Call to Worship and Commissioning for a series on the Fruits of the Spirit

CALL TO WORSHIP

May the Peace of Christ be with you

And also with you

We gather as branches growing from the vine.

We gather as people who seek to bear spiritual fruit.

L:

God who gives the growth has called us here for renewal, let us worship together.

As followers of the Risen Christ we open our worship by greeting our neighbours with words and signs of Christ`s peace.

COMMISSIONING:

Jesus Christ, the True Vine, reaches out around the world.

As branches grafted to, and growing from, the vine we grow vibrant and bear fruit.

L:

P:

Go with God: the Creator and Parent, the Risen Christ, the Spirit filling our lungs.

Blessed be God who gives us Growth. Hallelujah! Amen.

A Good FRiday Service

WE APPROACH OUR GRACIOUS GOD

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

We have reached the central weekend of our faith

We gather to tell the story and remember.

Today we walk with Jesus on that final walk to a cross on a hill.

God challenges us to see the horror of the story and remember.

God is here

and so we worship and remember.

LIGHTING THE CANDLES

As the darkness deepens, as the story gives us chills, we light candles to bring light and heat to a world that is too often dark and cold.

May their light remind us of the hope that lies beyond the shadow

Opening PRAYER

God, today our hearts are challenged.

Today we remember the capacity of humanity to work against your hopes for the world.

God we know that the world is a place where sinfulness and power can work against love and life.

God we know that we are a part of that equation, and not always on the best side

Today as we pause to remember the story,

open our eyes to see the crosses in our world today, awaken in us a burning desire to turn from sinfulness and live as people of love.

And when we go from this place to wait and watch and reflect,

keep the spark of hope and love alive in our souls, keep us aware that the powers of the world will not have the final say.

God of love and life,

make us people of love and life, even in the face of the cross. Amen.

Gathering Hymn

WE HEAR AND REFLECT ON THE STORY

7 Words From the Cross

Word #1 Luke 23:33-35

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #2 Luke 23:39-43

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #3 John 19:25-27

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Hymn

Word #4 Mark 15:33-35

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #5 John 19:28-29

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Word #6 John 19:30-34

Reflection

Prayer

A Candle is Extinguished

Ministry of Music 

Word #7 Luke 23:44-46

Reflection

Prayer

THE CHRIST CANDLE IS PUT OUT

The deed is done, it is completed, the mourning has come.

And so we blow out the last candle, hoping against hope that it will once again burst into flame.

WE GO OUT TO MOURN AND WAIT

Hymn

The Story Concludes

Luke 23:50-56

COMMISSIONING:

The Shadow has fallen, the powers and principalities have won the day

Can this really be the end?

We go out with heavy hearts, the Messiah of God has been laid in a stone cold tomb.

This can’t really be the end. Can it?

In the darkness of mourning we wait and we watch.

Trusting and hoping that Dawn will come again.

Go with God.