HOLY SATURDAY April 20, 2019 at St. John’s Episcopal Church After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a nearby tomb, and his body remained there all of Saturday. The disciples had scattered after Jesus’ arrest, and they spent that day hiding for fear of also being arrested. It would have been a time of grief and shock, and fright. After sundown on Friday the chief priests and Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. They asked Pilate for a guard for Jesus’ tomb. They remembered Jesus saying that He would rise again in three days and wanted to do everything they could to prevent that. This, we know, was ineffective. But on Holy Saturday, we dwell with the disciples in the deep darkness before the fire is kindled. Collect The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Word Job 14:1-14 At the end The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; * deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Incline your ear to me; * make haste to deliver me. 3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; * for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. 4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, * for you are my tower of strength. 15 My times are in your hand; * rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me."

1 Peter 4:1-8 At the end The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Matthew 27:57-66, At the end The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Anthem In the midst of life we are in death; from whom can we seek help? From you alone, O Lord, who by our sins are justly angered. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death. Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts; shut not your ears to our prayers, but spare us, O Lord. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death. O worthy and eternal Judge, do not let the pains of death turn us away from you at our last hour. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and merciful Savior, deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. A Litany of Healing Let us name before God those for whom we offer our prayers. The People audibly name those for whom they are interceding. God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are sick, injured, or disabled, that they may be made whole; Hear us, O Lord of life. Grant to all who seek your guidance, and to all who are lonely, anxious, or despondent, a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence; Hear us, O Lord of life. Mend broken relationships, and restore those in emotional distress to soundness of mind and serenity of spirit; Hear us, O Lord of life. Bless physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the suffering, granting them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience; Hear us, O Lord of life. Grant to the dying peace and a holy death, and uphold by the grace and consolation of your Holy Spirit those who are bereaved; Hear us, O Lord of life. Restore to wholeness whatever is broken by human sin, in our lives, in our nation, and in the world; Hear us, O Lord of life. You are the Lord who does wonders: You have declared your power among the peoples. With you, O Lord, is the well of life: And in your light we see light. Hear us, O Lord of life. Heal us, and make us whole.

Confession of Need Let us confess our need for God’s healing grace. Silence Compassionate God, we confess our weaknesses and our need for your strengthening touch. We confess that some illnesses stem from our own fault, while others are beyond our control. We turn to you, source of life, and ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ for the gifts of true healing and life in you. Amen.

May the God of love visit you in your times of trial and weakness, and raise you to newness of life, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sending The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

We depart.