Passion Sunday: Seven Words

The Passion of Our Lord: The Seven Words of Christ

The Palm Processional begins the service with the congregation gathering outside the sanctuary and processing in with palms.

The Passion story uses a lot of choral pieces interspersed throughout the text, as well as a few congregational songs. Also, communion is served during the reading of the Passion. If desired you may wish to consolidate the text and use fewer anthems or replace them with congregational pieces. You will need several narrators for the Passion story.

Due to the reading of the entire Passion story there is no sermon or message in this service (the message is delivered in the scripture and songs). If you wish to add a message I would recommend shortening the Passion story to an abridged version and cutting anthems/songs.

Order of Worship

▲ Palm Processional:

All who are able gather out in the hall.

Processional Gospel: John 12:12-16

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: "Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

P: Cry out and rejoice! Our God remembers us, God's people.

C: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

P: Make a procession of joy before God, for God sends us Christ Jesus, our salvation.

C: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Processional Song: Hosanna (repeat as necessary)

Authors: Deborah D. Smith Michael W. Smith

All: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! . . .

Choir: King of Israel, welcome to our hearts, . . Hosanna!

All: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! . . .

Choir: To Jerusalem, to the sons of man, . . . You are the King of Kings, hosanna!

All: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! . . .

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also, with you.

A: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

C: Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

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

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

A: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

C: This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

A: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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

A: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.

C: We bless you from the house of the LORD.

A: The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. 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

Prayer of the Day:

Prayers of the Church

Greeting of Peace:

P: As Christ gives his incalculable peace to us, so we share that peace. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

▼ Offering

▲ Prayer:

A: Let us pray. O God of all, you have given us more than we can ever calculate.

C: All our possessions, our time, our talents and our lives come from you. In thanks and praise we give them and these tokens of our love back to you. Amen.

▼ Suggest Choir Anthem: God So Loved The World Aaron David Miller.

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.

▲ Testimony of Faith:

O God of all, I do believe. I believe that before all time you exist. Before the past, the present or the future, before the universe, before the world, before all creation, you are. O God of all, I do believe. I believe that out of nothing you created: the structure of the universe, the elements of life, the plants, the animals, and humankind.

O God of all salvation, I do believe. I believe that before all things you exist. Before the past, the present or the future, before the universe, before the world, before all creation, you are. O God of all salvation, I do believe. I believe that you are our Christ, our Holy One, who stepped out of divinity into the mundane to be with us in order to return to us and to all creation the wholeness that was ours before we rejected you. Using the evil which perverts this world, you allowed that evil to torture you to death on a cross in order that you might conquer evil and death which is its only end.

O God of all comfort, I do believe. I believe that before all things you exist. Before the past, the present or the future, before the universe, before the world, before all creation, you are. O God of all comfort, I do believe. I believe that you are our Advocate, our Comforter and Guide, who flows in great mercy through all creation bringing hope, faith, and love beyond measure in order to drive back the darkness of our evil.

Song: O God, Why are You Silent

Tune: Herzlich Tut mich verlangen

Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950 Text copyrighted 2003 GIA Publications, Inc.

Music: Hans Leo Hassler, 15-1612; arr. Johann "Seabastian Bach, 1685-1750

▼ 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.

Dim nave and altar lights.

Silence

The Passion of our Lord

Mark 15:1-39

with

The Seven Words of Christ

Music by W Michael Aguilar III

Narration by Lisa Frenz

(see Music)

The Seven Words of Christ: Word One

Music: Day One

Narration: "Father forgive them. They don't know what they do."

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let there be light!" And there was light. Such light! A light that penetrates the darkest of nights! The blackest of souls!

.After the music stops the following is read.

Reader:

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so." Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you."

But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

.Suggested Choir Anthem: Thy Will Be Done Craig Courtney

(Put out first candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: Word Two

Music: Day Two

Narration: "I thirst!"

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters! Let it divide water from water!" And so it was! The vault of Heaven above, the waters beneath, creating the essence of life, the design of things to come!

.After the music stops the following is read.

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.

Reader:

Jesus is Condemned to Death Stanza 1

from Meditations on Stations of the Cross written for Good Friday service at Iona Abbey, Kathy Keay, Easter 1987 from Laughter, Silence & Shouting An Anthology Women's Prayers, copyright 1994 Kathy Keay.

Lord, You sit in silence but it is too late for you to be quiet. . . .catch up with you in the end.

(Put out second candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: .Word Three

Music: Day Three

Narration: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!"

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let the waters be gathered into one place! And let the dry land appear!" And so it was! The dry land of the earth, the gathering of the seas establishing the frame of the world to come!"

.After the music stops the following is read.

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.

And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Jesus is Condemned to Death Stanza 2

You called the religious people 'a load of wets'. . . . as an example of one who knew his need.

(Put out third candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: .Word Four

Music: Day Three Continued

Narration: "Woman, behold your son." — "Behold your mother."

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, fruit trees of every kind, fruit tress that bear fruit with seen in it!" And so it was! Bounty upon bounty! The continuance of life assured!

.After the music stops the following is read.

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. 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.

.Suggeste Choir Anthem: My Faith Looks Up To Thee Robert Buckley Farlee

(Put out fourth candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: ..Word Five

Music: Day Four

Narration: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the heaven, and let the lights divide the day from the night and they shall be signs for the fixed times, and signs for the day and the years!" And so it was! The sun, the great light, for the day, The moon, the small light and the stars for the night! The wonders of heaven revealed!

After the music stops the following is read.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.

Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

Jesus is Condemned to Death Stanza 3

You talked with people who felt cheated . . . turned over the 'Trinkets for Jesus' stalls, no wonder they didn't ask you back.

(Put out fifth candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: .Word Six

Music: Day Five

Narration: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Emptiness . . barrenness . . . desolation . . . futility . . . folly . . . hollowness .. . the Word!

In the beginning the void . . the abyss . . .the darkness. When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures! And le the birds fly across the dome of the sky!" And so it was! Monster and whimsies, the weird, the wonderful, God's creation grows!

.After the music stops the following is read.

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus is Condemned to Death Stanza 4

You reduced thousands of years of theology into . . .they not You in whom the Spirit has died.

(Put out sixth candle.)

The Seven Words of Christ: .Word Seven

Music: Day Six

Narration: "It is finished."

Vastness. . . potential . . .promise. . . stirrings. . . motion. . . vitality . . the word! In the beginning . . . the void the abyss the darkness! When God began creating the earth God's breath hovered over the waters and God said, "Let us make humankind in our image according to our likeness" thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude! And so it was! In God's image we are created! And so were the heavens and the earth completed and all their array! The word of God . . . alive!

.After the music stops the following is read.

When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"

Jesus is Condemned to Death Stanza 5

Help us to follow You, Lord. . . . and so to overcome evil in the world today.

(Carry out seventh candle.)

.Suggested Choir Anthem: Hope for Resolution arr. Caldwell & Ivory

▲

P: You know that you were ransomed from the useless way of life

not with perishable things,

silver and gold,

But with the costly blood of Christ—

as a lamb without blot or blemish.

Christ having been known before the foundation of the world

was made visible at the end of time for your sake,

through him the faithful are in God

Who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,

So that your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:18-21

P: Blessed is the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens;

Just as God chose us to be in Christ

before the foundation of the world,

God chose us to be holy and blameless

before God in love.

God destined us for adoption through Jesus Christ

According to the favor of God's will,

For the praise of the glory of God's grace

which God gave us in the beloved, Jesus Christ,

In whom we have redemption through his blood—

the forgiveness of our sins—

According to the riches of God's grace

Which he lavished on us

in all wisdom and insight.

P: God has made known to us the mystery of the divine will

According to the favor which God set forth in Christ

As a plan for the fullness of time

to sum up all things in Christ—

all the things of heaven

and all the things of earth in him—

In whom we also were chosen,

destined according to the purpose of the one

who sets everything in motion

According to the council of God's will

For we exist to praise the glory of God—

we who first hoped in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-12

P: For I received from the Lord

that which I also handed down to you—

that the Lord Jesus

in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

and after giving thanks, He broke it and said,

"This is My body, which is for you;

do this in remembrance of Me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying,

"This cup is the new covenant which is in My blood;

do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

I Corinthians 11:23-26

Lord's Prayer:

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.

▼ Communion Song: O Christ, Lamb of God

Music: J. Bugenhagen, Christliche Ordunung, 1528

Distribution of Communion

▲ Dismissal from Communion:

P: Now may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you always in God's grace.

C: Amen.

Suggest Choir Anthem: Amazing Grace arr. John Carter.

Blessing:

P: The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be caring towards you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

C: Amen.

▼ Community Announcements

▲ Sending Song: Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow

Tune Name: EBENEZER

Text Source: Text: Bernhardt S. Ingemann, 1789-1862; tr. Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924

Music Source: Music: Thomas J. Williams, 1869-1944

A: Go this day. Watch and pray. Follow Jesus from cross to grave.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude