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Service Recording: April 10, 2020
Fellowship Time
After the service, we will have Fellowship Time in a Zoom video conference. Details for joining will be shared via email and at the end of the live stream.
The Building is Closed and the Church is Open
While we have restricted access to the building, Peace Church is very much open to ministry—working to respond to our own congregation, as well as the needs of our neighbors and community. Please consider giving either to Peace Church general fund or the Gabriel Fund – which is used to meet the needs in the community.
We recognize that in this time, people’s financial situations may have changed. We ask you to prayerfully consider what you can give. If you use electronic giving, we thank you for your constancy of support. If you would like to give through our online form, we would be grateful. For all the contributions from our members and friends—whether financial, time, or prayer—we ask God’s blessings on those gifts that Peace Church may be healing balm in this time when we are living in our own Gilead.
April 10, 2020 ~ 7:00 pm
Good Friday
Tenebrae: Service of Shadows
April 10, 2020 ~ 7:00pm
Peace United Church of Christ
Pilgrim Congregational UCC
Glen Avon Presbyterian Church
Prelude Patrick Colvin
Responsive Call to Worship Rev. Kathryn Nelson
What shall we do with you, Jesus?
Glad songs sung at your birth will turn to jeers, taunts, and worse, hurled at you from every side.
What shall we do with you, Jesus?
We will promise to stay, but run away; we will sleep through the anguish of your heart.
What shall we do with you, Jesus?
You, the One who gave living waters to an outsider at a well, the One who was baptized in the Jordan, the One who will thirst upon a tree.
What shall we do with you, Jesus?
Before this week runs its course, the disciples, including us, will fail you in force, but even then you forgive us. Help us to rise up and walk the journey of faithfulness wherever it may lead.
Opening Hymn “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”
First Hymn
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
Jesus walked this lonesome valley.
He had to walk it by Himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for Him,
He had to walk it by Himself.
We must walk this lonesome valley,
We have to walk it by ourselves;
O, nobody else can walk it for us,
We have to walk it by ourselves.
You must go and stand your trial,
You have to stand it by yourself,
O, nobody else can stand it for you,
You have to stand it by yourself.
The Arrest, Trial, and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
First of the Shadows
John 18:1-12 reader: John Pokrzywinski
Extinguishing of the First Candle
Hymn “Journey to Gethsemane” (#219, 1 vs.)
Journey to Gethsemane,
go and feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see,
watch the anguish of this hour;
Do not hide or turn away:
learn from Jesus how to pray.
Second of the Shadows
John 18:13-27
Extinguishing of the Second Candle
Unison Prayer of Reconciliation for Good Friday
Ever-present God, on this Good Friday night, our whole world is engulfed in shadows as we remember the story of Jesus’ death. It hurts to think of the betrayal and arrest. It hurts to imagine Jesus abandoned and suffering on the cross with only a faithful few watching him breathe his last breath. It hurts to watch your light overtaken by the shadows of the world. But we must find our place in this crucifixion story and feel the pain that is there: the pain of the world, of faithless decisions, of betrayal, of injustice. Forgive us for our part in it.
Jesus entered that pain out of faithfulness to you, O God, to witness the Truth that is Justice and Love. Strengthen us with your courage that we might follow his way; offer us glimpses of hope in the shadows of death and let us know you are present with us now as always.
Hymn “Ah, Holy Jesus” (#218, 1 vs)
Journey to Gethsemane
Journey to Gethsemane,
go and feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see,
watch the anguish of this hour;
Do not hide or turn away:
learn from Jesus how to pray.
Assurance of Blessing Rev. Robyn Weaver
Third of the Shadows
John 18:28-19:16a
Extinguishing of the Third Candle
Fourth of the Shadows
John 19:16b-27
Extinguishing of the Fourth Candle
Unison Prayer
Ever Present God, we are amazed that Jesus, nearing his death, reached out to comfort and empower those dearest to him. At the foot of his cross, he called his mother and his beloved disciples into a new community.
Give us the grace and courage to join them there, welcoming all who struggle and grieve into this new covenant of love and grace.
For whom shall we pray, in our world, our community, our family, under the shadow of the cross?
(Prayer Concerns from the people – sent to prayers@peaceucc.org
Sharing Our Offerings for the Work of Chum
Song
Fifth of the Shadows
John 19:28-37
Extinguishing of the Fifth Candle
Sixth of the Shadows
John 19:38-42
Extinguishing of the Sixth Candle
Anthem “Were You There?”
Were you there?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
3 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
4 Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?