Service for Good Friday, April 10th, 2020
Artwork by Mike Van
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Psalm 22
Second Lesson: Hebrews 10:16-25
The Gospel: John 19:1-37
Sermon
Click here to watch Fr. Dorsch’s prerecorded sermon for Good Friday.
The Veneration of the Cross
It is desirable to place a cross before you as a focal point for meditation. It may be a simple wooden cross, or a crucifix, or even a cross pendant that you might wear. Another possibility is to find an image of a cross on the internet that speaks to you.
Take time to absorb the reality of the cross. You may want to touch it, or even kiss it. What do you want to bring to the cross? What will you receive from the cross? To help focus your prayers you might want to say aloud one or more of the following anthems:
Anthem 1
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of your cross
joy has come to the whole world.
May God be merciful to us and bless us,
show us the light of his countenance, and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;
for by virtue of your cross
joy has come to the whole world.
Anthem 2
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
if we endure, we shall also reign with him.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Anthem 3
O Savior of the world,
who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us:
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
The Solemn Collects
The Solemn Collects are an ancient set of bidding prayers that address a multitude of concerns. If you choose to pray them take you time, pausing for silence and reflection in between each set of petitions and the concluding collect.
Dear People of God: Our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved; that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death, and become heirs with him of everlasting life.
We pray, therefore, for people everywhere according to their needs.
Click here to continue with the Solemn Collects, or if you would prefer something more succinct, there is a brief alternative bidding prayer below. If you choose this option, feel free to add your own specific prayers after each petition.
An Alternative Bidding Prayer
We pray for the church throughout the world . . .
We pray for our Bishop, Michael, our priest, Kenneth, our deacon, Lauri, and all the servants of the church . . .
We pray for those preparing for baptism . . .
We pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God . . .
We pray for those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ . . .
We pray for those who do not believe in God . . .
We pray for God’s creation . . .
We pray for those who serve in public office . . .
We pray for those in any need . . .
and we pray for all afflicted by the coronavirus . . .
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Concluding Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.