Way of the Cross

A Good Friday Service

Welcome to the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea

For everyone’s safety, please keep your mask on at all times and greet one another at a safe distance.

Opening Devotions

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.

Officiant and People
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.

V. We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. In whom is our salvation, our life and resurrection.

Let us pray. [silence]
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Station

Jesus is condemned to death / Finn Lorentzen

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said,
Congregation: “He deserves to die.”
Lector: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
V. God did not spare his own Son:
R. But delivered him up for us all.

Let us pray. [silence]
Almighty God, whose most dear son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist / Jessica Hitchcock

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Second Station

Jesus takes up his Cross / Kaia Clemente

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter; and like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
V. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all:
R. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Let us pray. [silence]
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Third Station

The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene / David Nguyen

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
V. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me:
R. Cannot be my disciple.

Let us pray. [silence]
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Fourth Station

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem / Mackenzie Cook

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people, and among them were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
V. Those who sowed with tears:
R. Will reap with songs of joy.

Let us pray. [silence]
Teach your Church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them; that, by your pardoning grace, the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children’s children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Fifth Station

Jesus is stripped of his garments / Christopher Ordway

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: Then they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.”
V. They gave me gall to eat:
R. And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let us pray. [silence]
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Sixth Station

Jesus is nailed to the Cross / Maxine Nguyen

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him; and with him they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”
V. They pierce my hands and my feet:
R. They stare and gloat over me.

Let us pray. [silence]
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Soloist

A cantor sings the Trisagion.

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy upon us.

Seventh Station

Jesus dies on the Cross / Charlie Sober

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Lector: When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “behold your mother!” And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “it is finished!” And then, crying with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit.

Silence

The cross is draped in black.

Let us pray. [silence]
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Concluding Prayers

We thank you, heavenly Father, 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 for ever. Amen.

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

Please leave in silence.

If you wish to remain for prayer, please use either the Cluett Memorial Garden or the Columbarium.