Good Friday - Online Worship - April 2, 2021

Friends, tonight, return to The Lord your God with all your heart, to commend your spirits into Thy hands, as we remember and boldly believe in Jesus’ death, we are alive and saved anew for God saves us this day in the grace alone of Jesus Christ, so let us worship, perhaps like we have never worshiped or bowed or surrendered before, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

vs. 1
Guide my feet,
While I run this race.
Guide my feet,
While I run this race.
Guide my feet,
While I run this race,
For I don’t want to
Run this race in vain.

All who pass this way, look and see, the shadow of sin.
All who pass this way, look and see, the weight of the world.
All who pass this way, look and see, the suffering of our Savior.
All who pass this way, look and see, the sorrow of Jesus Christ.
All who pass this way, look and see:
Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

vs. 5
Search my heart,
While I run this race.
Search my heart,
While I run this race.
Search my heart,
While I run this race,
For I don’t want to
Run this race in vain.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, the cross is at the center of our worship, at the center of our lives. Guide our feet, hold our hand, search our heart every day, as we worship you tonight, as we run this race. We remember on this holy night, far be it from us to glory, except in the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. By your Holy Spirit, we will take up our cross and follow you, making you and our neighbors first in our lives once again. Keep our hearts on you at this hour, through these days, for all eternity. Through your passion and saving grace alone, tonight remind us we are forgiven through Jesus Christ, that we might commend into Thy hands our spirits, trusting we are alive and anew in the life and hope, given in salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Now at the festival, the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

vs. 1
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?

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Jesus. When 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. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

vs. 1
How beautiful
The hands that served
The wine and the bread 
And the sons of the earth.
How beautiful
The feet that walked
The long, dusty roads 
And the hill to the cross.

refrain:
How beautiful,
How beautiful,
How beautiful
Is the body of Christ.

the first candle is extinguished

And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And 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!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

vs. 1
On a hill far away
Wtood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, 
‘Til my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, 
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Jesus, remember me,
When you come into your Kingdom.
Jesus, remember me,
When you come into your Kingdom.

the second candle is extinguished

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her into his own home.

vs. 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?

the third candle is extinguished

From noon on, darkness came over the land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

vs. 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?

the fourth candle is extinguished

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scriptures), “I thirst.”

vs. 1
When peace, like a river,
Attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

refrain:
It is well
With my soul,
It is well,
It is well,
With my soul.

the fifth candle is extinguished

A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

vs. 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?

the sixth candle is extinguished

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Thy hands, I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

the seventh candle is extinguished

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; And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Behold, the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the whole world.

Oh, come, let us worship. Oh, come, let us adore him.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Though darkness surrounds us, you are the light and hope of all the world! Amen.

Stay here and keep watch with me.
The hour has come.
Stay here and keep watch with me.
Watch and pray.

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

Liking posts like this one helps get the word out about Lord of Life! Consider sharing posts like this with friends who may be missing their faith-based communities. Leave a comment and let us know what you liked or what moved you this week!

Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Join us this Sunday, April 4, 9:30 a.m., as we celebrate Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of Our Lord, “Alive And Anew, In Living Grace!” Worship to include a Children’s Message and a Sermon from Pastor Jamie! Worship to be 30 minutes, and to conclude with Holy Communion! Join us in person or via our live stream efforts on our Facebook page, under “videos.”

Easter Sunday, Sunday, April 4, 9:30 a.m.:

In-person worship and Lord of Life LIVE on our facebook page

Bulletins for Holy Week services available via daily devotions and on our Facebook page. You can also access the bulletins and our Facebook page on our website (lordoflifemn.org).

As we share worship in this new way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

For those who are not able to join us for worship on Sundays, you are invited to receive communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.

In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!

From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love, and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia. Used with permission. All texts this evening are from the Revised Standard Version, and New Revised Standard Version. “Guide My Feet” Words and Music Public Domain, this arr. © 1999 Augsburg Fortress “Were You There” © Words and Music Public Domain, arr. by F.J. Work, CCLI #29516 “How Beautiful” © 1990 Ariose Music CCLI #443594 “On a Hill Far Away, The Old Rugged Cross” Words and Music Public Domain “Jesus, Remember Me” © 1981 Les Presses de Taizé, OL# 00122 “What Wondrous Love Is This” Words and Music Public Domain “When Peace, Like a River (It Is Well with My Soul)” Words and Music Public Domain “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” © 1995 Thankyou Music CCLI Song #1558110 “Stay Here and Keep Watch” © 1984 Les Presses de Taizé, OL# 00152. All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.