8 1 Final Word: Matthew 27:55-61 55Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and who had served him were Good Friday there, watching from a distance. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Tenebrae Service—Service of Seven Words 57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who 58 Emanuel First Evangelical Lutheran Church: Lansing, MI was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then nd Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen April 2 , 2021 cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb. Tenebrae means darkness. This solemn service goes back to the ancient Christian Church’s A single candle is relit. observance of Christ’s suffering and death. It impresses on us sinners the crushing consequences of our sins and the staggering price of Christ’s sacrifice for us. *This final Scripture reading is included to remind us that Jesus certainly did die as our substitute for sin. He was placed in the grave that should have been reserved for us. This is As the readings take us through Christ’s suffering and death, the candles will be extinguished assurance that as he restored life to his lifeless body by the joyous miracle we will celebrate one by one, symbolizing the ebbing life of Christ as He hung on the cross. Near the end of the Sunday, so he will raise our lifeless bodies from our graves on the Last Day and welcome our service, the last extinguished candle will be relit, representing our faith in Christ’s resurrection. risen bodies to eternal life with Him. To maintain a solemn atmosphere, we meditate in silence before the service and leave in silence after the service. Lighting is kept at a minimum to remind us of the darkness which covered the Silent Dismissal land during Jesus’ last three hours on the cross. The congregation may begin to disperse quietly. The offering will not be received during the service. You may place your offering with one of You are welcome to remain in silent reflection as long as you would like. the ushers either before or after the service, or place it in the plates near the exits. As you leave, you may place your thank-offering in one of the plates at each door. Call to Worship

Go in solemn peace tonight; Psalm 22 (select verses) Return in Easter joy Sunday morning! Psalm 22 is the most cited Psalm of the New Testament. It gives us a detailed picture of the Messiah’s suffering and triumph. In the Old Testament, only Isaiah 53 gives as many descriptions th Two Separate Services for Easter Sunday Worship (April 4 ) of our Savior’s suffering. Easter Dawn Service—6:30am M: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Coffee and donuts available between services, as well as an Easter activity for kids C: My groaning does nothing to save me. Easter Day Service—10:30am M: My God, I call out by day, but you do not answer. C: I call out by night, but there is no relief for me. M: I am a worm and not a man, C: scorned by men and despised by the people. M: All who see me mock me. They sneer. Artwork: Paramentics © 2014 Ian M. Welch. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved; © 2019 Northwestern Publishing House, C: They shake their heads. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Used by permission. All rights reserved. M: They say, “Trust in the LORD. Scripture taken from: The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org. Used with permission. C: Let the LORD deliver him. Let him rescue him, if he delights in him.” Liturgical settings from The Common Service, Christian Worship M: Like water I am poured out. All my bones are pulled apart. The music included in this folder is covered under Onelicense.net, license # A-715881. C: My heart has become like wax. It has melted in the middle of my chest. 2 7 M: My strength is dried up like broken pottery, and my tongue is stuck to the roof of my Words of Institution: mouth. M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had C: You lay me in the dust of death. given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my M: I can count all my bones. body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” C: They stare and gloat over me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of M: They divide my garments among them. you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the for- C: For my clothing they cast lots. giveness of sins. Do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” M: But you, O Lord, do not be distant. The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: O my Strength, come quickly to help me. C: Amen. M: You who fear the Lord, praise him! C: All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Stand in awe of him, all you descend- ants of Israel! M: For he has not despised nor detested the affliction of the afflicted. C: He has not hidden his face from him, but when he cried out to him, he heard. M: You are the source of my praise in the great congregation. C: I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who fear him. M: The poor will eat and be satisfied. C: Those who seek him will praise the Lord — may he live in your hearts forever! M: All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, C: and all the families of the nations will bow down before you. M: For the kingdom belongs to the Lord, C: and he rules over the nations. M: All the rich of the earth will eat and bow down. C: All who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. M: Descendants will serve him. C: For generations people will be told about the Lord. M: They will come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet to be born — C: because he has done it.

Psalm Prayer: Father, when your Son hung on the cross, he cried out to you in agony and Distribution: grief. You gave him the strength to endure so that death might be destroyed and life A note about our Communion practice: If you are a communicant member of Emanuel or anoth- restored. Have mercy on us all our days and preserve us in true faith unto life everlast- er WELS congregation, we invite you to share this Sacrament with us. If you are not a member of our church, we ask you to honor our Biblical practice of close communion and refrain from ing; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. coming forward until you have completed doctrinal discussions with one of our pastors. The C: Amen pastors would be eager to speak with you about this if you have any questions. We welcome the opportunity to share with others our faith and our fellowship. (Please read “Attending the Choir Anthem: There Is a Green Hill ELS grades K-3 (1:00pm) Lord’s Supper” for more information. Pamphlets are in the Capitol Ave. entryway.) Soloist: Were You There (6:30pm) 6 3 Prayer: Sermon: Luke 23:32-34 Heavenly Father, you are a just God who accepts nothing less than perfection. All too 32 often we fail to realize how much our sins offend you. We forget that the wages of sin Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed. truly is death. We forget that there actually is a hell. Lead us to recognize the 33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the seriousness of our sinfulness. Lead us also to admit our inability to make things right with you. criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Today we are reminded not only of your justice but also of your love. You did not spare 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” your own Son but gave him as a ransom for each one of us. Comfort us with the knowledge of this great love. Give us the peace that the forgiveness of sins brings. NAIL-PIERCED HANDS When we feel our guilt, point us to the cross, where our guilt was washed away in Jesus’ blood. Prayer: God Most Holy, look with mercy on this your family for whom our Lord Jesus Son of God, you offered up your body as an unblemished sacrifice for sin and Christ was willing to be betrayed, be given over into the hands of the wicked, and suffer commended your spirit into the hands of your Father. Teach us to cast the cares of this death upon the cross. Keep us always faithful to him, our only Savior, who lives and brief life on our heavenly Father and commit our bodies and souls to his love. Give us reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. the courage to face death, knowing that it is the gate to our home in heaven. The cross C: Amen. was once an instrument of death. It is now a sign of life. Choir Anthem: How Deep the Father’s Love ELS grades 4-8 (1:00pm)

The Lord’s Prayer Hymn: 127 Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted (6:30pm) 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; The Seven Words and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. First Word: Luke 23:26-34 For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. 26As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing The Lord’s Supper: for him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, The words below will serve as preparation to receive forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper. Communicants but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Be sure of this: The days are coming may also wish to use the prayers before and after communion printed on page 11 in the front of the hym- nal. when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, M: I ask you before God, who searches the heart, do you confess your sins of thought, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall word and deed; are you sorry for your sins; do you look to our Savior Jesus Christ for on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things to the green wood, what forgiveness, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, do you want to correct your sinful life? will happen to the dry?” Then declare so by saying: Yes. 32Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed. C: Yes. 33 M: Upon this confession, I as a called servant Christ announce to you God’s grace and When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the the forgiveness of sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Spirit. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” C: Amen. They cast lots to divide his garments among them.

1st Candle is extinguished Hymn: 105 v1 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded 4 5 Second Word: Luke 23:38-43 Fifth Word: John 19:28-29 38There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.” 28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be 29 39One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a Christ? Save yourself and us!” sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the 5th Candle is extinguished same condemnation? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for Hymn: 105 v5 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, re- Sixth Word: John 19:30 member me when you come in your kingdom.” 30 43Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.” When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!” Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. 2nd Candle is extinguished Hymn: 105 v2 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded 6th Candle is extinguished Hymn: 105 v6 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Seventh Word: Luke 23:33-46 Third Word: John 19:25-27 33 25Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. were standing near the cross. 34 26 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he 35 said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is They cast lots to divide his garments among them. The people stood watching. The your mother!” And from that time this disciple took her into his own home. rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!” 3rd Candle is extinguished 36The soldiers also made fun of him. Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, Hymn: 105 v3 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded 37saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the Fourth Word: Matthew 27:45-49 same condemnation? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for 45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, re- 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama member me when you come in your kingdom.” sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 43Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.” 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This fellow is calling for 44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the Elijah.” ninth hour, 45while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 48 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he had said this, he breathed his last. 49 he put it on a stick and gave him a drink. The rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if 7th Candle is extinguished. Elijah comes to save him.” Hymn: 105 v7 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

4th Candle is extinguished *A note on the Seventh Word: Luke 23:33-43 was previously read as the Second Word. Verse 46 Hymn: 105 v4 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded provides us with the Seventh Word. The preceding verses are included again to give context as we listen to these final, weighty words of our Savior.