Passion Sunday: The Passion of Jesus the Christ

THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION

PALM SUNDAY

THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST

ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF SAINT MATTHEW

Notes:

Lights are on bright. Shades are open.

Candles:

Lighted Votives on table(s) at front (one on each side?)

Altar Candles, Peace Candle, Pascal Candle

Baptismal Font at front center with processional cross immediately behind.

Please note that the directions during the Passion story may not apply to your physical plant. The main object is to slowly bring down the light levels. How you acheive that depends on your facility.

Also, the congregation joins the choir in singing the songs during the Passion.

Order of Worship

PROCESSION WITH PALMS

All who are able gather in the hall.

Stand

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

Processional Gospel:

P: When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

C: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

P: When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking,

C: "Who is this?"

P: The crowds were saying,

C: "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Matthew 21:1-11

A: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

C: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

A: This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

C: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

A: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

C: This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

A: Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!

C: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

A: You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

C: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

PROCESSIONAL SONG: We Are Marching in the Light of God

Text: South African

Music: SIYAHAMBA, South African, Copyright Administrator: Walton Music Corp.

All enter the sanctuary process to their seats.

We are marching . . .

We are singing . . .

We are living . . .

We are praying . . .

We’re exalting . . .

Prayer of the Day:

A: Let us pray . . .

The Prayer of the Day is said in unison.

Greeting of Peace:

P: Being a people reconciled to God through Christ, we should also be reconciled to each other. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

All share the Peace of Christ.

Lesson: Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

R: The word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PRAISE SONG: All Glory, Laud, and Honor

Text: Theodulph of Orleans, c. 760-821; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

Music: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN (rhythmic), Melchior Teschner, 1584-1635

Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor

to you, redeemer, king,

to whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.

You are the king of Israel

and David's royal Son,

now in the Lord's name coming,

our King and Blessed One. Refrain

The multitude of pilgrims

with palms before you went.

Our praise and prayer and anthems

before you we present. Refrain

Their praises you accepted;

accept the prayers we bring,

great author of all goodness,

O good and gracious King. Refrain

LITURGY OF THE PASSION

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray.

C: God of compassion, you made a plan for the restoration of all creation through the suffering, death and resurrection of your Son, Christ Jesus. Instill in us the heartfelt knowledge that this drastic sacrifice on Your part was caused by us, every individual who lived, is living or will live on this earth. Turn our thoughts and actions from the selfish center of our lives to the generous selflessness which echoes the love which comes from You. Amen.

Sit

Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

R: The word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Silence

A: Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.

C: I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

A: I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.

C: For I hear the whispering of many-- terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

A: But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

C: My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Psalm 31:9-16

SONG: Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended

Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; tr. Robert Bridges, 1844-1930, alt.

Music: HERZLIEBSTER JESU, Johann Cruger, 1598-1662

Ah, holy Jesus, how have you offended,

that mortal judgment has on you descended?

By foes derided, by your own rejected,

O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon you?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone you.

'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied you;

I crucified you.

For me, kind Jesus, was your incarnation,

your mortal sorrow and your life's oblation,

your death of anguish and your bitter passion,

for my salvation.

Instrumental Interlude

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon you?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone you.

'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied you;

I crucified you.

The Passion of Jesus Christ

ACCORDING TO THE

GOSPEL OF SAINT MATTHEW

Narrator:

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.

Turn off bright lights. Leave dims only. When lights are down, begin music.

“Will I Hand Jesus Over”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Narrator:

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover supper?" "As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, `The Teacher says, My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover supper there.

[Begin instrumental music.]

When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21While they were eating, he said, "The truth is, one of you will betray me." Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, "I'm not the one, am I, Lord?" He replied, "One of you who is eating with me now will betray me. For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!" Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, "Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?" And Jesus told him, "You have said it yourself."

As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words--I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

"Tonight all of you will desert me," Jesus told them. "For the Scriptures say, `God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there." Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." "Peter," Jesus replied, "the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." "No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.

“Will I Deny the Teacher”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Close 1st window blind.

Narrator:

Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"

Again he left them and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done." He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"

“Will I Betray The Chosen”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Close 2nd window blind.

Narrator:

And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss of greeting." So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for."

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant. "Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"

Then Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I some dangerous criminal, that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures." At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Jesus.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found who declared, "This man said, `I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' " Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" But Jesus remained silent.

Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!"

Then they spit in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"

“Will I Spit In His Face”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Close the 3rd window blind.

Narrator:

Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came over and said to him, "You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean." But Peter denied it in front of everyone. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said.

Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. "I don't even know the man," he said.

A little later some other bystanders came over to him and said, "You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent." Peter said, "I swear by God, I don't know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went away, crying bitterly.

“Will I Remember”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Close 4th window blind.

Narrator:

Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound him and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."

Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

The leading priests picked up the money. "We can't put it in the Temple treasury," they said, "since it's against the law to accept money paid for murder." After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter's field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,

"They took the thirty pieces of silver--

the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel--

and purchased the potter's field,

as the Lord directed."

“Have I Sinned?”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Carry the cross down the isle and place before altar

Narrator:

Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" the governor asked him. Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."

But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. "Don't you hear their many charges against you?" Pilate demanded. But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's great surprise.

Now it was the governor's custom to release one prisoner to the crowd each year during the Passover celebration--anyone they wanted. This year there was a notorious criminal in prison, a man named Barabbas. As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you--Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" (He knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone, because I had a terrible nightmare about him last night."

Meanwhile, the leading priests and other leaders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So when the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" the crowd shouted back their reply: "Barabbas!" "But if I release Barabbas," Pilate asked them, "what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" And they all shouted, "Crucify him!" "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?" But the crowd only roared the louder, "Crucify him!"

“Let Him Be Crucified”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Put out all candles except Pascal Candle, altar candles and Peace Candle.

Narrator:

Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!" And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death--we and our children!" So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.

Some of the governor's soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire battalion. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

“Will I Laugh?”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Carry black pall down to the cross and lay it at the foot of the cross.

Narrator:

As they were on the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross. Then they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill). The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his. And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!"

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the king of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him! He trusted God--let God show his approval by delivering him! For he said, `I am the Son of God.' " nd the criminals who were crucified with him also shouted the same insults at him.

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a stick so he could drink. But the rest said, "Leave him alone. Let's see whether Elijah will come and save him." Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit.

Silence

Cover cross with the pall.

[Begin instrumental music]

Narrator:

At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead after Jesus' resurrection. They left the cemetery, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"

“Truly, Truly!”

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Narrator:

And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and Zebedee's wife, the mother of James and John.

[Begin instrumental music.]

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus' followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.

The next day--on the first day of the Passover ceremonies--the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: `After three days I will be raised from the dead.' So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first." Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

Silence

Carry out Pascal Candle.

Stand

PRAYER REFRAIN O God, Hear Us

Text & Music: Bob Hurd, Copyright Admin: GIA Publications

O God, hear us. Hear our prayer. (Repeat)

Prayers of the Church

PRAYER REFRAIN O God, Hear Us

Text & Music: Bob Hurd, Copyright Admin: GIA Publications

O God, hear us. Hear our prayer. (Repeat)

Sit

Silence

Offering

Stand

Offering Prayer:

A: Let us pray,

C: God of our salvation, we give you thanks. You have walked with us all our lives. You have given us uncounted assistance. You have stayed by us when we abandoned you. Increase our awareness of you so that we may always give back to you what you first gave to us: our lives, our talents, our possessions, that you may use them as you will in this world. Amen.

COMMUNION REFRAIN “Create In Me” (Aguilar)

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

Eucharistic Prayer:

P (Spoken over music) True God, Giver of Life, Word of our Creator, Spirit of Counsel and Might; God of our deliverance, be with us now as we join in the celebration of your love.

COMMUNION REFRAIN “Create In Me” (Aguilar)

Words & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III

Shandy Music Industries, PO Box 10402, Portland, OR 97296.

(Spoken over music) On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this often in remembrance of me.”

After supper Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this often in remembrance of me.”

When you eat this bread and drink this cup you make public Jesus’ death until he comes. Come, take in this lifesaving meal.

Lord’s Prayer:

(Spoken over music) 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 forever. Amen.

Sit

Silence (Distribution)

Stand

Dismissal:

P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ fill you to overflowing, sustain you in all things and nourish you in body and spirit.

C: Amen.

Prayer:

A: Let us pray.

C: Lord Jesus, you are our Christ, the One who reconciles us, brings us back from the depths of lifelessness. With your body you feed us to overflowing, with your blood you transfuse us to boundless vitality, that we may walk boldly in this world: being all that you would have us be, doing all that you would have us do, showing all that we meet the power, the wonder, the glory of God. Amen.

Silence

Sit

Community Announcements

Stand

Benediction

P: May God bless you. May God keep you always in love. May God be with you as you share Christ, your savior, your friend, your brother, your constant companion who is in you, knowing that you are filled with the Spirit and empowered to act as the hands of God here and now.

C: Amen.

SENDING SONG: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676; based on Arnulf of Louvain, c. 1250; tr. composite

Music: HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN (rhythmic), German melody, c. 1500, adapt. Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612

O sacred head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded

with thorns, thine only crown;

O sacred head, what glory,

what bliss till now was thine!

Yet, though despised and gory,

I joy to call thee mine.

How art thou pale with anguish,

with sore abuse and scorn;

how does that visage languish

which once was bright as morn!

Thy grief and bitter passion

were all for sinners' gain;

mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

What language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest friend,

for this thy dying sorrow,

thy pity without end?

Oh, make me thine forever,

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love to thee.

Lord, be my consolation;

shield me when I must die;

remind me of thy passion

when my last hour draws nigh.

These eyes, new faith receiving,

from thee shall never move;

for he who dies believing

dies safely in thy love.

A: Walk with the Lord this week to Calvary, the tomb, towards the promise of Easter.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude