Praying Around the Cross

A Good Friday Service

Britta Wallbaum

This service is a cross between a traditional Tenebrae service and the Prayer Around the Cross service from Holden Village (Susan Briehl and Tom Witt, Holden Prayer Around the Cross: Handbook to the Liturgy [Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2009]). Holden Village, a Lutheran community in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, is dedicated to a communal rhythm of work and worship that welcomes all people to form and renew their relationships with God, the earth, and each other. Prayer Around the Cross incorporates music from the Taizé and Iona traditions and comparable genres. The mood of the service presented below is contemplative and meditative, containing a mix of Scripture reading, prayer, and simple songs led by a cantor. There is no written program, and the words are projected on the screen only in a muted way; they should offer help, but not be the focus. Readers and musicians are not visible, but off to the side during the entire service except for the introduction and the pastor’s message.

A candlelit cross is the focus of the room. Everything else is dim. We are holding vigil at the cross, reliving Christ’s last moments, remembering his suffering and our sin. As each Scripture is read, one candle is snuffed out. As Jesus’ death is recalled, the Christ candle is also extinguished.

You can end there, as is tradition for a Tenebrae service. Alternatively, after the last candle is extinguished, the pastor could give a short message that might end with hope of Easter morning to come and, at an appropriate time, the relighting of the Christ candle with an invitation to the congregation to continue in vigil, in prayer, and in hope, both for Easter morning and for Christ’s return in glory and our eternal home. Once the official service is over, all are invited to stay as long as they wish and, if they feel so moved, to bring their candle to the front, light it from the Christ candle, and place it around the cross, symbolizing their vigil of hope as they continue to pray at the foot of the cross.

[The lights are dimmed as much as possible. The stage is unlit except perhaps for a light focused on the standing cross. The cross stands at the top of the stage steps with a row of large pillar candles placed along the entire length of the stage in front of it. The candles are purple, except for the one directly in front of the cross, which is white. All the candles are lit before the service begins. Tea light candles are handed out to the congregation as they enter. Consider posting a sign at the door requesting an attitude of silent meditation as they enter.]

The Service

Prelude

[A single violinist plays familiar Lenten hymns as people enter. The lights may start a little less dimmed so people can find their seats easily.]

Introduction

[A welcome and introduction is given. The format of the service should be clearly explained, with a run-through of any unfamiliar songs. Once the sung prayer of invocation begins, the lights should be fully dimmed.]

Song of Invocation: “Dwell”^Corum

Reading: Mark 14:32–42

Judas’ Betrayal

[The first candle is extinguished.]

Song: “Dwell”^Corum

Reading: Mark 14:43–50

Peter’s Betrayal

[The second candle is extinguished.]

Prayer of Confession

Good and gracious Lord,

as you gave me grace to acknowledge my sins,

so give me grace both in word and heart to repent and utterly forsake them.

And forgive me those sins which my pride blinds me from discerning.

Glorious God,

give me your grace to turn my back on the things of this world,

and to fix my heart solely on you.

Give me your grace to amend my life,

so that I can approach death without resentment,

knowing that in you is the gateway to eternal riches.

Glorious God,

take from me all sinful fear,

all sinful shame and self-pity,

all sinful hope and all sinful desire.

Instead give me such fear, such sorrow, such pity, such hope,

and such desire as may be profitable for my soul.

Good Lord,

give me this grace, in all my fear and agony,

to find strength in that great fear and agony which you, sweet Savior,

had on the Mount of Olives before your bitter passion.

Almighty God,

take from me all desire for worldly praise,

and all emotions of anger and revenge.

Give me a humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient,

generous, kind, tender, and compassionate mind.

Grant me, good Lord, a full faith, a firm hope, and a fervent love,

that I may desire only that which gives you pleasure

and conforms to your will.

And above all, look upon me with your love and favor.

Amen.

^{—Sir Thomas More’s last confession before being beheaded in 1535. Michael Counsell, compiler, 2000 Years of Prayer (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999), 175. Updated.}

Song: “Ah, Holy Jesus” ^{Heermann, Bridges, LUYH 172, GtG 218}

Reading: Mark 14:53–72

Pilate

[The third candle is extinguished.]

Prayer/Song: Psalm 51 with “Create in Me a Clean Heart”^{Anonymous, SNC 49, PfAS 51}

[Congregation may sing the chorus of the song between readings.]

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Reading: Psalm 51:1–2

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Reading: Psalm 51:3–6

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Reading: Psalm 51:7–12

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Reading: Psalm 51:13–17

Prayer/Song: “Create in Me a Clean Heart”^{Anonymous, SNC 49, PfAS 51}

Reading: Mark 15:1–15

Mocking and Crucifixion

[The fourth candle is extinguished.]

Prayer/Song: Isaiah 53 with “What Wondrous Love Is This”^{Anonymous, LUYH 164, GTG 215, SSS 177, 178}

[Congregation may sing the opening line of the hymn between readings.]

Refrain: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

Reading: Isaiah 53:1–3

Refrain: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

Reading: Isaiah 53:4–6

Refrain: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

Reading: Isaiah 53:7–9

Refrain: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

Reading: Isaiah 53:10–12

Prayer/Song: “What Wondrous Love Is This” ^{Anonymous, LUYH 164, GTG 215, SSS 177, 178}

Reading: Mark 15:16–32