Good Friday, April 7, 2023 - Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Order of Service
We continue our live broadcast this morning and welcome in-person worshipers into the Sanctuary (with socially distanced seating). Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this morning’s service, both online and in person.
Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel, select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails, you can sign up here.
Prologue - Good Friday Canticle - Plainsong
Introit: Have mercy on me, O God - C. Schalk
Call to Worship - Liturgy from PWS&D
L: Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
P: the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront our weakness and
insecurities.
L: On his last night, Jesus showed us what love in action looks like.
P: It looks like kneeling and serving.
L: It looks like dealing with the dirt from our travels.
P: It looks like washing clean what we prefer to avoid.
L: Even knowing that death was near, Jesus asked for no special favours.
P: He humbly served his friends in love.
L: When we are tempted by privilege and entitlement,
believing we deserve more,
P: let us remember what love looks like: kneeling, serving, caring.
Supportive Classmates Make a Difference
Joseph (name changed) showed up to school one day, not quite himself. The 10-year-old’s parents had been up fighting all night. When morning arrived, he hadn’t wanted to disturb them in order to get ready for school.
Some of Joseph’s classmates had been mentored in a Children’s Corner, a program provided by the Livingstonia Synod AIDS Programme (LISAP) in northern Malawi. When they asked him what was going on, Joseph told them, “My father and mother shout at each other and fight almost every week. Sometimes my father calls us bad names and chases us out of the house at night for no reason.”
Because the children had learned about their rights at the Children’s Corner, and where to turn if something was wrong at home, Joseph’s friends told him he should speak to a Child Protection Worker. The Child Protection Worker met with Joseph’s family and provided them with tools to resolve their challenges, including financial strain, which was at the root of frequent verbal and physical abuse. Working collaboratively has helped Joseph’s parents begin building a more peaceful home.
This Lenten season, help ensure access to services that advocate and educate children and adults about their rights.
PWS&D works with LISAP in northern Malawi, which provides support and educational opportunities to young people.
Scripture
Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 22:1-11 (choir)
Epistle: Hebrews 10:1-25
Gospel: The Reading of the Passion Story according to John
Silence
Violin Solo: Adagio in g - Giazotto/ Albinoni
Violin - Isaac Muth
The Solemn Reproaches of the Cross (Responsive Reading)
Oh my people, o my church,
what have I done to you,
or in what have I offended you
that you should testify against me?
I led you forth from the land of Egypt
and delivered you by the waters of baptism,
but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
I led you through the desert forty years,
and fed you with manna;
I brought you through tribulation and pestilence,
and gave you my body, the bread of heaven,
but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
What more could I have done for you
that I have not done?
I planted you the branches of my vine;
but when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink
and pierced with a spear the side of your Saviour,
and you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
and you have led me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
I scourged your enemies and brought you to a land of freedom,
but you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me.
I gave you the water of salvation from the rock.
but you have given me gall and left me to thirst,
and you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
I gave you a royal scepter,
and bestowed the keys to the kingdom,
but you have given me a crown of thorns,
I raised you on high with great power,
but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
and washed your feet as a sign of my love,
but you draw the sword to strike in my name
and seek high places in my kingdom.
I offered you my body and blood,
but you scatter and deny and abandon me,
and you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you,
and you close your hearts to the Counselor.
I pray that all may be one in the Father and me,
but you continue to quarrel and divide.
I call you to go and bring forth fruit,
but you cast lots for my clothing,
and you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;
I was hungry, and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink,
I was 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 Saviour.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. Amen.
Anthem: O Saviour of the world - J. Goss
Benediction
Hymn: When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham
This hymn will be unannounced
Verse 1
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Lord of glory died,
My riches gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride
Verse 2
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
Verse 3 Choir Only
See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Verse 4
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
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Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.
If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do so by clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)
Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.
We are making a difference TOGETHER.
If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.
We gather on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishnaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Peoples. We are also on lands that are part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum. We live and work, worship, learn and meet on lands that are the traditional territory of many different Indigenous Peoples who were here before the establishment of European colonies.
