First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Transcription

1 First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Rev. John G. Hughes, II, Senior Pastor Donald R. Dunn, Director of Music-Organist Priscilla Duda, Christian Ministry Coordinator Emelia Attridge, Youth Director Church office: ext. 1 office.fpchurch@verizon.net

2 GOOD FRIDAY ECUMENICAL SERVICE April 3, Noon ORGAN PRELUDE: My heart is filled with longing Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: We have gathered in the presence of God our creator, who sets before us the ways of life and death. People: We have gathered in the presence of Jesus the Christ, who calls us to accept the cost of discipleship that we may know its joy. Leader: We have gathered in the presence of the Spirit, who sustains us in trial and rejoicing. All: In our living and in our dying, we belong to God. In the shadow of God's wings, we sing for joy. Let us worship God. *HYMN: What Wondrous Love Is This? NCH #223 *INVOCATION: Leader: Jesus says: If you would come after me, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. All: We gather to worship, O God, under the shadow of the cross, sign of human shame and divine wisdom. Like Jesus, we would follow faithfully in your way; like Jesus, we would live to you and die to you. We are your people; we belong to you. We offer you our worship and our lives. May your name be glorified in your church as we are open to your presence today; through Jesus the Christ. Amen. SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 22:1-24 Dorothy Jodice

3 YOUTH CHORUS: Pride (In the Name of Love) Words: Bono & The Edge, Music: U2 CALL TO CONFESSION Rev Stephen Scarff In every time, prophets and apostles have come to call the people of God to repentance and newness of life. We too are called to admit our sin and to commit ourselves anew to follow in God's way. Let us pray. PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) We confess, gracious God, that we are not worthy of your love for us. You lead us out of the land of slavery; yet when the journey is hard, we long to return to the comfort of our chains. You speak to us through your prophets, telling us how our rebellion hurts and angers you; yet we harden our hearts and close our ears. You come to us in Jesus, revealing your love for all people and suffering pain for us; still we do not turn in love and obedience to you. We do that which we ought not to do, and we leave undone those thing we ought to do. There is no health in us. Sinful and rebellious as we are, we cannot trust in ourselves and the things that we do; we can trust only in your grace. Speak the word, O God, and we shall be made free. Forgive us, receive us, and give us courage to serve you with renewed hearts and wills; through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON: The Rev. John G. Hughes Do not fear. I say to you in the name of Jesus Christ: your sins are forgiven. Your faith has made you free. Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation; the old had passed away. Behold, the new has come. Thanks be to God! *HYMN: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded PH #170

4 SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Rev Stephanie Bradbury ANTHEM: Were You There? Text: African-American Spiritual Music: Raymond H. Haan (b.1938) Meredith Browne, violoncello Melissa Glaister, soprano Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when he bowed his head and died? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. Were you there when he rose up from the tomb? Were you there when he rose up from the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. SCRIPTURE READING: John 19:28-37 Rev. John G. Hughes GENERAL PRAYER Let us pray Connor Senay, Abigail Powers Because you have come to us in Jesus Christ, enduring the cross so that we might know eternal life, it is right that we should give thanks and praise. Faithful God, we praise you that you love us and that you have come to us in Jesus to reconcile the world to yourself. We thank you that Jesus walked the path of obedience all the way to the cross and that you raised Jesus up to draw us to yourself. Jesus handed himself over to death, knowing that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it will not bear fruit. Lord, accept our grateful praise Teach us, like Jesus to hand ourselves over in love for you, for one another, and for all people. As we who have been baptized into Jesus Christ enter into the life of the world, may we die with Christ that we

5 may also rise with Christ. May we take part in your work of suffering and redeeming love, lifting up the oppressed, binding the brokenhearted, challenging the powerful, drawing all into a community of love. Lord, for this we pray. We lift up our prayers for this world still so full of suffering, still so shadowed by crosses, knowing you have loved your creation from the beginning. We join our hearts with yours in love for the world, and we offer ourselves to you; through Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Lord, hear our prayers PRESENTATION OF THE CROSS ( When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ) MEDITATION FROM THE LAST SEVEN WORDS READING: Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 MEDITATION: Rev. David Miles YOUTH CHORUS: Jesus Wept William Billings (1770) READING: Woman, behold thy son: Son, Behold thy mother. John 19:25 MEDITATION: Rev. Donna Spencer Collins READING: My God, my God, why has thou forsaken Me? Matthew 27:46 MEDITATION: Dorothy Jodice READING: I thirst. John 19:28 MEDITATION: Rev. Stephen Scarff

6 READING: It is finished" John 19:30 MEDITATION: Rev. Stephanie Chase Bradbury READING: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit Luke 23:46 MEDITATION: Rev. John G. Hughes ANTHEM: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Words by Isaac Watts ( ) Based on the tune Hamburg by Lowell Mason ( ) Arranged by Gilbert M. Martin (b.1941) 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 ORGAN POSTLUDE: DEPART IN PEACE (silence) 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? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all! Amen! When in the Hour of Utmost Need Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) * * * * *

7 On behalf of the Diaconate and the First Parish Church, Congregational, it is a pleasure to welcome members of other congregations on the North Shore this day. Continuing a tradition initiated many years ago, we join to recall and reflect on the Passion of our Lord. Know that we of First Parish Church, Congregational hope that this will be a day filled with meaning and purpose for all participating. The Participating Clergy The Reverend David Miles, Interim Pastor First Baptist Church, Manchester-by-the-Sea The Reverend Donna Spencer Collins, Pastor Phoenix Rising, U.C.C. Haverhill Dorothy Jodice, Lector, Eucharist Minister Sacred Heart and St. John s Churches, Manchester, Essex The Reverend Stephen Scarff, Curate St. John s Episcopal Church, Beverly Farms The Reverend Stephanie Chase Bradbury, Priest-in-Charge St. John s Episcopal Church, Beverly Farms The Reverend John G. Hughes, Pastor First Parish Church, Congregational, Manchester-by-the-Sea Director of Music - Organist Mr. Donald R. Dunn First Parish Church, Congregational, Manchester-by-the-Sea

8 Soprano Melissa Glaister Violoncello Meredith Browne Liturgists Abigail Powers Connor Senay Cross Bearers Megan Peterson Sam Peterson Colton Tosi Youth Chorus Andrea Samuelson Chapel Allard Joshua Ward Santana Tosi Directors of Youth Chorus Rev. Ross Varney Belleville Congregational Church, Newburyport Rev. Donna Spencer Collins Phoenix Rising, U.C.C. Haverhill