Welcome:
Prayer of the Day and Psalm 22
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray,
Almighty God, look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
C: Amen.
Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I | find no rest. 3 Yet you are the | Holy One, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our ancestors put their trust in you, they trusted, and you rescued them. 5 They cried out to you and were delivered; they trusted in you and were not put to shame. 6 But as for me, I am a worm and not human, scorned by all and despised by the people. 7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; they curl their lips; they shake their heads. 8 "Trust in the LORD; let the LORD deliver; let God rescue him if God so delights in him." 9 Yet you are the one who drew me forth from the womb, and kept me safe on my mother's breast. 10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help. 12 Many young bulls encircle me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me. 13 They open wide their jaws at me, like a slashing and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; my heart within my breast is melting wax. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; and you have laid me in the dust of death. 16 Packs of dogs close me in, a band of evildoers circles round me; They pierce my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones while they stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among them; for my clothing, they cast lots. 19 But you, O LORD, be not far away; O my help, hasten to my aid. 20 Deliver me | from the sword, my life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth! From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me. 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the LORD, give praise! All you of Jacob's line, give glory. Stand in awe of the LORD, all you offspring of Israel. 24 For the LORD does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the LORD's face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the LORD hears them. 25 From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the LORD. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the LORD give praise! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; all the families of nations shall bow before God. 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, who rules over the nations. 29 Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the LORD. 30 Their descendants shall serve the LORD, whom they shall proclaim to generations to come. 31 They shall proclaim God's deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying to them, "The LORD has acted!"
THE SERVICE OF DARKNESS (TENEBRAE)
THE FIRST WORD ("O Sacred Head Now Wounded" vs. 1 & 2)
Luke 23:33-38
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
THE SECOND WORD (“Jesus, Remember Me” 2X)
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
THE THIRD WORD (“When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” – verses 1 & 3)
John 19:25-27
And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT SEGMENT...