Friday, April 2, 2021 - Way of the Cross at 12:00 pm - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta, GA

Good Friday – April 2, 2021 Way of the Cross | 12 pm GATHERING SILENT PROCESSION OPENING DIALOG In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, In whom is our salvation, our life, and resurrection Let us pray. Merciful God, your Son was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself. Grant that we who have been born out of his wounded side may at all times find mercy in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS The Way of the Cross is a devotion adapted from a custom observed by Christian pilgrims who said prayers in Jerusalem at a series of places in that city associated with the passion of Jesus. Traditionally, there have been as many as fourteen stations. These nine are based directly on events recorded in scripture.

JESUS IS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED THE READING Matthew 26:47-56 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Go to Dark Gethsemane, Hymn 347 (Stanza 1) John Pearson, cantor

THE SANHEDRIN TRIES JESUS THE READING Mark 14:61-64 The high priest asked him but he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need

witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Go to Dark Gethsemane, Hymn 347 (Stanza 2)

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH THE READING Mark 15:6-15 Now at the festival Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!" So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, Hymn 325 (Stanza 1)

JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS THE READING John 19:16-17/Hebrews 5:8-9 Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, Hymn 325 (Stanza 2)

THE CROSS IS LAID ON SIMON OF CYRENE THE READING Mark 15:21/Matthew 16:24-26 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Jesus had told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers,

let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

Silent Reflection Sung Response: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, Hymn 325 (Stanza 3)

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM THE READING Luke 23:27-31 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Hymn 353 (Stanza 1)

JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS THE READING Mark 15:22-25 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Hymn 353 (Stanza 2)

JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS THE READING Luke 23:44-48 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Hymn 353 (Stanza 3)

JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND LAID IN THE TOMB THE READING Luke 23:50-56 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Silent Reflection Sung Response: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Hymn 353 (Stanza 4-5)

HOMILY

Pastor Jonathan Trapp

BIDDING PRAYERS Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for the holy church throughout the world.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you have shown your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ.

By your Holy Spirit guide the church and gather it throughout the world.

Help it to persevere in faith, proclaim your name, and bring the good news of salvation in Christ to all people.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for Elizabeth and Kevin our bishops, for Mark, Ron, Jenny and Jonathan, our pastor(s), for Deacon Mary and all servants of the church, and for all the people of God.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, your Spirit guides the church and makes it holy.

Strengthen and uphold our bishops, pastors, other ministers, and lay leaders.

Keep them in health and safety for the good of the church, and help each of us in our various vocations to do faithfully the work to which you have called us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for those preparing for baptism.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you continue to bless the church.

Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for baptism.

Give them new birth as your children, and keep them in the faith and communion of your holy church.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for our sisters and brothers who share our faith in Jesus Christ.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you give your church unity.

Look with favor on all who follow Jesus your Son. Make all the baptized one in the fullness of faith, and keep us united in the fellowship of love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God. Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, long ago, you gave your promise to Abraham and your teaching to Moses.

Hear our prayers that the people you called and elected as your own may receive the fulfillment of the covenant’s promises.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, gather into your embrace all those who call out to you under different names.

Bring an end to inter-religious strife, and make us more faithful witnesses of the love made known to us in your Son. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for those who do not believe in God. Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you created humanity so that all may long to know you and find peace in you.

Grant that all may recognize the signs of your love and grace in the world and in the lives of Christians, and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for God's creation.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you are the creator of a magnificent universe.

Hold all the worlds in the arms of your care and bring all things to fulfillment in you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for those who serve in public office.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you are the champion of the poor and oppressed.

In your goodness, give wisdom to those in authority, so that all people may enjoy justice, peace, freedom, and a share in the goodness of your creation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray for those in need.

Silent prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, you give strength to the weary and new courage to those who have lost heart.

Heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and deliver your world from falsehood, hunger, and disease.

Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble, that they may have the joy of receiving your help in their need.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask.

LORD'S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN 335

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

CONCLUSION Savior of the world, by your cross and precious blood you have redeemed us.

Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you, O Lord.

Let us pray. We thank you, gracious God, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

To Christ our Lord who loves us, washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen.