Mike Abma

We Gather in SilenceCross ProcessionalCall to WorshipThe grace and peace of the Lord be with you.And also with you.O crucified Jesus,Son of the Father,conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,eternal Word of God,we worship you.O crucified Jesus,holy temple of God,dwelling place of the Most High,we adore you.O crucified Jesus,who humbled himself,and became obedient to death—even death on a cross,we thank you.— © from Book of Common Worship, Daily Prayer, PCUSA. Used by permission.Opening Hymn: “Christ, the Life of All the Living” HomburgThreshold PrayerWelcome and Introduction to the ServiceWe Approach with PenitenceLet us together pray:Before you die, Jesus Christ,and the world goes into deep darkness,take from our lives,from our souls,from our consciences.all that has offended you,all that has hurt others,and the intransigencewhich has made us numb to the plightof those whom we could help or heal.— From “Seven Words from the Cross: Holy Week Prayer 3” in Stages on the Way: Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week and Easter, p. 152. Iona Community, © Wild Goose Resource Group, GIA Publications, Inc., agent. All rights reserved. Used by permission.A time of silent prayer Song: “Kyrie Eleison/Lord, Have Mercy” Early Greek [Choir sings the first time; congregation sings the second time.]We Pause to Ask, “Why, O Lord?”Why, O Lord?Why did you need to come and suffer so?Why were you so despised and rejected?Why did you become a man of suffering and acquainted with grief?Why did you become as one from whom others hide their faces?Why?We know you were oppressed and afflicted.You were like a lamb led to the slaughter.By a perversion of justice, you were led away.Why, O Lord, why?Was it to bear our infirmities and carry our diseases?Was it to be wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities?Was the punishment you bore what makes us whole?Was it by your bruises that we are healed?Answer us, O Lord.— based on Isaiah 53Choral Anthem: “God So Loved the World” StainerWe Relive the Passion in the Gospel of MarkSuffered Under Pontius PilateReading: Mark 15:6–15This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.PrayerLet us together pray:Holy God, who was the guilty?We stand with Barabbas.We stand among those who deserve the punishment.But it was your Son who took the sentence.How can we repay you for such love?In your mercy, hear our prayer.Followed by a time of silent prayer.Response: “Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended” HeermannWas MockedReading: Mark 15:16–20This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.PrayerLet us together pray:Dear Lord, these words are hard for us to hear.Mockery of anyone is terrible.Mockery of you is unbearable.Yet you lived what you preached.You loved your enemies and prayed for those who persecuted you.Daily make us more like you, we pray.Followed by a time of silent prayer.Choral Anthem: “He Carries My Cross Alone” ParkerWas CrucifiedReading: Mark 15:22–32This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.PrayerLet us together pray:Suffering Servantwho heard the taunts and curses of the crowd,turn to us and bless us,so we may taste of your love and mercy,so we may hunger and thirst for your righteousness.Followed by a time of silent prayer.Response: “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed” WattsWas Forsaken and DiedReading: Mark 15:33–39This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.PrayerLet us together pray:Lord Jesus, you finished the work you were sent to do.Now enable us by your Holy Spirit to both stand forgiven and live faithfully following you.In your mercy, hear our prayer.Followed by a time of silent prayer.Choral Anthem: “The Power of the Cross” Getty and Townend, arr. HayesWas BuriedReading: Mark 15:42–46This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.Moment of SilenceResponse: “Were You There” African AmericanDuring verses 2–4, please move to the perimeter of the sanctuary to form one large communion circle. Please make chairs on the perimeter of the chapel available to those for whom standing is difficult.Communion Service[Consider using the invitation, thanksgiving, institution, remembrance, and prayer of consecration found with the Maundy Thursday service by Rev. Mike Abma in RW 78, “Listening at the Foot of the Cross.”]The DistributionSong during the distribution of the bread: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” MedievalSong during the distribution of the cup: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” WattsPrayer of ThanksgivingParting Hymn: “Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended” HeermannStripping of the TableParting BlessingDepart in Silence

The unfortunate history of the Lord’s Supper is that we have always managed to find a way to fight over the very thing that was meant to bring us together. So what are we disagreeing about this time? In many Reformed and Presbyterian churches the clash of the day is over whether baptized children who have not professed their faith should be allowed to take part in the Lord’s Supper.

All four gospels tell us that Jesus quoted from the Old Testament. No Old Testament book is quoted more frequently by Jesus than the Psalms. When we pray the psalms, we are praying the prayers of God’s people throughout the centuries. But, more importantly, we are praying the prayers that Jesus himself prayed.