The Liturgy of Good Friday

The Gathering
The ministers enter in silence.
All may kneel for a time of silent prayer
The Collect for Good Friday
Almighty Father, look with mercy on this your family for which
our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up
into the hands of wicked men and to suffer death upon the cross;
who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn
There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where our 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.
He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.
There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.

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 The Service of the Word
First Reading

Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective

for ever, and then he sat down at the right-hand side of God.
There he now waits until God puts his enemies as a footstool
under his feet. With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect for
ever those who are purified from sin.

And the Holy Spirit also gives us his witness.

First he says,
'This is the covenant that I will make with them
in the days to come, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts
and write them on their minds.'
And then he says, 'I will not remember their sins and evil deeds
any longer.' So when these have been forgiven, an offering to
take away sins is no longer needed.

We have, then, my brothers, complete freedom to go into the

Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. He opened for
us a new way, a living way, through the curtain -- that is, through
his own body. We have a great priest in charge of the house of
God. So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure
faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty
conscience and with bodies washed with clean water.
Hebrews 10.12-22 TEV

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God

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 The Conclusion Hymn

Glory be to Jesus,
The minister says
who in bitter pains
poured for me the life blood
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your
from his sacred veins!
passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls,
now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the
Grace and life eternal
living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace
in that blood I find,
and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for you
blest be his compassion
live and reign now and for ever. Amen.
infinitely kind!

Blest through endless ages

Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom
be the precious stream
in the words our Saviour taught us.
which from endless torment
doth the world redeem!
All Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Abel's blood for vengeance
thy kingdom come;
pleaded to the skies;
thy will be done;
but the blood of Jesus
on earth as it is in heaven.
for our pardon cries.
Give us this day our daily bread.
and forgive us our trespasses,
Oft as it is sprinkled
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
on our guilty hearts,
And lead us not into temptation; Satan in confusion
but deliver us from evil. terror-struck departs;
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory, oft as earth exulting
for ever and ever. Amen. wafts its praise on high,
angel hosts, rejoicing,
Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your make their glad reply.
Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved mankind: grant that by faith
in him who suffered on the cross, we may triumph in the power Lift ye then your voices;
of his victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. swell the mighty flood;
louder still and louder
The ministers depart in silence. praise the precious blood.

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 The Passion Gospel Hymn

A collection may be taken.

The Passion is read by three voices
Take up thy cross, the Saviour said,
1. The Narrator if thou wouldst my disciple be;
2. Jesus deny thyself, the world forsake,
3. Reader for all other single voices and humbly follow after me.

In addition the congregation should contribute the voices of the Take up thy cross, let not its weight
crowd and other groups of voices. These sections are marked fill thy weak spirit with alarm;
“All” and are printed in bold. his strength shall bear thy spirit up,
and brace thy heart and nerve thine arm.

Narrator: Hear the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John. Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame,
Narrator: Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a nor let thy foolish pride rebel;
place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples thy Lord for thee the cross endured,
entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, to save thy soul from death and hell.
because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas
brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the Take up thy cross then in his strength,
chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and calmly sin's wild deluge brave,
and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to 'twill guide thee to a better home,
happen to him, came forward and asked them, it points to glory o'er the grave.
Jesus: Whom are you looking for?
Narrator: They answered, Take up thy cross and follow Christ,
All: Jesus of Nazareth. nor think til death to lay it down;
Narrator: Jesus replied, for only those who bear the cross
Jesus: I am he. may hope to wear the glorious crown.
Narrator: Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus
said to them, ‘I am he,’ they stepped back and fell to the ground. To thee, great Lord, the One in Three,
Again he asked them, all praise forevermore ascend:
Jesus: Whom are you looking for? O grant us in our home to see
Narrator: And they said, the heavenly life that knows no end.
All: Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator: Jesus answered,
Jesus: I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these
men go.

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 The minister says these devotions. Narrator: This was to fulfil the word that he had spoken, ‘I did not lose a
single one of those whom you gave me.’ Then Simon Peter, who
had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off
We glory in your cross, O Lord, his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
and praise you for your mighty resurrection; Jesus: Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup
that the Father has given me?
All for by virtue of your cross Narrator: So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus
joy has come into our world. and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas
God be gracious to us and bless us: was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have
All and make his face shine upon us, one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple
followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest,
Let your ways be made known on earth: he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter
All your liberating power among all nations. was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was
known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who
Let the peoples praise you, O God: guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter,
All let all the peoples praise you. Reader: You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?
Narrator: Peter said,
We glory in your cross, O Lord, Reader: I am not.
and praise you for your mighty resurrection; Narrator: Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because
All for by virtue of your cross it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming
joy has come into our world. themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming
himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his
disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,
Almighty God, Jesus: I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in
as we stand at the foot of the cross of your Son, synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together.
may we know your love for us, I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those
that in humility, love and joy who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.
we may place at his feet Narrator: When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck
all that we have and all that we are; Jesus on the face, saying,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Reader: Is that how you answer the high priest?
All Amen. Narrator: Jesus answered,
Jesus: If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have
spoken rightly, why do you strike me?

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Narrator: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now The Proclamation of the Cross
Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked
him,
A wooden cross may be brought into the church
All You are not also one of his disciples, are you?
and placed in the sight of the people.
Narrator: Peter denied it and said,
Reader: I am not.
Hymn
Narrator: One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose
ear Peter had cut off, asked, When I survey the wondrous cross
Reader: Did I not see you in the garden with him?
where the young Prince of Glory died,
Narrator: Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
my richest gain I count but loss,
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It
and pour contempt on all my pride.
was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the
headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said,
save in the cross of Christ, my God:
Reader: What accusation do you bring against this man?
all the vain things that charm me most,
Narrator: They answered,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
All: If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed
him over to you. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Narrator: Pilate said to them, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Reader: Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Narrator: The Jews replied,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
All: We are not permitted to put anyone to death.
Narrator: (This was to fulfil what Jesus had said when he indicated the Were the whole realm of nature mine,
kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the that were an offering far too small;
headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, love so amazing, so divine,
Reader: Are you the King of the Jews? demands my soul, my life, my all.
Narrator: Jesus answered,
Jesus: Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?
Narrator: Pilate replied,
Reader: I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have
handed you over to me. What have you done?
Narrator: Jesus answered,
Jesus: My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from
this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from
being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not
from here.

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 Almighty and everlasting God, Narrator: Pilate asked him,
the comfort of the sad, the strength of those who suffer; Reader: So you are a king?
hear the prayers of your children who cry out of any trouble: Narrator: Jesus answered,
and to every distressed soul grant mercy, relief, and refreshment, Jesus: You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to
the truth listens to my voice.
Let us commend ourselves and all God's children Narrator: Pilate asked him,
to his unfailing love, Reader: What is truth?
and pray for the grace of a holy life, Narrator: After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told
that, with all who have died in the peace of Christ, them,
we may come to the fullness of eternal life Reader: I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release
and the joy of the resurrection. someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for
you the King of the Jews?
All Merciful Father, Narrator: They shouted in reply,
accept these prayers, All: Not this man, but Barabbas!
for the sake of your Son, Narrator: Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on
his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept
coming up to him, saying,
All: Hail, King of the Jews!
Narrator: and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to
them,
Reader: Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find
no case against him.
Narrator: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
robe. Pilate said to them,
Reader: Here is the man!
Narrator: When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted,
All: Crucify him! Crucify him!
Narrator: Pilate said to them,
Reader: Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.
Narrator: The Jews answered him,
All: We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die
because he has claimed to be the Son of God.
Narrator: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He
entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,

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Reader: Where are you from? Let us pray for those who do not believe the Gospel of Christ-
Narrator: But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, for those who follow other faiths and creeds
Reader: Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have for those who have not heard the message of salvation
power to release you, and power to crucify you? for all those who have lost faith
Narrator: Jesus answered him, for the contemptuous and the scornful
Jesus: You would have no power over me unless it had been given you for those who are enemies of Christ
from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is and persecute those who follow him
guilty of a greater sin. for all who deny the faith of Christ crucified
Narrator: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, that God will open their hearts to the truth and lead them to faith
All: If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. and obedience.
Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the
emperor. Lord, hear us.
Narrator: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat All Lord, graciously hear us.
on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in
Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Merciful God,
Passover; and it was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews, creator of all the people of the earth,
Reader: Here is your King! have compassion on those who do not know you,
Narrator: They cried out, and by the preaching of your Gospel with grace and power,
All: Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! gather them into the one fold of the one Shepherd,
Narrator: Pilate asked them, Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reader: Shall I crucify your King?
Narrator: The chief priests answered, Let us pray for all who suffer--
All: We have no king but the emperor. for those who are deprived and oppressed
Narrator: Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took for all who are sick and handicapped
Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is for those in darkness, in doubt and in despair,
called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called in loneliness and fear
Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, for prisoners
one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an for the victims of false accusations and violence
inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of for all at the point of death and those who watch beside them
Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this that God in his mercy will sustain them with the knowledge of
inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was his love.
near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in
Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Lord, hear us.
All: Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, All Lord, graciously hear us.
‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’

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 Let us pray for the nations of the world and their leaders-- Narrator: Pilate answered,
for Elizabeth our Queen and the Parliament of this land Reader: What I have written I have written.
for those who administer the law and all who serve in public Narrator: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and
office divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took
for all who strive for justice and reconciliation his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from
that by God's help the world may live in peace and freedom. the top. So they said to one another,
All: Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.
Lord, hear us. Narrator: This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my
All Lord, graciously hear us. clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’
And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the
Most gracious God and Father, cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the
in whose will is our peace: wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his
turn our hearts and the hearts of all to yourself, mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he
that by the power of your Spirit said to his mother,
the peace which is founded on justice Jesus: Woman, here is your son.
may be established throughout the world; Narrator: Then he said to the disciple,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus: Here is your mother.
Narrator: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Let us pray for God's ancient people, the Jews, After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said
the first to hear his word-- (in order to fulfil the scripture),
for greater understanding between Christian and Jew Jesus: I am thirsty.
for the removal of our blindness and bitterness of heart Narrator: A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge
that God will grant us grace to be faithful to his covenant and to full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.
grow in the love of his name. When Jesus had received the wine, he said,
Jesus: It is finished.
Lord, hear us.
All Lord, graciously hear us.

Lord God of Abraham,

bless the children of your covenant, both Jew and Christian;
take from us all blindness and bitterness of heart,
and hasten the coming of your kingdom,
when Israel shall be saved,
the Gentiles gathered in,
and we shall dwell together in mutual love and peace
under the one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Narrator: Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. The Intercession

After a short pause, the narrator continues. The president introduces the prayers.

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but
bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that the world might be saved through him. Therefore we pray to
that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate our heavenly Father for people everywhere according to their
to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies needs.
removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when Let us pray for the Church of God throughout the world--
they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did for unity in faith, in witness, and in service
not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side for bishops and other ministers, and those whom they serve
with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who for our bishop, and people of this diocese
saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony for all Christians in this place
is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things for those to be baptized
occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his for those who are mocked and persecuted for their faith
bones shall be broken.’ And again another passage of scripture that God will confirm his Church in faith, increase it in love, and
says, ‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced.’ preserve it in peace.
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of
Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Lord, hear us.
Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him All Lord, graciously hear us.
permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who
had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a Almighty and everlasting God,
mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in is governed and sanctified:
linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now hear our prayer which we offer
there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in for all your faithful people;
the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been that in their vocation and ministry
laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and each may serve you in holiness and truth
the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. to the glory of your Name:
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Silence Amen.

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