Sevenlastwords2015

The Seven Last Words of Christ Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach April 3rd, 2015 + 7:00 p.m.

A note from our Music Director, Ashley Sosis: The seven last words of Christ from the cross recount Jesus’ last actions on earth.

Many of these last phrases were taken from Psalms of the Old Testament. From Psalm 22, known as the prayer of an innocent person, Jesus quotes, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ From Psalm 31, a prayer of distress, ‘Into your hands I commend my spirit.’

The collects used in today’s service are taken from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Each collect comes from daily Holy Week liturgies. Their solemn language beautifully gathers us into Christ-centered prayer. It is of note that each collect does not mention the Passion without also mentioning the Resurrection. Indeed, we know that Jesus’ truly final words are not “it is finished,” but “behold, I am with you until the end of the age.” We worship thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world!

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THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST April 3rd, 2015 + 7:00 p.m.

Opening Remarks

Rev. Iain Boyd

Celebrant: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Celebrant: Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: In whom is our salvation, our life and Resurrection.

Let us pray.

Assist us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation; that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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THE FIRSTWORD “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Reader: The first word from the cross. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:33-34) Meditation

“O Come and Mourn with Me”

by: David H. Williams

O come and mourn with me awhile; O come ye to the Saviour’s side; O come, together let us mourn: Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!

Seven times He spake, seven words of love; And all three hours His silence cried For mercy on the souls of men: Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!

O break, O break, hard heart of mine!

Thy weak self-love and guilty pride His Pilate and His Judas were: Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!

O love of God! O sin of man!

In this dread act your strength is tried, And victory remains with love: Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!

Text by: Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)

Celebrant:

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We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE SECOND WORD “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Reader: The second word from the cross. One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43) Meditation

“Miserere Mei”

By: Antonio Lotti

Miserere mei Deus, Have mercy on me God, Secundum magnam, misericordiam tuam, According to your great kindness Et secundum multitudinem miserati tuarum de le iniquitatem meam.

And according to the multitude of your mercies.

Text: Psalm 51:1

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

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Almighty and everlasting God, who forgives the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE THIRD WORD “Woman, here is your Son…Here is your Reader: The third word from the cross. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his Mother.” mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19: 25-27) Meditation

“A Litany”

by: William Walton (1902-1983)

Drop, slow tears, And bathe those beauteous feet, Which brought from Heav’n The news and Prince of Peace: Cease not, wet eyes, His mercy to entreat; To cry for vengeance, Sin doth never cease.

Drop, slow tears.

In your deep flood Drown all my faults and fears; Nor let his eye See sin, but through my tears.

Text by: Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650)

Celebrant: 5

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We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Celebrant:

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE FOURTH WORD “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?”

Reader: The fourth word from the cross. And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15: 33-34) Meditation

“O my people”

Tomás Luis de Victoria

Popule meus, quid feci tibi? O my people, what have I done to you?

Aut in quo contristavi te? Or how have I offended you?

Responde mehi. Answer me.

1. Quia eduxi te de terra Aegypti, I led you in exodus from the land of Egypt parasti creucem salvatori tuo. But you led your Savior to the Cross.

Agios o Theos. Holy is God. Agios ischyros. Holy and strong.

Agios athanatos eleison imas. Holy immortal one, have mercy on us.

2. Quia eduxi te per desertum quadraginta annis, For forty years I led you through the desert. et manna cibavi te, I fed you with manna from heav’n, et introduxi in terram satis optimam, And brought you to a land of plenty, parasti crucem salvatori tuo. But you led your Saviour to the cross.

3. Quid ultra debui facere tibi, et non feci? What more could I have done for you?

Ego quidem plantavi te vineam meam speciosissimam, I planted you as my fairest vine, et tu facta es mihi nimis amara: But you yielded only bitterness,

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aceto namque sitim meam potasti, When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink, et lancea perforasti latus salvatori tuo. And you pierced your Saviour with a lance.

Text: The Reproaches, in Latin including the Trisagion prayer, in Greek

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

O Lord God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame; Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Homily

The Reverend Iain Boyd

Rector

THE FIFTH WORD “I thirst.”

Reader: The fifth word from the cross. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

(John 19: 28-29) Meditation

“O Domine Jesu”

O Domine Jesu Christe, Adoro te in cruce vulneratum, Felle, et aceto potatum, Deprecor te, ut tua vulnera Sint remedium animae meae.

By: G. P. Palestrina

Lord Jesus Christ, I adore you, who was wounded on the cross And was given gall and vinegar to drink.

I pray that your wounds May be a remedy for my soul.

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

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Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SIXTH WORD “It is Finished.”

Reader: The sixth word from the cross. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) Meditation

“Wondrous Love”

Southern folk hymn Arranged by: Paul Christiansen

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

That caused the Lord of life to bear the heavy cross, What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, That Christ should lay aside His crown for my soul!

What wondrous love, O my soul!

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified; Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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THE SEVENTH WORD “Father, Into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Reader: The seventh word from the cross. It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed.

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23: 44-46) Meditation

“Adoramus Te, Christe”,

Adoramus te, Christe, Et benedicimus tibi, Quia per sanctam crucem tuam Redemisti mundum, Qui passus es pro nobis, Domine, Domine, miserere nobis.

by: Francesco Rosselli (1445-1510) We adore Thee, O Christ, And we praise Thee, Who by Thy Holy Cross Hath redeemed the world.

He who suffered death for us, O Lord, O Lord, Have Mercy on us.

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise thee because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please KNEEL as you are able.

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THE LORD’S PRAYER

Celebrant:

Chanted by all after soloist intones opening:

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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+ BENEDICTION

+ GRACE Celebrant:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

All recess in silence.

3000 N. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577 Phone: (843) 448-8426, Fax: (843) 946-9637

E-mail: trinitymb@aol.com Please visit our website at www.trinitymyrtlebeach.org