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Good Friday -
1. The Sound of the Cock Crowing -
John 18: 15 -
Symbolic action ( Name will play the sound of the cock crowing) “
First Meditation “
Leader: Peter, impulsive, likeable, forthright, strong. “
He wants to be there for Jesus, wants to support his Lord,
Yet when the test comes, he denies the one he loves.
All: Lord, forgive us when we too deny you!
2. The Sound of Water being Poured -
Matthew 27: 15 -
Symbolic action (Name will come forward and pour water into the basin) “
Second Meditation “
Leader: Pilate, legend has it that he spent the rest of his life “
washing his hands, trying to rid himself of this terrible stain.
All: Lord, help us to know that the one thing we cannot do is wash
our hands of you.
Song From heaven you came, helpless babe (OHP)
3. The Sound of the Silver Coins -
Matthew 27: 1 -
Symbolic action “
Third Meditation “
Leader: Judas, was he wanting to trigger revolution by betraying “
Jesus? Or was he merely after money? We sense his remorse.
All: Lord, save us from betraying you in word or deed.
4. The Sound of the Hammer and Nails -
John 19: 14 -
Symbolic action (Name will hammer in the nails and then bring the cross forward) “
Fourth Meditation “
Leader: Was this just another crucifixion, one of many. “
Or, did the soldiers, like the centurion who stood by the cross see
God present in the one they crucified?
All: Lord, help us to discover your presence, the depth of your
passionate love and forgiveness, here at the cross.
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The Sounds of Easter -
4. The Nails and the Cross
These sounds, loud urgent powerful, were not the hammering of nails into a piece of wood. This was into flesh, this was shocking. We flinch at the thought of it. Being nailed to a rough timber cross. So much pain being inflicted on a human being -
Let us hear that!
But Jesus also felt another kind of pain. Not just the physical pain. He felt the pain of rejection. The chief priests rejected him. They encouraged others to reject him in the crowd. The crowd cried out: "Away with him, away with him, crucify him". For a person who cared so much for others, he pain of rejection must have been every bit as great as the physical pain.
Let us hear that!
Jesus hand and feet were not the only items nailed to the cross. Pilate in his wisdom decreed that a sign should be nailed there as well. The sign said "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews" This caused the chief priests to object strongly. They didn't want Jesus to be recognised by anyone as King, let alone king of the Jews. Pilate for once was not going to give way. He insisted that these be the words. "What I have written I have written". Those words stayed nailed to the cross.
Let us hear that!
Today, we who name the name of Christ, who honour him as King, join with disciples who down through the ages have stood at the foot of the cross We have heard the sounds of the nails. We have read the sign: Jesus of Nazereth the King of the Jews. We have discovered here -
Have we heard?
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Good Friday
April 2nd, 2010
Service at Wesley Papatoetoe, Auckland
Service -
Welcome
Call to worship
Hymn O sacred head, sore wounded (Three verses)
Prayer
Introduction
The Sound of the Cock Crowing
John 18: 15 -
Symbolic action The Cock crows...
First Meditation
Leader: Peter, impulsive, likeable, forthright, strong.
He wants to be there for Jesus, wants to support his Lord,
Yet when the test comes, he denies the one he loves.
All: Lord, forgive us when we too deny you!
The Sound of Water being Poured
Matthew 27: 15 -
Symbolic action The Water is poured...
Second Meditation
Leader: Pilate, legend has it that he spent the rest of his life washing his hands, trying to rid himself of this terrible stain.
All: Lord, help us to know that the one thing we cannot do is wash our hands of you.
Hymn From heaven you came, helpless babe (OHP)
The Sound of the Silver Coins
Matthew 27: 1 -
Symbolic action The Coins are thrown...
Third Meditation
Leader: Judas, was he wanting to trigger revolution by betraying Jesus? Or was he merely after money?
We sense his remorse.
All: Lord, save us from betraying you in word or deed.
The Sound of the Hammer and Nails
John 19: 14 -
Symbolic action The Nail is hammered
Fourth Meditation
Leader: Soldiers: was this just another crucifixion, one of many.
Or, did the soldiers, like the centurion who stood by the cross see
God present in the one they crucified?
All: Lord, help us to discover your presence, the depth of your passionate love and forgiveness, here at the cross.
Hymn
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.
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 an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts (1674—1748)
The Sounds from the Cross (please remain standing)
Leader: Jesus spoke great words of forgiveness from the cross, he said:
All: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Leader: Jesus spoke great words of comfort from the cross, to his mother and to his disciple John, he said:
All: Woman here is your son, (John) here is your mother.
Leader: Jesus spoke great words of hope to the penitent thief who was crucified with him, to the thief he said:
All: Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
Leader: Jesus cried out in extreme anguish to God from the cross, he said:
All: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Leader: Jesus offered himself, his all to God on the cross, he said:
All: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Leader: Jesus' final words were:
All: It is finished. (sit)
Silence
Organ Interlude
Prayer
Hymn 0 love divine, what have you done?
The immortal God has died for me.
The Father’s co-
Bore all my sins upon tree.
The immortal God for me has died,
My Lord, my Love is crucified.
Is crucified for me and you,
To bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
We all are bought with Jesu's blood
Pardon for all flows from his side,
My Lord, my Love is crucified.
Then let us stand beneath the cross,
And feel his love a healing stream.
All things for him account but loss,
And give up all our hearts to him;
Of nothing think or speak beside;
My Lord, my Love is crucified.
Charles Wesley
Tune: St Chrysostom
Benediction