Good Friday 1 April 3, 2015

Good Friday

April 3, 2015

ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PRAIRIE HILL

6605 Old Independence Rd Brenham, TX 77833

www.stjohnprairiehill.org phone: 979-836-8666

facebook.com/prairie.hill

Good Friday 2 April 3, 2015

Welcome to Prairie Hill

GOOD FRIDAY is the second portion of the liturgy of the Great Three Days, which extends from Maundy Thursday through Easter. The ancient title for this day is “the triumph of the cross.”

As the church gathers to remember the death of Jesus, we focus not only upon the agony of the cross but especially upon God’s victory through the crucified. Jesus is made a triumphant king who reigns from the cross in John’s telling of the passion, and this Gospel narrative is at the center of today’s worship.

In this way, the cross is portrayed as more than an instrument of death: through Christ’s triumph over death, the cross becomes a source of strength and hope as the tree of life.

WELCOME VISITORS! We rejoice that you have chosen to worship with us, and hope you feel welcome to call Prairie Hill your home. The page numbers for the service refer to the front of the red hymnals in the pew. You will find hymns in the back of the same hymnal. A cry room and a bathroom are located near the church entrance (the back of the sanctuary). If you have any questions about our church family, you are invited to ask an usher or the person next to you in the pew. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to Pastor Jim after the service.

Good Friday 3 April 3, 2015

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

GATHERING All gather in silence. The assembly stands when the pastor stands.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Merciful God, your Son was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself. Grant that we who have been born out of his wounded side may at all times find mercy in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

FIRST READING ISAIAH 52:13-53:12 Pew Bible, p. 643 (OT)

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING HEBREWS 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Pew Bible, p. 194 (NT)

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL JOHN 18:1-19:42 Pew Bible, p. 98 (NT)

Look to Jesus, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, And has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John.

SERMON Pastor Jim Abbott

HYMN OF THE DAY O Sacred Head, Now Wounded #351

Good Friday 4 April 3, 2015

OFFERING HYMN Meditation Music *OFFERTORY Create in Me a Clean Heart O God #186

GATHERING AROUND THE CROSS

BIDDING PRAYER p. 263

An invitation (bid) is given to each prayer. Following the bid, there is time for silent prayer offered by the congregation. The Pastor then offers a prayer on behalf of the congregation.

Each prayer concludes: We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

*THE LORD’S PRAYER Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask.

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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

*PROCESSION OF THE CROSS p. 264

A rough-hewn cross is carried in procession into the sanctuary and placed before the congregation as a reminder of our Lord’s Passion and the cost of our salvation. The following dialogue is said three times: at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the pro-cession, the congregation echoing the leader.

Good Friday 5 April 3, 2015

Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world. Oh, come, let us worship him.

The congregation may be seated.

SOLEMN REPROACHES

The Solemn Reproaches are an ancient part of the church’s worship on Good Friday. The reproaches are based on Psalm 78, which is an account of God’s continued faith-fulness in the face of Israel’s continued rebellion. Spoken to us today from the cross, the reproaches are a reminder of how our contin-ued sinful rebellion—as a church and as individuals– made the events of this dark day necessary.

Each reproach ends with the following response: … but you have prepared a cross for your Savior. Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. By your holy cross you have redeemed the world. At the conclusion of the Solemn Reproaches, worshipers may reverence the cross or spend some time in silent prayer before they depart. Reverencing the cross may in-clude actions such as pausing before the cross, bowing, kneeling before it for prayer, or touching it. Small scraps of paper, nails, and a hammer will be available for those who wish to nail their sins to the cross before departing. The bell is not rung and there is no dismissal. All depart in silence.

Portions of the liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #27157.

Good Friday 6 April 3, 2015

Worship Assistants Pastor The Rev. Jim Abbott Visitation Pastor The Rev. Virgil Pecht Accompanist Linda Schulze Acolyte Haylie Tosta Layreader Delores Gaskamp Council Members Jon Westerfeld/Kenneth Seeker Altar Preparations Elvera Janner , Kay Janner

Senior Easter Party

The seniors will be gathering for an Easter Party on Wednesday, April 8th

from 1:30-5:30PM. Everyone is asked to bring

refreshments! They will continue to meet on the first Wednesday of every month with snacks provided by the

host. Come and have some fun!

Given by….. In Memory of…..

Ben & Carolyn Kessel Loved Ones

Emery & Helen Schulze Allen Schulze

Walter & Evelyn Thielemann (2) Parents & Grandparents

Given by….. In Honor of….. Kevin & Mary Hill Grandchildren

EASTER LILY DONATIONS TO NEW BEGINNINGS

Good Friday 7 April 3, 2015

EASTER LILIES

Given by….. In Memory of…..

Rev. Jim & Louise Abbott (2) Our Parents

William & Jennifer Anderson Alvin & Esther Schawe

Elton & Agnes "Andy" Anderson

Glenwood Schwartz

Donna Bentke Herman Bentke

Phyllis Bickham & Family (3) Kenneth L. Bickham

David & Linda Bryan (2) WJ & Blanche Bryan

Fred & Bernice Harper

Barnay & Connie Glaesmann Loved Ones

Michael Ham Edna Ham

Jean Seeker Family

Kenneth & Christin Seeker, Kaden & Katie (2) Eugene Seeker

David & Glenda Stegent (3) Loved Ones

James & Florence Wolff (2) Alvin & Esther Schawe

Agnes "Andy" Anderson & Glenwood Schwartz

Kristy Wolff Akvin & Esther Schawe

Given by….. In Honor of…..

William & Jennifer Anderson Andy & Karen Anderson

James & Florence Wolff

Charles & Deanna Giese Grandchildren-Samantha, Savannah, Sierra & Tyler

Barnay & Connie Glaesmann Grandchildren

Kevin & Mary Hill Grandchildren

Darrell, Gayle & Conner Himly Our Risen Lord

Gilbert & Kathryn Janner Loved Ones

Herbert & Cathie Klatte, Family (2) Herbert & Esther Klatte

Michael & Janice Anderson/Naomi Zopfi

Danney & Connie Rohde Grandchildren

Al & Audrey Steinbach Children & Grandchildren

Kristy Wolff Burnie & Nellie Wolff

Good Friday 8 April 3, 2015

EASTER EGG HUNT The St. John Sunday School invites all children to join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. On Easter Sunday, at 9:00 am, we will go looking for our Easter Eggs.

Easter at Prairie Hill

Celebrating the Power of the Resurrection!

On Easter morning, the St. John Youth will be hosting Easter Breakfast

between services!

SUNDAY ..........THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

6:30 AM Sunrise Service Easter Breakfast 9:00 AM Easter Egg Hunt 10:05 AM Festival Service