SERVICE OF LIGHT
Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world,
People: the light no darkness can overcome. (John 8:12; John 1:5)
Pastor: Stay with us Lord, for it is evening,
People: and the day is almost over. (Luke 24:29)
Pastor: Let Your light scatter the darkness
People: and illumine Your Church. (1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 4:6)
Pastor: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led Your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of Your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for You are merciful, and You love Your whole creation and we, Your creatures, glorify You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us pray. (Silence for individual prayer)
People: Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before You, O Lord, and let Your loving-kindness descend on us that we may, with purified minds, sing Your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host and may glorify You forever. Amen. (Psalm 141)
Versicles
L Hear my prayer, O Lord;
C let my cry come to You.
L In the day of my trouble I call upon You,
C for You answer me.
L Hide Your face from my sins,
C and blot out all my iniquities.
L Create in me a clean heart, O God,
C and renew a right spirit within me.
L Cast me not away from Your presence,
C and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
L Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
C and uphold me with a willing spirit.
L Because Your steadfast love is better than life,
C my lips will praise You.
L For You have been my help,
C and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy.
L Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth;
C unite my heart to fear Your name.
L I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
C and I will glorify Your name forever.
L May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You.
C May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
L Save Your people and bless Your heritage!
C Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
L Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
C listen to my plea for grace.
(Please be seated)
HYMN ~ LSB#761 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure:
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.
2 Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy Law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
READINGS
Reading Matthew 27:15-44
RESPONSORY (Psalm 51:14; 59:1; 141:8)
Pastor: Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful
People: slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents of evil. (Joel 2:13)
Pastor: Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me,
People: let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
Pastor: Christ was wounded for our transgressions.
People: He was bruised for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)
HYMN ~LSB#445 When You Woke That Thursday Morning
1 When You woke that Thursday morning,
Savior, teacher, faithful friend,
Thoughts of self and safety scorning,
Knowing how the day would end;
Lamb of God, foretold for ages,
Now at last the hour had come
When but One could pay sin’s wages:
You assumed their dreadful sum.
2 Never so alone and lonely,
Longing with tormented heart
To be with Your dear ones only
For a quiet hour apart:
Sinless Lamb and fallen creature,
One last paschal meal to eat,
One last lesson as their teacher,
Washing Your disciples’ feet.
3 What was there that You could give them
That would never be outspent,
What great gift that would outlive them,
What last will and testament?
“Show Me and the world you love Me,
Know Me as the Lamb of God:
Do this in remembrance of Me,
Eat this body, drink this blood.”
4 One in faith, in love united,
All one body, You the head,
When we meet, by You invited,
You are with us, as You said.
One with You and one another
In a unity sublime,
See in us Your sister, brother,
One in ev’ry place and time.
5 One day all the Church will capture
That bright vision glorious,
And Your saints will know the rapture
That Your heart desired for us,
When the longed-for peace and union
Of the Greatest and the least
Meet in joyous, blest communion
In Your never-ending feast.
SERMON
PRAYER
(Please Rise)
L: O Lord, C: have mercy. L: O Christ, C: have mercy. L: O Lord, C: have mercy.
L: O Christ, C: hear us. L: God the Father in heaven, C: have mercy. L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world, C: have mercy. L: God the Holy Spirit, C: have mercy.
Jesus, Son of the living God, Have mercy. From all evil, O Jesus, deliver us.
From sudden, unprepared, or evil death; From the snares of the devil; From anger, hatred, or ill-will; From everlasting death, O Jesus, deliver us.
By the mystery of Your incarnation; By Your most holy life and conversation; By Your most bitter Passion and death; By Your agony and bloody sweat; By Your thrice-repeated prayer; By Your bonds and stripes; By Your sacred body, buffeted and smitten; By the spitting upon Your adorable face; By the false judgment pronounced by Caiaphas; By Herod’s disdain of You; By the shameful stripping of Your garments; By Your painful crown of thorns; By Your purple robe of mockery; By Your most unjust condemnation; By Your bearing Your own cross; By Your footprints to the place of death; By the tearing off of Your garments; By the cruel straining of Your sacred limbs; By Your dread crucifixion; By the anguish You did suffer; By Your prayers and tears; By the insults You endured; By the shedding of Your most precious blood; By Your patience and humility; By the love with which You loved us to the end: O Jesus, deliver us.
We poor sinners implore You to hear us: O most loving Jesus.
That being dead to sin, we may live unto righteousness; That we may take up our cross daily and follow You; That Your blood may cleanse us from dead works to serve the living God; That looking on Your example, we may follow Your steps; That being partakers of Your sufferings, we may be also partakers of Your glory: We implore You to hear us, O Jesus.
To give comfort and relief to all who have asked for our prayers [especially ______________]: We implore You to hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Grant us Your peace.
**THE LORD’S PRAYER
**BENEDICTION
Pastor: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you. People: Amen