April 2, 2021 Good Friday Music for Lent and Tenebrae Service 6:30 p.m. AN EXPLANATION OF THE GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE This is a service of “tenebrae,” which means “darkness.” The service includes Scripture, music, prayers and a meditation, followed by seven selected readings from the Gospels marking Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. At the conclusion of each reading a candle will be extinguished and the lights dimmed until the Sanctuary is immersed in darkness. PRELUDE OF LENTEN MUSIC “O Sacred Head” arr. Rich Heffler The hymn tune “Passion Chorale” was originally set to a love song in Hans Leo Hassler’s “Lustgarten Neuer Deutscher Gesang” in 1601. It first appeared as a hymn tune in the third edition of Harmoniae Sacrae (1613). In 1656 Paul Gerhardt set the tune to a German translation of “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” for the first time. It has been associated with the German and English translations of this hymn ever since. “O Sacred Head” Dietrich Buxtehude “Adagio for Strings” Samuel Barber “Adagio for Strings” (1936) was originally the second movement of Samuel Barger’s “String Quartet” (Opus 11). It was first performed in 1938 by the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Music critic Alexander J. Morin wrote that the music was “full of pathos and cathartic passion” and that it “rarely left a dry eye.” In 1967 it was used for a choral setting of Barber’s “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God). “The Crucifixion” Samuel Barber This is the fifth song in Samuel Barber’s song cycle, “Hermit Songs.” The poem is a translation of a poem by an anonymous Irish monk who lived sometime between the 8th and 13th centuries. At the cry of the first bird they began to crucify Thee, O Swan! Never shall lament cease because of that. It was like the parting of day from night. Ah, sore was the suff’ring borne by the body of Mary’s Son, But sorer still to Him was the grief which for His sake came upon His mother. “Stabat Mater” Josef Rheinberger The “Stabat Mater” is a 13th century Christian hymn which portrays Mary’s suffering as she bears witness to the crucifixion of her Son. The author may be either the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi or Pope Innocent III. The title comes from its first line, “Stabat Mater dolorosa,” which menas “the sorrowful mother was standing.” Stabat Mater dolorosa juxta crucem lacrymosa dum pendebat Filius. At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. Cujus animam gementem contristatam et dolentem per transivit gladius. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed. O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta Mater unigeniti! O how sad and sore distressed was that mother highly blessed of the sole-begotten One! Quae moerebat et dolebat, pia Mater dum videbat nati poenas inclyti. O that silent, ceaseless mourning, O those dim eyes, never turning from that wondrous, suffering Son. Quis est homo qui non fleret matrem Christi si videnret in tanto supplicio? Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep Christ’s dear mother to behold? Quis non posset contristari, Christi matrem contemplari dolentem cum Filio? Who on Christ’s dear mother thinking, such a cup of sorrow drinking, would not share her sorrow deep? Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Jesum in tormentis et flagellis subditum. For His people’s sins rejected, saw her Jesus unprotected, saw with thorns, with scourges rent. Vidit suum dulcen natum morientem desolatum dum emisit spiritum. She beheld her gentle Child dying, forsaken and defiled, as His spirit passed away. Eja mater, fons amoris, me sentire vim doloris, fac, ut tecum lugeam. O, thou mother, fount of love, touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum, ut sibi complaceam. Make me feel as thou has felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ our Lord. Sancta mater, istud agas, crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide: Thou, who on the cross art bearing all the pains I would be sharing, glows my heart with love for Thee. Tui nati vulnerati, tam dignati pro me pati, poenas mecum divide. By Thy glorious death and passion, saving me in wondrous fashion, Saviour, turn my heart to Thee. Fac me tecum pie flere, crucifix condolere, donec ego vixero. Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live. Justa crucem tecum stare, et me tibi sociare in planctu desidero. To stand with you beside the cross and to be your companion in grief is my desire. Virgo virginum praeclara, mihi jam non sis amara, fac me tecum plangere. Virgin, of all virgins blest, listen to my fond request; let me share thy grief divine. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem, passionis fac consortem, et plagas recolere. Make me of Thy death the bearer, in Thy passion be a sharer, taking to myself Thy pain. Fac me plagis vulnerary, fac me cruce inebriari, et cruore Filii; Let me with Thy stripes be stricken, let Thy cross with hope me quicken, that I thus Thy love may gain. Inflammatus et accensus, per te, Virgo, sim defensus in die judicii. All my heart, enflamed and burning, Saviour, now to Thee is turning; shield me in the Judgement Day. Fac me cruce custodiri, more Christi praemuniri, confoveri gratia. Let me be guarded by the cross, armed by Christ’s death and His grace cherish me. Quando corpus morietur fac, ut animae donetur paradisi gloria. While my body here decays, may my soul Thy goodness praise, safe in Paradise with Thee. CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Oscar Clavel Leader: Today the carpenter’s hands are nailed to a cross. People: The King of kings is crowned with thorns and wears the purple robe of mockery. Leader: Today He sets us free, Himself imprisoned on a tree. People: Today is God’s Friday. Unison: We come in worship. HYMN “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” Passion Chorale Unfortunately, for the safety of all, congregational singing is not permitted during in-person worship. Please use this time to meditate on the words of this beautiful hymn. O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down; Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; O sacred head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain: Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, and grant to me Thy grace. What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend, For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rev. L. John Gable Leader: Merciful God, we meet each other today at the foot of the cross, as inhabitants of one world. We wait with each other as those who inflict wounds on one another; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who deny justice to others; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who put our trust in power; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who are greedy; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who put others on trial; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who refuse to receive; All: Be merciful to us. Leader: As those who are afraid of the world’s torment; All: Be merciful to us. SILENT CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF PARDON Leader: Jesus, Himself, bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins we might live for righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel. Unison: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. ANTHEM “Ave Verum Corpus” Karl Jenkins Ave verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine. Hail, true body born of the Virgin Mary, Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine. Who truly suffered, sacrified on the Cross for man, Cujus latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine. Whose pierced side overflowed with water and blood, Esto nobis prægustatum mortis in examine. Be for us a foretaste in the test of death. Jesu dulcis! Jesu pie, Fili Mariæ. Blessed Jesus! Merciful Jesus, son of Mary. Amen. PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER Rev. L. John Gable 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. ANTHEM “Wondrous Love” arr. Eric Nelson What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What wondrous love is this, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul? To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, I will sing. To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM, While millions join the theme, I will sing. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.