Good Friday Last hour at the Cross

HYMNS (may be listened to (YouTube), sung or read)

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains he had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin.
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n and let us in.

Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Each talk may be found by following the you tube link.. The Pauses for Reflection/Prayer are intended to be 5-10 minutes.

You may like to light a CANDLE – a sign of Jesus ‘the light of the world’ who continues to shine in the darkness.

When I survey  (click to listen)

 Talk 1 Jesus is crucified   (cick for video)

Reading: Luke 23:26-38

O my people, O my Church,

what have I done to you,

or in what have I offended you?

Testify against me.

I led you forth from the land of Egypt,

and delivered you by the waters of baptism,

but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on me.

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION/PRAYER

Talk 2: The Penitent thief    (click for video)

Reading: Luke 23:39-43

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow

which was brought upon me,

which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on me.

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION/PRAYER

Talk 3: Jesus dies  (click for video)

Reading: Luke 23:44-49   

My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,

and washed your feet as a sign of my love,

but you draw the sword to strike in my name,

and seek high places in my kingdom.

I offered you my body and blood,

but you scatter and deny and abandon me.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on me.

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION/PRAYER

Hymn: There is a green hill   (Click to hear)

Talk 4: Jesus is laid in the tomb   (Click for video)

Reading: Luke 23:50-56

I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;

I was hungry and you gave me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,

naked and you did not clothe me,

sick and in prison and you did not visit me.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on me.

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION/PRAYER

Talk 5: taking up your cross    (Click for video)

Reading: Matthew 16:21-28

A COLLECT for Good Friday

Eternal God,

in the cross of Jesus

we see the cost of our sin

and the depth of your love:

in humble hope and fear

may we place at his feet

all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.