Thank you once again to Reverend Bill Holland for these two Good Friday downloadable documents to view:

“The first is a Meditation for anytime during the day.

The second is a Good Friday evening service.

God bless, Bill.”

>> Caerlaverock Good Friday Meditation

>> Caerlaverock Good Friday Evening Service

If you have any problems downloading, the text has been pasted below:

GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATION

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20

PRAISE: 380 There is a green hill
Prayer
PRAISE: 378 Praise to the holiest in the height
READING: Luke 22:47-62
Address
PRAISE: 399 My song is love unknown
READING: Luke 23:13-15
Address
Prayer of Intercession
PRAISE: 403 Were you there when they crucified
READING: Luke 23:26, 32-38, 44-49
Address
PRAISE: 382 O Sacred Head! Sore wounded
Prayer
PRAISE: 405 We sing the praise of him who died
Benediction. Go in peace,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit, be with us all 3-fold AMEN

CH4 786 May the God of peace go with us
as we travel from this place;
may the love of Jesus keep us
firm in hope and full of grace. Tune: Ae fond kiss

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
CH4 380
1 There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.
4 There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven, and let us in.
5 Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Almighty God, we give thanks and praise and worship, with
your Church in every place and throughout the ages, for the
grace that has come to us once for all in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
It is with shame and sorrow, as we think of him, that we
confess our failures to be his true disciples; we have not
followed him in his concern for the poor, the despised and
the lost ones; we shrink from being wholly committed to his
way of meekness; we long for the prizes that this world can
give, and are too easily turned aside from his way of faith
and hope and love.
In your forgiving love, most merciful Father, accept our
sorrow for our sins, and strengthen us in the resolve to be
his disciples indeed, by his Spirit in us all the days of our
life. We ask it in Jesus’ name as we pray together in his
words:
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
For ever AMEN

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Luke 22: 47-62
The Arrest of Jesus
47 Jesus was still speaking when a crowd arrived, led by Judas, one of the
twelve disciples. He came up to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas,
is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?”
49 When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen,
they asked, “Shall we use our swords, Lord?” 50 And one of them struck the
High Priest’s slave and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” He touched the man’s ear and healed
him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard
and the elders who had come there to get him, “Did you have to come with
swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw? 53 I was with you in the
Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to
act, when the power of darkness rules.”
Peter Denies Jesus
54 They arrested Jesus and took him away into the house of the High Priest;
and Peter followed at a distance. 55 A fire had been lit in the centre of the
courtyard, and Peter joined those who were sitting round it. 56 When one of
the servant women saw him sitting there at the fire, she looked straight at
him and said, “This man too was with Jesus!”
57 But Peter denied it, “Woman, I don’t even know him!”
58 After a little while a man noticed Peter and said, “You are one of them,
too!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59 And about an hour later another man insisted strongly, “There isn’t any
doubt that this man was with Jesus, because he also is a Galilean!”
60 But Peter answered, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!”
At once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned
round and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had
said to him, “Before the cock crows tonight, you will say three times that
you do not know me.” 62 Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
We can talk about the Cross as a stage in God’s plan of Salvation
– we can talk about the Love of God being shown from the
Cross. We also have to take note of the human agency by
which it came about. That involves the frailty and weakness of
human nature. In general, we can think of the major change
from the adulation and cheering of Palm Sunday to the situation
of Good Friday. I’ve chosen to highlight two of these in the first
reading.
Judas Iscariot was one of the Disciples – committed to Jesus
as Messiah; and probably with a fervent Nationalistic slant to his
thinking. This would have given him a martial and heroic picture
for the Messiah. Imagine his horror when it looked to him as if
Jesus was going to submit, weakly, to what was facing him at
Jerusalem – his death. There is a possibility that his “betrayal”
of Jesus was meant to force Jesus, and God, to act to save him
by intervening with God’s full power – as it were to “save Jesus
from himself”. In reality, it gave the Jewish leaders the
opportunity they were looking for. If it hadn’t been Judas, there
would have had to be some other trigger. In his despair Judas
killed himself – he could not live with what he had brought about
– and he was blind to any future for himself.
Peter, on the other hand, tried to live up to his promise and
commitment of support for Jesus. He followed after all the
others had fled, but, when he felt he was compromised and
threatened, he found himself denying Jesus. Whether the fact
that Jesus had predicted it helped or not I don’t know, but
though Peter “went out and wept bitterly”, he continued with his
life, albeit carrying this huge burden of guilt.
We may not find ourselves like Judas, but we have Peter’s
weaknesses – thus we have a share in putting Jesus on the
Cross.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
CH4 399
1 My song is love unknown,
my Saviour’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?
2 He came from his blest throne
salvation to bestow,
but people scorned, and none the longed-for Christ would know.
But O my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend.
3 Sometimes they strew his way,
and his strong praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then ‘Crucify!’ is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.
4 Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
themselves displease, and ‘gainst him rise.
5 They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suffering goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.
6 In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heaven was his home:
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.
7 Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine!
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend. Samuel Crossman (c. 1624-1683)

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Luke 23:13-15
Jesus is Sentenced to Death
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the
leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You
brought this man to me and said that he was
misleading the people. Now, I have examined him
here in your presence, and I have not found him
guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of. 15 Nor
did Herod find him guilty, for he sent him back to
us. There is nothing this man has done to deserve
death.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
We now come to the next stage of getting Jesus on to the
Cross. The Chief Priests were determined to have Jesus
killed – but they didn’t have the power themselves – they
had to convince Pilate that Jesus was a danger to the State
– not just to their position. While they did not convince
Pilate, they were able to manipulate him by threatening him
with the kind of reports to Rome which would damage his
career – and he was already in a vulnerable position and
could not afford any trouble. He tried to dodge the issue by
offering them Jesus as part of a Passover amnesty.
However, the Chief Priests were ready for that and had
agitators scattered through the crowd to shout for the
release of Barabbas. Pilate set aside his stated assertion of
“not guilty” and gave way under the political pressure that
was put on him.
The crowd, many of whom had probably cheered Jesus on
Palm Sunday, now allowed themselves to be swayed by the
agitators. They allowed their feelings and ideas of justice to
be overwhelmed by the loud voices of agitators.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Almighty God, you have given us a vision, in the word made
flesh, of the freedom and fulfilment you have purposed for
our human race. May that vision never fade from our minds
and wills. May your Spirit be strong to sustain its power
against the darkness and evil in our human hearts, and in
the world around us.
We pray for men and women unjustly accused; for
prisoners of conscience; for children born to poverty; for
those rejected because of their race or colour; for innocent
victims of violence and war.
Lord, we remember before you all who are in any way
affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. We remember those
who are ill – at home, in hospital or intensive care; we
remember those who are confined to their own homes for
their safety – and cut off from normal communication from
friends. We remember with thanks all the NHS staff, carers
and emergency workers who are doing such a wonderful
job – sometimes in dangerous situations.
We pray for the Government, all MPs, Council leaders and
staff who are planning and working on our behalf in the
crisis. We pray especially for the PM, Boris Johnstone, in
his time of need.
May they all be aware of your love and care around them.
Lord Jesus Christ despised and rejected, Man of Sorrows
and acquainted with grief; be present with your brothers
and sisters who bear the pain of the world. Strengthen
them in spirit. Send them present help and uplift them with
the hope of your Kingdom. Lord hear their prayer. AMEN

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
CH4 403
1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
3 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
4 Were you there when God raised him from the dead?
Were you there when God raised him from the dead?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the dead?

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Luke 23:26 – – 49
Jesus is Crucified
26 The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a
man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from
the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him
carry it behind Jesus.
32 Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put
to death with Jesus. 33 When they came to the place called “The
Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his
right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father!
They don’t know what they are doing.”
They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 35 The
people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him:
“He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God
has chosen!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered
him cheap wine, 37 and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the
Jews!”
38 Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
The Death of Jesus
44-45 It was about twelve o’clock when the sun stopped shining and
darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; and the
curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus cried out in a
loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and
died.
47 The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised God,
saying, “Certainly he was a good man!”
48 When the people who had gathered there to watch the spectacle
saw what happened, they all went back home, beating their breasts in
sorrow. 49 All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women
who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
We have snippets of information about different people
involved in the Crucifixion. We have the traveller, Simon of
Cyrene, who was compelled by the soldiers to help carry
Jesus’ cross. We have the two criminals crucified with him.
We have the soldiers, some of whom mocked him. We
have the army officer who was greatly moved by Jesus,
“Certainly he was a good man!” There were some of his
friends and followers who had dared to come but were
probably bewildered and despairing.
In the midst of this we have two happenings which are
special. In spite of all that was done to bring him to the
Cross Jesus is able to say, “Forgive them, Father! They
don’t know what they are doing”. That is spoken out of the
Love of Jesus – out of the Love of God himself. He knew all
that had gone through people’s minds as they made their
decisions – he knew that it had brought him pain and
anguish – both physical and mental. But he also knew that
this had been God’s way of achieving His purpose – of
proclaiming His love. Jesus also knew that God’s
forgiveness was a part of his love. Its purpose was to make
it possible for people to go on living, to be recovered from
their mistakes – because the burden of their guilt could be
taken away and replaced with a new commitment based on
Love – a new relationship depending on God’s initiative
rather than on our human frailty. The reference to the
“Curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two” is a symbol
of this new, direct approach. Previously only the priests
could go beyond the curtain with the offerings and requests
of the worshipper. NOW God has done away with
intermediaries and each person can approach Him directly.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
CH4 382
1 O Sacred Head! sore wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down!
O Kingly Head, surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown!
How pale art thou with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that face now languish,
which once was bright as morn!
2 O Lord of life and glory,
what bliss till now was thine!
I read the wondrous story;
I joy to call thee mine.
Thy grief and bitter Passion
were all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
3 What language shall I borrow
to praise thee, heavenly Friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine for ever,
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.
4 Be near me, Lord, when dying;
O show thy cross to me;
and, my last need supplying,
come, Lord, and set me free;
these eyes, new faith receiving,
from thee shall never move;
for they who die believing
die safely through thy love. Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
Almighty Father, we are filled with wonder, and awe and
reverent worship, as we wait before the Cross that atones
for our sins and proclaims your measureless love for weak
and erring men and women. Thanks be to God for his gift
beyond words, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Holy Spirit of God, come to us and move our hard hearts,
that we may sorrow with Christ for our torn humanity, and
for all homeless souls, and become his body in the world
today.
We remember Paul’s words, I am persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor
things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As the Lord Jesus said, “It is finished”, so we accept in faith,
and in great thankfulness and gladness, his holy life and
sacrificial death for us and for our world.
As the Lord Jesus committed himself in dying into the
Father’s hand, so let us commit ourselves, with all that
concerns us, to his infinite power and goodness.
Father, into your hands we commit ourselves and all dear to
us, and the world for which we pray.
AMEN.

Good Friday Meditation – 10/04/20
CH4 405
We sing the praise of him who died,
of him who died upon the cross;
the sinner’s hope let men deride,
for this we count the world but loss.
Inscribed upon the cross we see,
in shining letters, ‘God is love’;
he bears our sins upon the tree;
he brings us mercy from above.
The cross! it takes our guilt away;
it holds the fainting spirit up;
it cheers with hope the gloomy day,
and sweetens every bitter cup;
It makes the coward spirit brave,
and nerves the feeble arm for fight;
it takes its terror from the grave,
and gilds the bed of death with light;
The balm of life, the cure of woe,
the measure and the pledge of love,
the sinner’s refuge here below,
the angels’ theme in heaven above.
Thomas Kelly (1769-1855)
Benediction. Go in peace,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit, be with us all AMEN
CH4 786 May the God of peace go with us
as we travel from this place;
may the love of Jesus keep us
firm in hope and full of grace. Tune: Ae fond kiss

 

GOOD FRIDAY EVENING SERVICE

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20

PRAISE: 380 There is a green hill
Prayer
PRAISE: 392 When I survey the wondrous Cross
READING: Luke 23:20-34
Address
PRAISE: 397 In the Cross of Christ I glory
READING: Luke 23:35-47
Address
Prayer of Intercession
PRAISE: 402 Take up your cross
READING: Luke 23:50-56
Address
PRAISE: 405 We sing the praise of him who died
Prayer
PRAISE: 396 And can it be, that I should gain
Benediction. Go in peace,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit, be with us all 3-fold AMEN
CH4 786 May the God of peace go with us
as we travel from this place;
may the love of Jesus keep us
firm in hope and full of grace. Tune: Ae fond kiss

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 380
1 There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.
4 There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven, and let us in.
5 Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Lord,
in Jesus
you gave everything for us.
He embraced the limitations of human life,
accepting the risks, the self-surrender, the pain of love;
the Son of God
became the Man for Us.
His perfect loving,
brought him to the Cross,
for we found such loving
too much to accept.
Lord
help us not to reject you
and your love,
even though it is hard to grasp
the enormity of the gift of yourself.
Lord, you are our God.
We are your people.
Pour your love into our lives,
that we too, may be able to give all
for you, for one another, for the world,
for the sake of our crucified Saviour,
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Hear us as we pray in the words Jesus taught us, saying
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
For ever
AMEN

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 392
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
where the young Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down;
did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:20-34
20 Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again.
21 But they shouted back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has he
committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I
will have him whipped and set him free.”
23 But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus
should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. 24 So Pilate
passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. 25 He set free
the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and
murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.
Jesus is Crucified
26 The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a
man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from
the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him
carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some
women who were weeping and wailing for him. 28 Jesus turned to
them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don’t cry for me, but for
yourselves and your children. 29 For the days are coming when people
will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who
never bore babies, who never nursed them!’ 30 That will be the time
when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills,
‘Hide us!’ 31 For if such things as these are done when the wood is
green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put
to death with Jesus. 33 When they came to the place called “The
Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his
right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father!
They don’t know what they are doing.”

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:20-34
Pilate comes down to us with a very bad name and
reputation as being the Roman Governor who allowed Jesus
to be crucified when he was clearly fully aware of his
innocence. Luke’s description of the scene brings home to
us the power of the mob baying for blood – a mob which
will not be denied. Other knowledge we have of Pilate’s
past record, and his insecure position with the Roman
authorities, make it possible to appreciate the “behind-thescenes” pressure that had been exerted by the Jewish
leaders. We should also notice that Pilate put up on the
Cross “This is the King of the Jews”.
Then follows a description of the journey to the place of
crucifixion. The condemned man was required to carry his
own cross. The Roman soldiers also had the right to pick
any man out of the crowd to carry it for him. They chose
Simon from Cyrene, near Tripoli in N Africa. Interestingly,
Mark tells us he was the father of Alexander and Rufus,
whom he expected his readers to know – which suggests
they became disciples. Was Simon influenced by Jesus in
his last moments?
So Jesus came to his Cross – and on it, such was his grace
and love that he could pray, “Forgive them, Father! They
don’t know what they are doing.”
AMEN

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 397
1 In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
2 When the woes of life o’ertake me,
hopes deceive and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me;
lo! it glows with peace and joy.
3 When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds new lustre to the day.
4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.
5 In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
John Bowring (1792-1872)

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:35-47
35 The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders
jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the
Messiah whom God has chosen!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and
offered him cheap wine, 37 and said, “Save yourself if you are
the king of the Jews!”
38 Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the
Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him:
“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear
God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however,
is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what
we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus,
“Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”
43 Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in
Paradise with me.”
The Death of Jesus
44-45 It was about twelve o’clock when the sun stopped shining
and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; and
the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus cried
out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He
said this and died.
47 The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised
God, saying, “Certainly he was a good man!”

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:35-47
The mocking continues in different ways. For Jesus, and for
us, his crucifixion is a central part of our life, our being. For
many of the people of the time it was just a regular
spectacle – to be enjoyed for a short time as a break from
the drudgery of life. On that day of Passover preparation
people would have drifted away more quickly than normal.
For the soldiers it was something they had become used to.
If they were hardened by it, it was just another tour of
duty. If they weren’t, they would want some kind of
distraction. For both there was the ritual perk of gambling
to see who got the belongings that were left from the
“criminals”.
It wasn’t just a surface mocking. In the words used there
is, as it were, a final tempting by the devil. The words
question his Messiahship – his whole purpose – his special
relationship with God. We see the two different attitudes
starkly set out by the two thieves crucified with him. The
one railing at him – the other showing faith and belief.
At the end of the passage we have the Centurion, clearly
impressed, praising God and saying, “Certainly he was a
good man.” AMEN

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Almighty God, you have given us Jesus as a picture of your
all-embracing love, in the word made flesh, who died on the
Cross to set us free. May that vision never fade from our
minds and wills. May that picture remain firm in our minds
to guide and sustain us in our living.
Lord, your concern is not just for our spiritual but also for
our material lives and health. We bring before you our
intercessions for others around us.
Lord, we remember before you all who are in any way
affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. We remember those
who are ill – at home, in hospital or intensive care; we
remember those who are confined to their own homes for
their safety – and cut off from normal communication from
friends. We remember with thanks all the NHS staff, carers
and emergency workers who are doing such a wonderful
job – sometimes in dangerous situations.
We pray for the Government, all MPs, Council leaders and
staff who are planning and working on our behalf in the
crisis. We pray especially for the PM, Boris Johnstone, in
his time of need.
We remember too those who have other pressing problems
in their lives. Those who suffer from terminal illnesses,
those awaiting urgent treatment deferred by the crisis,
those whose jobs are affected, those who don’t have
enough food, those who are deprived of fellowship.
May they all be aware of your love and care around them.
Lord Jesus Christ strengthen all your people in their spirits.
Send them present help and uplift them with the hope of
your Kingdom. Lord hear their prayer. AMEN

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 402
1 ‘Take up your cross,’ the Saviour said,
‘if you would my disciple be;
take up your cross with willing heart
and humbly follow after me.’
2 Take up your cross; let not its weight
fill your weak soul with vain alarm;
his strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.
3 Take up your cross, nor heed the shame,
and let your foolish pride be still:
the Lord refused not even to die
upon a cross, on Calvary’s hill.
4 Take up your cross, then, in his strength,
and calmly every danger brave;
it guides you to a better home,
and leads to victory o’er the grave.
5 Take up your cross and follow Christ,
nor think till death to lay it down;
for only those who bear the cross
may hope to wear the glorious crown.

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:50-56
The Burial of Jesus
50-51 There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a
town in Judea. He was a good and honourable man, who
was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Although he was a member of the Council, he had not
agreed with their decision and action. 52 He went into the
presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then
he took the body down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and
placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock
and which had never been used. 54 It was Friday, and the
Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went
with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was
placed in it. 56 Then they went back home and prepared the
spices and perfumes for the body.
On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Luke 23:50-56
This short passage reminds us of the people who do things
faithfully and quietly – without seeking the limelight or
hitting the headlines. We read of Joseph of Arimethea
taking Jesus’ body for burial, quietly and privately. We read
of the women making their preparations to honour Jesus
through the spices and perfumes of burial.
We’re also given a different feeling of time. The rest of the
chapter has been full to overflowing with events, drama,
emotion and significance. Now it’s as if time has stopped.
It has become a time of waiting. There is darkness and
despair for those who were closest to Jesus. They have lost
a friend and Teacher. For all of them, because they had
misread Jesus’ message, there is the deeper despair of
feeling that their lives have lost all meaning. Yet in this
situation time does not stand still – it keeps moving on.
More particularly GOD is still present, working out His
purpose. He has not given up. He is there underpinning all
their lives and about to give their hope and faith a
wonderful new meaning. Just because we fail to see the
presence of God, that, thankfully, does not mean that He is
not there. He is. He is there through the darkest of times
and it is His love which brings light and warmth where there
has previously been darkness and hurt.
Let us wait upon the Lord with Faith that he will reach out
to us in spite of our blindness and unbelief.
AMEN

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 405
We sing the praise of him who died,
of him who died upon the cross;
the sinner’s hope let men deride,
for this we count the world but loss.
Inscribed upon the cross we see,
in shining letters, ‘God is love’;
he bears our sins upon the tree;
he brings us mercy from above.
The cross! it takes our guilt away;
it holds the fainting spirit up;
it cheers with hope the gloomy day,
and sweetens every bitter cup;
It makes the coward spirit brave,
and nerves the feeble arm for fight;
it takes its terror from the grave,
and gilds the bed of death with light;
The balm of life, the cure of woe,
the measure and the pledge of love,
the sinner’s refuge here below,
the angels theme in heaven above.
Thomas Kelly (1769-1855)

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Almighty Father, as we come to the end of the day of the
Cross, we are astounded to see how much it proclaims your
measureless love for us weak and erring men and women.
We can only give thanks for this gift beyond words you’ve
given us through Jesus.
Holy Spirit of God, come to us and move our hard hearts,
that we may sorrow with Christ for our torn humanity, and
for all homeless souls, and become his body in the world.
We recollect the final words of Jesus, “It is finished”.
Prevent us following the thoughts of the disciples who saw
it as the end of Jesus’ life, the end of a dream and a hope
for a new kingdom in their country.
Help us to hear them as Jesus’ words, “It is accomplished.”
The completion of his task in spite of the final temptation in
Gethsemane to “Let this cup pass. Not my will, but thine.”
Let us feel the agony of Gethsemane and the Cross – but
accept that this was God’s plan – for our sakes.
As the Lord Jesus committed himself into the Father’s hand
as he was dying, so let us commit ourselves, with all that
concerns us, to his infinite power and goodness.
Father, into your hands we commit ourselves and all dear to
us, and the world for which we pray. AMEN.

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
CH4 396
And can it be, that I should gain
an interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain –
for me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the first born seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
let angel minds inquire no more.
He left his Father’s throne above,
so free, so infinite his grace –
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’tis mercy all, immense and free;
for, O my God, it found out me!
’tis mercy all, immense and free;
for, O my God, it found out me!

Good Friday Evening Service – 10/04/20
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
my chains fell off my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
When the tune SAGINA is being used,
lines 5 and 6 of each verse are repeated.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Benediction. Go in peace,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit, be with us all AMEN
CH4 786 May the God of peace go with us
as we travel from this place;
may the love of Jesus keep us
firm in hope and full of grace. Tune: Ae fond kiss