Sevenlastwordsprogram2014

The Seven Last Words of Christ Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach April 18th, 2014 + 8:00 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’s 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 18th, 2014 + 8:00 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

“At the Foot of the Cross”

by: Lee Dengler

At the foot of the cross there is sorrow, At the foot of the cross there is love, Flowing down together in a river of salvation, Covering all the world with grace.

At the foot of the cross there is sadness, At the foot of the cross there is hope, Flowing down together in a river of forgiveness, Covering all the world with grace.

Jesus, man of sorrows, Jesus prince of peace, On the cross He suffered for our sin’s relase; Bearing all our burdens, sharing all our pain, Covering all the world with grace.

Celebrant:

We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless 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 3

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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

“Thou Man of Grief, Remember Me”

Sacred Harp Hymn

Thou Man of grief, remember me, Who never canst Thyself forget.

Thy last expiring agony, Thy fainting pangs and bloody sweat.

Father, if I may call Thee so, Regard my fearful heart’s desire; Remove this load of guilty woe, Nor let me in my sins expire!

I tremble, lest the wrath divine, Which bruises now my wretched soul, Should bruise this wretched soul of mine, Long as eternal ages roll.

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

4 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 Mother.”

Reader: The third word from the cross. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his 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

“Stabat Mater”

by: Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967)

Stabat mater dolorosa Juxta Crucem lacrimosa, Dum pendebat Filius.

At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful mother weeping, Close to her Son to the last.

Quae mœrebat et dolebat, pia Mater, dum videbat nati pœnas inclyti.

Christ above in torment hangs, She beneath beholds the pangs, Of her dying, glorious Son.

Celebrant:

We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless 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.

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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

“Calvary”

African-American Spiritual

Calvary, Calvary….Surely He died on Calvary.

Can’t you hear Him calling his Father?...Surely He died on Calvary.

Calvary, Calvary….Surely He died on Calvary.

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless 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 Stephen Davis

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)

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Meditation

“The Reproaches”

by: John Sanders (1933-2003)

O my people, what have I done to you How have I offended you? Answer me!

I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Savior to the cross.

Holy is God! Holy and strong!

Holy immortal One, have mercy on us!

For forty years I led you safely through the desert.

I fed you with manna from heaven, and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Savior to the cross.

What more could I have done for you?

I planted you as my fairest vine, but you yielded only bitterness: when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink, and you pierced your Savior’s side with a lance.

I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear.

I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud, but you led me to Pilate's court.

I bore you up with manna in the desert, but you struck me down and scourged me.

I gave you saving water from the rock, but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.

I gave you a royal scepter, but you gave me a crown of thorns.

I raised you to the height of majesty, but you have raised me high on a cross.

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

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

“In the Departure of the Lord”

by: John Bull (1562-1628)

In the departure of the Lord Of mortal body’s vital breath, There lies a mystery worth record, Which he did show us here on earth: Who doth prepare to die each hour Must follow Christ our Savior.

Celebrant: We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless 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”, by: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594) Adoramus te, Christe, Et benedicimus tibi, Quia per sanctam crucem tuam Redemisti mundum, Qui passus es pro nobis, Domine, Domine, miserere nobis.

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 bless 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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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