Good Friday
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series III, Cycle A
Object:
Prayer Around The Cross
Gathering
The ministers process in silence. You may then speak a word of introduction and instruction.
Chant -- "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Chant -- "Nothing Can Trouble"
Chant -- "Jesus, Remember Me"
The Word
Reading: Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Chant -- "We Adore You, Jesus Christ"
Reading: John 19:1-42
Chant -- "Our Darkness"
Intercessions
Spoken -- each followed by the Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
Unspoken -- followed by Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
The Lord's Prayer
Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
Meditation And Adoration
Chant "Stay With Me"
Individuals may come forward and place their hands or foreheads on the cross.
Sending
Lighting of the Votive Candles/Chant -- "Come And Fill"
(illustrations in book)
Service Notes
The music of the monks of Taizé provides your community the opportunity to enter into the adoration of the cross in a new way. The simple repetitive verses allow us to move our focus from the words on the page to the sound in our ear. Candlelight, a rough-hewn cross, and a cello, violin, or wind instrument help to create an environment where prayer breathes forth in sighs deeper than words. Silence follows each chant and each reading, with five to seven minutes of silence following the Passion narrative. The rough-hewn cross is placed in the center, outlined in small votive candles that will be lit following the adoration of the cross. They are to remain burning even as the congregation departs at the close of the service. The adoration of the cross allows all to bring their burdens and the burdens of the world to Christ Jesus and in his Passion, to commit to him all that is in their hearts.
The Taizé chants can be found in WOV and GATHER. Full accompaniment edition is available through GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason, Chicago, Illinois 60638.
Liturgical Art For Good Friday And Easter Sunday
In remembrance of the suffering of Jesus, the Eastern orthodox icon or Pascha titled The Descent into Hades can be displayed between floor-standing candles in the narthex on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
If your congregation holds an Easter Vigil, luminaries made from small brown bags containing lit candles in sand can brighten the path to the front of the church. A small fire (perhaps contained in a grill) is used as the source from which to light the new Paschal candle. Congregants light small candles from it and then process into a darkened sanctuary where stories of deliverance (Hebrew Bible) are read. Create a tent of white cloth in the middle of the sanctuary to capture the ancient mood of the scriptures. The baptismal font, lectern/pulpit, and communion table are to be placed under the tent if possible.
(illustrations in book)
One option for Easter morning is the placing of an egg in the baptismal font along with fresh flowers. A further option is to surround the baptismal font with geodes (like tombs) that have been broken open. The processional cross may also be tied to the (Christmas) tree trunk that has been encased with chicken wire, and is then covered in flowers and the Lenten prayer wreath. (See page 75 in book.)
On a second altar or table, the upright logs from Ash Wednesday can be brought back, but now the ashes and purple ribbon are gone. Replacing them are flowers in front of each log that have been placed in clear containers of water and held in place with white and gold ribbons or cloth strips. Fresh flowers can be included for all the Sundays of Easter. If the Alleluia banner was buried on Ash Wednesday, it can be dug up and displayed.
(illustrations in book)
Gathering
The ministers process in silence. You may then speak a word of introduction and instruction.
Chant -- "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Chant -- "Nothing Can Trouble"
Chant -- "Jesus, Remember Me"
The Word
Reading: Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Chant -- "We Adore You, Jesus Christ"
Reading: John 19:1-42
Chant -- "Our Darkness"
Intercessions
Spoken -- each followed by the Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
Unspoken -- followed by Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
The Lord's Prayer
Chant -- "Kyrie Eleison"
Meditation And Adoration
Chant "Stay With Me"
Individuals may come forward and place their hands or foreheads on the cross.
Sending
Lighting of the Votive Candles/Chant -- "Come And Fill"
(illustrations in book)
Service Notes
The music of the monks of Taizé provides your community the opportunity to enter into the adoration of the cross in a new way. The simple repetitive verses allow us to move our focus from the words on the page to the sound in our ear. Candlelight, a rough-hewn cross, and a cello, violin, or wind instrument help to create an environment where prayer breathes forth in sighs deeper than words. Silence follows each chant and each reading, with five to seven minutes of silence following the Passion narrative. The rough-hewn cross is placed in the center, outlined in small votive candles that will be lit following the adoration of the cross. They are to remain burning even as the congregation departs at the close of the service. The adoration of the cross allows all to bring their burdens and the burdens of the world to Christ Jesus and in his Passion, to commit to him all that is in their hearts.
The Taizé chants can be found in WOV and GATHER. Full accompaniment edition is available through GIA Publications, 7404 S. Mason, Chicago, Illinois 60638.
Liturgical Art For Good Friday And Easter Sunday
In remembrance of the suffering of Jesus, the Eastern orthodox icon or Pascha titled The Descent into Hades can be displayed between floor-standing candles in the narthex on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
If your congregation holds an Easter Vigil, luminaries made from small brown bags containing lit candles in sand can brighten the path to the front of the church. A small fire (perhaps contained in a grill) is used as the source from which to light the new Paschal candle. Congregants light small candles from it and then process into a darkened sanctuary where stories of deliverance (Hebrew Bible) are read. Create a tent of white cloth in the middle of the sanctuary to capture the ancient mood of the scriptures. The baptismal font, lectern/pulpit, and communion table are to be placed under the tent if possible.
(illustrations in book)
One option for Easter morning is the placing of an egg in the baptismal font along with fresh flowers. A further option is to surround the baptismal font with geodes (like tombs) that have been broken open. The processional cross may also be tied to the (Christmas) tree trunk that has been encased with chicken wire, and is then covered in flowers and the Lenten prayer wreath. (See page 75 in book.)
On a second altar or table, the upright logs from Ash Wednesday can be brought back, but now the ashes and purple ribbon are gone. Replacing them are flowers in front of each log that have been placed in clear containers of water and held in place with white and gold ribbons or cloth strips. Fresh flowers can be included for all the Sundays of Easter. If the Alleluia banner was buried on Ash Wednesday, it can be dug up and displayed.
(illustrations in book)
