pain and suffering.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION/ What wondrous love is this
An old and beautiful hymn forms the setting for a montage of Good Friday images to reflect on...

EPILOGUE/
A dark day draws to a close,
a barren place
filled with shadows and death,
loneliness and uncertainty.
We leave with thoughts of what might have been.
What’s next for us?
Where do we go from here?