Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

(Psalm 22:1)

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of common worship during Holy Week. We join Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae. As the light is extinguished, we ponder the depth of Christ’s suffering and death; we remember the cataclysmic nature of his sacrifice; we sit in the solemnity of his death and descent to hell for the salvation of our sins; and await his glorious resurrection.

The passion narrative this evening from the Gospel of John includes many references to “the Jews.” Such words reflect the bitter struggle of John’s community in the late first century with the Jewish synagogue and should be understood only in that context. These references cannot be used to justify any contempt for Jewish people nor any belief that the church has replaced the Jewish people as the people of God. The Presbyterian Church (USA) officially condemns any such teaching and believes that God’s covenant with the Jewish people is, in the words of Paul the Apostle, “irrevocable.”

G O O D F R ID A Y April 2, 2021

VOLUNTARY Prelude from Group 1

7:30 p.m.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

CALL TO WORSHIP One: Blessed be the name of the Lord our God, Many: who redeems us from sin and death.

One: For us and for our salvation, Christ became obedient unto death, even death on the cross.

Many: Blessed be the name of the Lord.

PRAYER Merciful God, You gave your Son to suffer the shame of the cross.

Save us from hardness of heart, that, seeing him who died for us, we may repent, confess our sin, and receive your overflowing love, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

† HYMN My Song is Love Unknown (No. 209, from Glory to God)

LOVE UNKNOWN

† PRAYER FOR REMEMBRANCE Forbid, O God, that we should forget, amid our earthly comforts, the pains and mortal anguish that our Lord Jesus endured for our salvation. Grant us a true vision of all that he suffered, in his betrayal, his lonely agony, his false trial, his mocking and scourging and torture of death upon the cross. As he gave himself totally for us, may we give ourselves entirely to him who is our only Lord and Savior. Amen.

ANTHEM O Mortal Man Herbert Howells O mortal man, remember well when Christ our Lord was born. He was crucified between two thieves, and crowned with the thorn, and crowned with the thorn. God bless the master of this house, with happiness beside; where e’er his body rides or walks, Lord Jesus be his guide, Lord, Jesus be his guide.

THE OFFICE OF TENEBRAE READING

John 18:1-11 The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

ANTHEM Who is This John Ferguson Who is this? Who is this who walks among us? Who is this who speaks such words? Is it Mosses, or Elijah, or some prophet of the Lord? Can we name this suffering servant? Can we name the promised so n? Can we name the heir of David? Jesus, holy one. You are Christ, from God eternal! Living God, from human womb, our deliverer and redeemer, known by cross and empty tomb. Jesus, hidden, holy one. Who is this? Holy one.

READING

John 18:12-14 Before the High Priest

† HYMN This Is the Night (No. 206, from Glory to God)

MY NEIGHBOR

READING

John 18:15-27 Peter’s Denial

ANTHEM Ah, holy Jesus John Ferguson Jesus, hast thou offended? Jesus, offended, offended? Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended? By foes derided, by thine own rejected. Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee. Twas I, Lord Jesus, twas I, Lord Jesus. Twas I.

READING

John 18:28-38a Jesus Before Pilate

† HYMN Beneath the Cross of Jesus (No. 216, from Glory to God)

ST. CHRISTOPHER

READING

John 18:38b-19:16 Jesus is Sentenced to Death

† HYMN O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (No. 221, from Glory to God)

PASSION CHORALE

READING

John 19:17-30 The Crucifixion of Jesus

ANTHEM He Never Said a Mumbelin̉ Word

Arr. by Arms Fisher Timothy Lupia, tenor

Oh, wasn’t that a pity and a shame? And he never said a mumbelin word. They carried him to Pilate’s bar, and he never said a mumbelin word; not a word, not a word, not a word. They led him up to calvary’s hill, and he never said a mumbelin word, they nailed him to the tree, and he never said a mumbelin word, not a word, not a word, not a word. They pierced him in the side, and he never said a mumbelin word, he bowed his head and died. And he never said a mumbelin word, not a word, not a word, not a word.

READING

John 19:31-42 The Burial of Jesus

ANTHEM Drop, Drop, Slow Tears Philip W. J. Stopford Drop, drop, slow tears; and bathe those beauteous feet which brought from heaven the news and Prince of Peace: Cease not, wet eyes, his mercies to entreat; to cry for vengeance sin doth never cease, sin doth never cease. In your deep floods, drown all my faults and fears; nor let his eye see sin, but through my tears, but through my tears.

READING

Isaiah 53:4-9 Suffering Servant

SOLEMN REPROACHES OF THE CROSS One: "... you have prepared a cross for your Savior."

Many: Lord, have mercy upon us.

LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 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, forever. Amen.

DISMISSAL

Luke 2:29-32

Dr. Sullivan

CLOSING THE TOMB DARKNESS

Until further notice there is no public worship in the sanctuary. You are warmly invited to join us via live-stream in celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

LEADING IN WORSHIP TONIGHT The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor The Rev. Heather Sigler, Parish Associate Joseph W. Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship Katherine Burns, Rachel A. Cornacchio, Laura Edinger, Chris Earhart, Brianna Heinly, Timothy Lupia, Jordan Markham, Ollie Silver, and Matthew Topping, Choral Ensemble Alice Bish, viola

A Welcoming Church, Glorifying God through Worship, Fellowship, and Service in the World

310 N. Third St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 238-9304 | www.pinestreet.org