Pastor: David Range
Miramar United Methodist Church
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
March 29, 2024
7:30 p.m.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world,
and we loved darkness rather than light.
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light.
But all who do what is true come to the light.
Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
HYMN 295 In the Cross of Christ I Glory
1 In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o'er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
2 When the woes of life o'ertake me,
hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me.
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.
3 When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds more luster to the day.
4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.
5 In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o'er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
WORDS: John Bowring, 1825 MUSIC: Ithamar Conkey, 1849
OPENING PRAYER
Of wonder....silence....then together:
Almighty God, graciously behold us, your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Passion of Jesus Christ
according to the Gospel of Luke, Chapters 22 & 23, NIV
The Plot Against Jesus: Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus [Luke 22:1-6]
The first candle is extinguished.
HYMN 292 What Wondrous Love is This
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
2 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of life
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
To lay aside his crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
4 And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
WORDS: USA folk hymn MUSIC: USA folk hymn; harm. By Paul J. Christiansen, 1955
Preparing for the Passover Meal and the Lord’s Supper [Luke 22.7-23]
The second candle is extinguished.
HYMN 289 Ah, Holy Jesus
1 Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!
2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.
3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.
4. For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.
5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.
WORDS: Johann Heermann, 1630; trans. By Robert S. Bridges MUSIC: Johann Cruger, 1640
Argument and Sifting [Luke 22:24-34]
The third candle is extinguished.
HYMN 175 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee verses 1-2
1 Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.
2 O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!
WORDS: Attr. To Bernard of Clairvaux, 12th cent.; trans. By Edward Caswall, 1849 MUSIC: John B. Dykes, 1877
Purse, Bag, Sword and Prayer [Luke 22.35-46]
The fourth candle is extinguished.
SOLO ‘Tis Midnight Willard Kennedy
HYMN 371 I Stand Amazed in the Presence
1 I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,
and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!
2 For me it was in the garden he prayed: "Not my will, but thine."
He had no tears for his own griefs, but sweat-drops of blood for mine.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!
3 In pity angels beheld him, and came from the world of light
to comfort him in the sorrows he bore for my soul that night.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!
4 He took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own;
he bore the burden to Calvary, and suffered and died alone.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!
5 When with the ransomed in glory his face I at last shall see,
'twill be my joy through the ages to sing of his love for me.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!
WORDS: Charles H. Gabriel, 1905 MUSIC: Charles H. Gabriel, 1905
The Arrest of Jesus [Luke 22:47-53]
The fifth candle is extinguished.
Peter Disowns Jesus [Luke 22:54-62]
The sixth candle is extinguished.
The Guards Mock Jesus [Luke 22:63-65]
The seventh candle is extinguished.
HYMN 285 To Mock Your Reign
1 To mock your reign, O dearest Lord,
they made a crown of thorns;
set you with taunts along that road
from which no one returns.
They could not know, as we do now,
how glorious is that crown;
that thorns would flower upon your brow,
your sorrows heal our own.
2 In mock acclaim, O gracious Lord,
they snatched a purple cloak,
your passion turned, for all they cared,
into a soldier's joke.
They could not know, as we do now,
that though we merit blame
you will your robe of mercy throw
around our naked shame.
3 A sceptered reed, O patient Lord,
they thrust into your hand,
and acted out their grim charade
to its appointed end.
They could not know, as we do now,
though empires rise and fall,
your kingdom shall not cease to grow
till love embraces all.
WORDS: Fred Pratt Green, 1972 MUSIC: English melody; arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Jesus Before the Council [Luke 22.66-71]
The eighth candle is extinguished.
Jesus is Brought Before Pilate [Luke 23.1-7]
The ninth candle is extinguished.
Jesus is Sent to Herod [Luke 23.8-12]
The tenth candle is extinguished.
HYMN 286 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
How pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!
2 What thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
’Tis I deserve thy place.
Look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.
3 What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this, thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.
WORDS: Anon. Latin; trans. by Paul Gerhardt, 1656 MUSIC: Hans L. Hassler, 1601; harm. By J. S. Bach, 1729
Jesus is Sentenced to Death [Luke 23.13-25]
The eleventh candle is extinguished.
Jesus is Crucified [Luke 23.26-43]
The twelfth candle is extinguished.
HYMN 165 Hallelujah! What a Savior
1 Man of sorrows! what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
2 Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood;
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
3 Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
spotless Lamb of God was he;
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
4 Lifted up was he to die;
"It is finished!” was his cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
5 When he comes, our glorious King
All his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior
WORDS: Philip P. Bliss, 1875 MUSIC: Philip P. Bliss, 1875
The Death of Jesus [Luke 23.44-49]
The Christ candle is extinguished.
The Burial of Jesus [Luke 23.50-56]
SONG OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT [Isaiah 53: 4-9]
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows:
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned everyone to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment, he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
SERMON: Down in the Dumps Pastor David Range
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER
The people respond to “We ask the Lord":
MAY THIS MIND BE IN US WHICH WAS IN CHRIST JESUS.
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. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN 298 When I survey the Wondrous Cross
1 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.
2 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.
3 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?
4 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.
WORDS: Isaac Watts, 1707 MUSIC: Anon.; arr. by Edward Miller, 1790
Going Forth
Lord Jesus, one of us betrayed you, another denied you, and all of us have forsaken you. Yet you remained faithful to death, even death upon a cross.
Strengthen us so we do not turn aside but follow you through sunlight and shadow alike. For the final victory belongs to you, Lord Jesus.
May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, keep us and strengthen us this night and for ever. Amen.
