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The Triduum:
Good Friday

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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    We begin our liturgy as we ended the Maundy Thursday Liturgy: in silence.

    What was begun then continues this day as we journey with our Savior from the Last Supper, the stripping and humiliation, to the cross and tomb. Good Friday is the second day of the Triduum, the "Three Sacred Days" of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with its Vigil of Easter.

    The Good Friday Liturgy is marked with austerity, silence and reflection. The chancel itself is bare from the Maundy Thursday stripping. There is no organ music except to accompany the hymns. Everything focuses on our adoration of the crucified Christ, reigning from the throne of the cross.

    The opening portion of the liturgy includes no praise. It proceeds directly to the Prayer of the Day. It is a simplified version of our Sunday Liturgy of the Word. The chief acts are the reading of the Passion of St. John and the Bidding Prayer for the needs of our world.

    A large crucifix, which vividly and dramatically portrays the events of this day, is then brought into the church in solemn procession to become the focus of our adoration of the crucified Christ. Placed upon the altar, the crucifix is central to our meditations in word and in silence.  The words of meditation are the ancient Reproaches. The words of reproach are those of God directed to us, his people, who have crucified the Savior of the world by our sin. The Reproaches expand upon the words of the prophet Micah (6:3-5) and burn in our hearts.  The liturgy does not end on this note of reproach, however. The closing versicles and prayer emphasize the triumph and redemption that comes through the cross.

    All then depart in silence without benediction. Christ's death is not God's final word. We keep vigil for Christ's resurrection as the conclusion to our Triduum, the Vigil of Easter, tomorrow at 9 p.m.

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Silence is kept as the people gather.
As the ministers enter, all stand for prayer.

 

Prayer of the Day:

P. Almighty God, look with mercy on your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  (ELW 76)

C. Amen

Sit

 

First Lesson: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Period of Silence

Hymn  "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"

 

The Passion According to St. John (Pink Folder)

Hymn  "Were You There "

Sermon

 

Offering,  Hymn during the Offering:

      Hymn  "At the Cross, Her Station Keeping"

 

Bidding Prayer  (Altar Book or Min. Desk Edition, ELW p.636, LBW p.139)

The people pray silently after each bid made by the Assisting Minister and then respond "Amen" at the close of the Presiding Minister's prayer.

Our Father

 

PROCESSION OF THE CROSS

As the crucifix is brought into the church, the following is said three times:

 

P. Behold, the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the whole world.

C. Oh, come, let us worship him.

After the crucifix is placed on the altar, the people are seated.
A period of silence follows.

 

Meditation 1:

P. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

C. By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

 

P. May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance, and come to us.

C. Let your ways be known upon the earth, your saving health among all nations.

 

P. Let all the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.

C. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

 

Period of Silence

 

Mediation 2 - Solemn Reproaches:
A O my people, O my church, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me! I led you out of slavery into freedom, and delivered you through the waters of rebirth, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A Forty years I led you through the desert, feeding you with manna on the way; I saved you from the time of trial and gave you my body, the bread of heaven, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud and fire, but you led me to the judgment hall of Pilate; I guided you with the light of the Holy Spirit, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I planted you as my fairest vine, but you have brought forth biter fruit; I made you branches of the vine and never left your side, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you? Answer me! I poured out saving water from the rock, but you gave me vinegar to drink; I poured out my life and gave you the new covenant in my blood, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

Period of Silence


Meditation 3 - Solemn Reproaches:
A O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you? Answer me! I gave you a royal scepter, but you gave me a crown of thorns; I gave you the kingdom and crowned you with eternal life, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I struck down your enemies, but you struck my head with a reed; I gave you my peace, but you draw the sword in my name, and you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I opened the waters to lead you to the promised land, but you opened my side with a spear; I washed your feet as a sign of my love, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A O my people, O my church, what more could I have down for you? Answer me! I lifted you up to the heights, but you lifted me high on a cross; I raised you from death and prepared for you the tree of life, but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I grafted you into my people Israel, but you made them scapegoats for your own guilt, and you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

A I came to you in the least of your brothers and sisters, but I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me no drink, 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, and you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
C Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
 

Period of Silence

 

Hymn  "Ah, Holy Jesus"

 

CLOSING RITE

The people stand

 

P. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

C. By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

 

P. If we have died with him, we shall also live with him.

C. If we endure, we shall also reign with him.

 

P. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray to set your passion, cross and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your Holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen

 

All depart in silence, without benediction.
The service continues tomorrow with the Great Vigil of Easter at 9 p.m.

Please return the pink folders to ushers
Remain and pray as long as you wish.

 

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Acknowledgment:  Portions of this liturgy have been drawn from the service for Good Friday in Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship.