HOLY WEEK AT THE MONASTERY
GOOD FRIDAY: THE LITURGY OF THE PASSION APRIL 15, 2022
THE SOCIETY OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST 980 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 617.876.3037 www.SSJE.org
H OLY W EEK
AT THE
M ONASTERY
Good Friday The people stand as the Ministers enter in silence. As they prostrate themselves before the Altar, the people kneel in silent prayer. Then all sit after the Collect.
Collect of the Day Presider
People
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons First Reading
Isaiah 52:13–53:12
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals— so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
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He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; 3
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Gradual
Second Reading
Psalm 22
Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 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.
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Gospel Acclamation The Passion Gospel
sung by the Schola
Christ became obedient Christus factus est
John 18:1–19:42
The customary responses before and after the Gospel are omitted. The congregation remains seated for the first part of the Passion. When the Narrator sings “…the Place of the Skull,” all stand. When the Narrator sings “Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit,” all kneel.
The Sermon The Solemn Collects
Book of Common Prayer, p. 277
The Veneration of the Cross A cross is carried into the church. The procession pauses three times. At each pause, the following acclamation is sung.
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The cross is placed at the entrance to the sanctuary. The Ministers approach to venerate, kneeling three times. The Schola and other members of the Community follow. During the veneration, a selection of seasonal music will be sung. After the Community has venerated, the Cross will be processed through the congregation allowing the opportunity to show reverence to the Cross.
Veneration Anthems The veneration anthems are sung by the Schola.
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Offertory Hymn
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
Hymnal 166
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The Holy Communion The Confession of Sin Deacon
kneeling
Let us confess our sins to God. Silence is kept.
People
Presider
People
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God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer is said without introduction.
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken) Presider People
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
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Post Communion Hymn
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Were you there?
Hymnal 172
Concluding Prayer Sung by Presider
Presider
People
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you 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 for ever. Amen. (sung)
All depart in silence.
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The Passion Narratives and Anti-Semitism It is now widely recognized that proclamation and preaching of the gospel accounts of Jesus’s passion were an important element in the centuries of anti-Semitism in Christian Europe that culminated in the Holocaust. A present area for concern is the portrayal of Judaism and the Jewish people in Christian liturgical use. The term “the Jews” is anachronistic when used to describe the Israelite people and religion at the time of Jesus. “The Jews” is also a mistranslation of the Greek “oi Ioudaioi,” which is more accurately rendered “the Judeans.” John’s gospel makes specific use of this term as ‘a class designation, not a religious or ethnic grouping…the term primarily refers to the hereditary Temple religious authorities.’ It is their collusion, with the Roman occupation administration, which brings about Jesus’s crucifixion. John does not place responsibility for Jesus’ execution on the entire “Jewish” people of the time nor on their descendants.
A Word about the Liturgy Today marks the second day of the Triduum (from the Latin for ‘three days’), the day on which we commemorate the Lord’s crucifixion and death. This evening’s service is in fact a continuation of the liturgy begun last night at the Maundy Thursday Eucharist, and it will not ‘end’ until the Great Vigil of Easter. Consequently, we begin – or more properly, continue – without the familiar acclamation, and we leave without a formal dismissal. It is customary on this day to share communion from Bread and Wine consecrated at the Maundy Thursday Eucharist.
Our Collection Today Since 1922, the Episcopal Church has used this offering to support the church’s mission of justice, peace, and reconciliation in Jerusalem. Our offering will be given to three organizations: Sabeel (https://sabeel.org/), Kids4Peace Boston (https://kids4peaceboston.org/), and New Israel Fund (https://www.nif.org/).
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Announcements Welcome! We are delighted to welcome you to the Monastery today. If you are a visitor, or new to the Monastery or Community, please take a moment to introduce yourself to one of the Brothers following the Eucharist.
Some changes in our usual Holy Week practices Holy Week at the Monastery is a time when our bodies, as well as our senses, are fully engaged in our worship. This year only, we have made a number of modifications to our Holy Week rites. As a way to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, we are inviting you to join the Brothers in heart and mind rather than in body as we process, wash feet, and venerate. It is our expectation to restore full congregational participation to the rites of Holy Week next year. We appreciate your understanding.
Good Friday Liturgy at 7:30 p.m. The liturgy begins with the solemn entrance of the sacred ministers, the Singing of the Passion, Solemn Collects, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. Following the Veneration of the Cross by the Brothers, the Cross will be processed through the Chapel to give members of the congregation a chance to venerate by a solemn bow or reaching out to tough it. An offering will taken to support Christian ministry in the Holy Land.
The Proper Liturgy of Holy Saturday at 12:30 p.m. At 12:30 on Holy Saturday, the Brothers sing The Proper Liturgy of Holy Saturday in place of the Midday Office. Following the shape of the Eucharist until the sermon, this liturgy contains the hauntingly beautiful anthem, In the Midst of Life We are in Death. This service, which lasts about 20 minutes, will be both in-person and livestreamed.
Evening Prayer of Holy Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The Brothers will sing Evening Prayer on Holy Saturday. This service will be livestreamed.
The Great Vigil of Easter at 4:30 a.m. As a way to minimize the need to move the congregation through narrow doorways, the New Fire will be kindled at the back of the Chapel. Please remain in your seats and wait for the Light to be passed to you.
Easter Day There will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. on Easter Day. Evening Prayer will be livestreamed at 4:00 p.m. 13
Ring Your Bells! You are invited to bring a bell with you to the Great Vigil of Easter and the Easter Day Eucharist to join us as we ring bells to announce the Resurrection
Live-streamed Services In addition to in-person worship during Holy Week, all the major liturgies will be live-streamed. We invite you to join us in-person or online. After Evening Prayer on Easter Day, the next livestreamed service will be First Evensong of the Second Sunday after Easter on Saturday, 23 April at 6:00 PM
St. John’s Day We will be celebrating our annual patronal festival, The Feast of St. John, the Beloved Disciple, on Saturday, 7 May at 11:00 AM. Our Guest Preacher that day will be The Reverend Jennifer Strawbridge. Jenn is an Associate Professor of New Testament Studies and the G.B. Caird Fellow In Theology at Mansfield College in the University of Oxford. She is a longtime friend of the Society and member of the Fellowship of Saint John. During the Eucharist we will be receiving new members into the Fellowship. Following the service there will be our annual garden party and luncheon. All are welcome. No need to RSVP. Please invite someone who doesn’t yet know the monastery to join you.
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SSJE and the Holy Week Rites It is hard to believe that some of the Holy Week rites are almost entirely new to many Episcopalians, having been first introduced with the advent of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The same cannot be said for SSJE. SSJE has been instrumental in the introduction of these rites to the Anglican Communion through St. John’s Bowdoin Street, and later the Monastery, as well as other parishes served by the Brothers over the years. Palms were first used at Bowdoin Street as early as 1906. That same year a Maundy Thursday Eucharist was celebrated in the morning, and a watch was kept through the day and overnight until Good Friday. Later that evening a foot washing service took place during Evening Prayer. Communion from the Reserved Sacrament on Good Friday (known as the Mass of the Presanctified) took place in 1906 (although until the 1960 only the priest received Holy Communion). Ashes were first used on Ash Wednesday in 1908. (Although there is a story of someone finding Fr. Benson burning his palms to make ashes for Ash Wednesday in the 1890’s, indicating that both palms and ashes were used well before 1906/ 1908.) The Lighting of the New Fire, Blessing of the Paschal Candle and First Mass of Easter began in 1909 (on Holy Saturday at 10:00 AM!). It was not until 1920 that the full Easter Vigil with the Prophecies and Renewal of Baptismal Vows took place. Tenebrae was first sung in 1917, and the Reproaches had been in use since at least 1906. One year Fr. Field SSJE was so unhappy with how the Reproaches had been sung, he wrote in the service register that next year the Reproaches MUST be sung faster, or something else MUST BE USED! For more information about the Society, please check our website at www.SSJE.org.
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Br. Todd Blackham, Presider & Preacher Br. Geoffrey Tristram, Deacon Br. Nicholas Bartoli, Subdeacon The Passion Gospel Br. Jonathan Maury, Br. Sean Glenn, and Mr. Gabe Tiberius Colombo
The Monastery as Sanctuary
We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission.