Good Friday 2018

CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING PRAYER

The Word who was there in the beginning has called us together.

To sing, to pray, to tell the old story.

God of life and hope, move among us today,

as we tell the old story, as we remember the uncomfortable parts.

God of promise, God of the Kingdom, on this day we call Good,

remind us that even as the world falls apart you are still there

show us that you are present in trial and condemnation and execution

hold in our hearts the possibility of hope that lies beyond despair.

God of light shining through the shadows,

hold us in your love as we tell again of a cross on a hill.

This we pray in the name of the man from Nazareth, the one who lived with a great Passion for your Way, the one whose death is nigh, the one who taught his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

we admit that sometimes we join in the crowds that seek our best interests over the communal good. Have mercy on us as we work toward the goals of the kingdom.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

we admit that we are tempted to choose the path of personal safety over being faithful to The Way.

Have mercy on us as we sort out what it is that we need.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,

we admit that we wander away from you and then wonder why we feel abandoned.

Grant us the peace that comes with knowing that we are not alone.

Light of the world, shining through the shadows, for those time we have helped to create the shadows,

forgive us. Through Grace break into the darkness with the light of hope and promise; the beacon that leads us back into relationship

..time of silence...

Even in the face of betrayal and rebellion, even in the face of death and denial, even in the face of fear and despair, God's Grace knows no bounds. We ARE forgiven, we ARE called back into relationship, we ARE set back on the path that leads to the Realm of God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

SENDING OUT:

We have gathered, we have told he story again.

We have watched the Lamb of God hanging on a tree, we have seen him laid into the tomb.

Now we wait. Now we put our worship into vigil and wait to see it the light will overcome the darkness,

As we wait we trust in the God who loves the world so much to send a Son to save it.

As we wait we trust in the promise of life everlasting.

As we wait we promise to return to this place to see what might happen next.

While we wait, while our worship continues, while we sit in the darkness of vigil,

we remember that we are not alone,

God waits and watches with us. God will not leave us abandoned.

Thanks be to God. Amen