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Holy Thursday Good Friday Good Friday is unique in many ways; for one, it is the only day of the year on which the principal liturgy is preferably celebrated in the afternoon, at the hour of Christ's death. The Good Friday Liturgy of the Cross consists of the Liturgy of the Word and a Meditation on Christ on the Cross. This liturgy is not a funeral service but rather a celebration of the King who triumphs over death and reigns from the cross. The liturgy is celebrated in its simplest and most ancient form. It is marked by the reading of the Passion according to St. John, in the same manner and with the same dignity as the reading of the Passions according to Matthew, Mark and Luke on the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday). On Good Friday, the longer reading from John is preferred. The Bidding Prayer, the form of prayer from the ancient liturgy of the church in Rome, is used. On the day when Christ died for the salvation of the world, we fittingly pray systematically for all people everywhere. The visual focal point of the Meditation on Christ on the Cross is the cross itself. A traditional liturgical form, the Reproaches, has long been associated with this devotion. The text represents Christ reproaching His people for their unbelieving conduct which has caused His death. Liturgical use of the Reproaches is intended to lead contemporary Christians to hear the words addressed to their own unbelief. The church should appear as it did after the Stripping of the Altar on Maundy Thursday. The candles and other ornaments of the altar and chancel are gone. Candles honoring the cross used in the Meditation may stand on either side of the cross. Paraments should preferably not be used, but if they are, Holy Week scarlet is preferred to black. Organ and instrumental music should be used with great restraint; it may be limited to accompanying the singing. The service is conducted at reading desks; the altar is not used at this service. After the service the cross is left in the chancel. In some places the Tre Ore service, based on the Seven Last Words of Christ, has been observed during the hours from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Interest in this service is lessening for several reasons, not least of which is that many people are no longer released from work for those three hours. When the Liturgy of the Cross is celebrated in the afternoon at the preferred time, a question remains concerning an appropriate service for the nighttime, when the larger portion of the congregation is likely to gather. The Liturgy of the Cross could be repeated in the evening. What many will look for is a time of prayer and reflection on the cross as the means of our salvation. Tenebrae is the monastic office for the night and early morning (classic Matins and Lauds) for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. For this office, a triangular candelabra with 15 unbleached candles was placed in the chancel. As each of the psalms and canticles was sung, one candle was extinguished until only one lighted candle remained, representative of Christ. At the end of the service this candle was removed from the candlestand, taken to a place where it could not be seen, and then returned to signify the death and restoration to life of the Lord. In medieval times these offices came to be "anticipated," that is, celebrated the night before the morning for which they were appointed. Matins is celebrated with three Nocturns, each of which has three psalms, three lessons and three responsories. Lauds has four psalms, two canticles and yet another psalm. Distinctive materials were appointed for each of the three offices of Tenebrae. A distinguished repertoire of music has grown up based on these offices, particularly some striking settings of the readings from the Book of Lamentations. Today the three offices are rarely celebrated on successive days. The reform of Holy Week excludes anticipation of Maundy Thursday on the previous night. Furthermore, congregations expect a Good Friday night service to emphasize the crucifixion rather than the entombment. Yet this rich body of psalmody, Scripture and responsories cries for use. 2 In the Name of Jesus Good Friday April 10, 2020 A.D. Chief Service and Office of the Tenabrae Service of the Word All enter the church in silence. Stand Reproaches P C P C P C 3 P Reproach- I 4 P Reproach 5 Reproach 6 Collect of the Day P Let us pray. Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. Be Seated Old Testament Reading - Isaiah 52:13—53:12 A The Old Testament Reading for Good Friday is from Isaiah, chapters 52 and 53. Isaiah 52:13—53:12 13Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14As many were astonished at you— 7 his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. 1Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; 8 and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death 9 and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Reading response A This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Silence Epistle - Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9 A The Epistle is from Hebrews, chapters four and five. Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9 14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Reading response A This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Silence 10 Hymn- Sing My Tongue, the Glorious Battle LSB 454 Sermon 11 The Service of Darkness The congregation remains seated for the readings unless otherwise noted. I. The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ Holy Gospel - John 18:1–11 John 18:1–11 1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
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