TENEBRAE SERVICE (SERVICE OF DARKNESS) Every Sunday in worship the church celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gathers us to receive again the gifts of God that come to us through Christ, the saving Word. On several key days at the center of the church year, however, worship takes a particular shape. These central days have come to be known as the Three Days, recalling Jesus' own words to his disciples that he would be handed over to death, and that "after three days he will rise again" (Mark 10:34). The Three Days encompass the time from Maundy Thursday evening through the evening of Easter Day. In particular, the services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter unfold in a single movement, as the church each year makes the passage with Christ through death into life. INTRODUCTION Life and death stand side by side as we enter into Good Friday. In John's passion account, Jesus reveals the power and glory of God, even as he is put on trial and sentenced to death. Standing with the witness’ throughout, we pray for the whole world as we tell this story using ancient ways – first person narrative. Christ's death offers life to all. We gather in solemn devotion, but always with the promise that the dead tree around which we assemble is indeed a tree of life. We depart silently, and we anticipate the culmination of Easter Sunday morning. John 18:1—19:42 FRIDAY - APRIL 10, 2020 THE MINISTRY TEAM FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP PRESIDING MINISTER .................................................................................................. Pastor Bob MUSIC MINISTER ............................................................................................ Stephanie Gewirtz SONG LEADERS .................................................... Debby Hoyt, Jen Love Hall, Jen Joy Yocum Reading for the part of Judas is Henry Reinewald Reading for the part of Peter is Tom Cornell Reading for the part of Pilate is Gretta Delaney Reading for the part of Mary, the wife of Cleopas is Daun Ketcheson Reading for the part of Mary the mother of Jesus is Kathy Farnum Reading for the part of Nicodemus is Michael Steibel Reading for the part of Mary Magdalene is Noreen Boes PRELUDE: “He Never Said a Mumblin' Word”, arr. Paul Taylor OPENING WORDS / CALL TO WORSHIP (Noreen) Today God makes common cause with our human suffering. We read the Scriptures, sing the hymns, feel the feelings of the day Christ died. Suffering is not rational. It has no answer. But in the cross God meets us in our suffering. From this day forward we know that there is nowhere we can go where God is not with us. God, into your hands we commend our spirits. PRAYER OF INVOCATION (Michael) Holy One, since the days our mothers bore us you have been our God. By your Holy Spirit, draw close to us through this your Word. Amen PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS (Kathy) The promise of our faith is that if we call on the name of the Lord, our God will remember our sin no more. Therefore, let us confess our wrongdoing. Christ, at times we act as if we do not know you, at times we say of you, “Away with him!” When we think of those times we weep and ask you to forgive us. Amen. 2 [A time of silent confession follows.] Take heart, for we have one who intercedes on our behalf, Jesus Christ, the son of God, who understands our human experience and sympathizes with our weakness. He deals gently with the ignorant and the wayward and is the source of our eternal salvation. PRAYER OF THE DAY (Daun) Gracious God, on this day you stand in solidarity with us, for our pain is your pain. We believe—help our unbelief— that you forgive us, for we know not what we do. Amen. GATHERING HYMN: “THE OLD RUGGED CROSS” VS. 1 & 4, HYMN # 328 / PAGE #13 Judas reads “Jesus Betrayed and Arrested” from John 18:1-14 1[Jesus] went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" 5They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." 9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. 11Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" 12So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. 13First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. 3 Judas Speaks (disheveled and agitated) I can still see it, burned into my mind's eye like I am still there--- still standing in that moment looking at him as he prayed in the garden. I couldn't have walked away, the lantern light and jangling weapons had already given us away. Right? That's how it was? Then he was walking toward us...and I knew...I knew...oh God. Have mercy. I'm sorry. I'm not usually like this. I'm supposed to be the steady one, the one in charge of our common purse. I'm supposed to be the one set in my beliefs. (forced laughter) You know, I always thought I was the only one of them who really understood who the Messiah was. When I first met him, I was moved by his teachings. These teachings for me, as for you, touched somewhere deep inside me. Somewhere hurting. Living in the shadow of a violent and repressive government as my people have for so long, his words of freedom and wholeness and love opened up a new world for us. I am not by nature a passionate, outgoing person like Peter and James and John are, but I was able to offer what small gifts I had to this Messiah and his movement. But I guess I began to think too much of my gifts. I began to be so controlling. No Mary, don't you touch him with your hair and perfume. No James and John, do not get him a donkey to ride into the city. No Messiah...Messiah...do not wash anyone's feet. I went to the High Priests. Maybe if I worked with them, I could force the Messiah's hand. Make him act like the great king I thought he should be. That's what I told myself, at least. So I sold him out. (bitterly) Sold him out for thirty pieces of silver. (throw a bag of coins on the floor) Let me tell you, I wish I could go back to that moment. I wish I could go back, knock the lanterns out of the hands of the soldiers as we approached, helped him escape under the cover of darkness. But I can't. And now all I can see is his face as he turned toward me and saw me leading that band of soldiers... (whispers) Christ have mercy. Judas extinguishes the first candle. REFLECTING VERSE: “AH, HOLY JESUS” (VS. 1), HYMN # 193 / PAGE #14 Peter reads from John 18:15-27 as Peter denies Jesus 15Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18Now the slaves and the 4 police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. 19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." 22When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.