YNE BYTERIANCHURCH
Friday, April 18, 2025
Good Friday
+ Please stand as you are able.
Prelude | Melanie Sarakatsannis, soprano | John Grecia, piano
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) The Crucifixion
At the cry of the first bird they began to crucify thee , O Swan! Never shall lament cease because of that. It was like the parting of day from night. Ah , sore was the suffering borne by the body of Mary’s Son , but sorer still to him was the grief which for his sake came upon His Mother. - Anonymous Irish monk/Translation: Howard Mumford Jones (1892-1980)
+ Call to Worship | Rev. Katy Shevel
On this Good Friday, we contemplate the good news of the cross: how Christ our Lord stretched out his arms to embrace a world of suffering and sin; how Christ our Lord stretched out his arms to save us.
Come and see the beloved Son of God. He is high and lifted up.
Come and see the Ruler of the nations. He is high and lifted up.
Come and see the Savior of the world. He is high and lifted up - on a cross.
+Hymn 220 (vv. 1 & 4):
REDHEAD 76 Go to Dark Gethsemane
Scripture Reading | Matthew 27:11-26 | Rev. Katy Shevel
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
Lord, when You were misunderstood, You silently forgave; but we so often respond in anger. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, You gave us opportunity to choose Jesus, but for so long we have chosen the rebellion that demanded Your death. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Hymn 221 (vv. 1 & 3): O Sacred Head , Now Wounded PASSION CHORALE
Scripture Reading | John 19:16-17 | Msgr. Hans Brouwers
SILENT REFLECTION
Lord, give me the grace and strength to love you more than any earthly thing or person and to being willing to love sacrificially. By the power of your Holy Spirit, may I deny myself daily, pick up my cross, and follow you. Amen.
Hymn 228 (Verse 1): Were You There WERE YOU THERE
Scripture Reading | John 19:26-27 | Rev. John Shannon
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
Lord, You had to leave the security of home and family, twice. You left Your Father to be a man with us, and left Your human family to die for us. You had to pray to Your Father: My God, I trust in You. My God, I trust in You.
Lord, when we leave all and follow You and it hurts those we love, help us to know that You have been there, too; that no one leaves behind father, mother or loved one but is more than rewarded in the end. Help us to pray: My God, I trust in You. My God, I trust in You.
Lord, when Your cross pierces our own desires, and makes us call out, let our cry be, through our pain: My God. I trust in You. My God, I trust in You. Amen.
Hymn 228 (Verse 3): Were You There WERE YOU THERE
Scripture Reading | Luke 23:26 | Rev. Greg Impink
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
As Simon took the weight of the cross from Jesus, You have taught us that we must bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. May we carry your cross. May we carry your cross.
Simon was one just passing by, but suddenly he was compelled to change direction, and, with all his strength given
to carrying of the cross, pressed through the crowds to the Place of the Skull, Golgotha, Calvary.
Sweet Jesus, like Simon, may we carry Your cross. May we carry Your cross.
Hymn 224 (vv. 1 & 4): When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Scripture Reading | Luke 23:27-31 | Msgr. Hans Brouwers
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
ROCKINGHAM
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. You have warned us of dark days to come. We are grateful that you will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you for always seeing the unseen. Help us to do likewise. Amen.
Hymn 218 (vv. 1 & 5): Ah , Holy Jesus HERZLIEBSTER JESU
Scripture Reading | Matthew 27:27-31 | Rev. Ryan Balsan
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
Lord, you who were stripped of your garments, clothe us with dignity. You who were rejected, accept us as your own dear children. You endured it all for us, your people. Thank you, Jesus.
Scripture Reading | John 19:18-22 & Galatians 3:13 | Rev. John Shannon
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
Hymn 228 (Verse 2): Were You There WERE YOU THERE
Scripture Reading | Luke 23:44-49 | Rev. Ryan Balsan
Reflection | The Rev. Ryan Balsan
Prayer
Father God, You waited through the long hours of agony, when He was robbed even of the sense of Your love, Your presence, when the sin and disease and hatred
and darkness overwhelmed Him so greatly.
He was wounded for my transgressions. He was wounded for my transgressions.
Father, what love is this of his?
What love is this of Yours that his dying love reflects? Your forgiveness for me, as we gaze upon his sacrificial death, is as truly an undeserved gift as the pardon he spoke to the dying thief. It is mine if I will only receive: He was wounded for my transgressions. He was wounded for my transgressions.
Hymn 228 (Verse 4): Were You There WERE YOU THERE
Scripture Reading | John 19:30 | Rev. Greg Impink
SILENT REFLECTION
Prayer
When all is dark, and Hope is buried, it is hard to trust His words that promised, before the pain: He died that I might live. He died that I might live.
In His death is my birth. He died that I might live. He died that I might live.
In His life is my life. He died that I might live. He died that I might live.
My Jesus! He died that I might live. He died that I might live.
Benediction | Rev. Ryan Balsan
*Please remain seated for the Postlude
Postlude | Melanie Sarakatsannis, soprano | John Grecia, piano Trad. African-American Spiritual | Setting: Moses Hogan (1957-2003) Give Me Jesus
In the morning when I rise , give me Jesus. You can have all the rest , give me Jesus. When I am alone , give me Jesus. You can have all the rest , give me Jesus. When I come to die , give me Jesus. You can have all the rest , give me Jesus.
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY FAITH PARTNERS
ON EASTER SUNDAY
WAYNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship in-person at 9:30AM & 11:00AM.
Worship online at 9:30AM.
www.waynepres.org
WAYNE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Worship in-person and online at 10:30AM.
www.wayneumc.org
ST. KATHARINE OF SIENA PARISH
Worship in-person 8:00AM, 9:30AM & 11:30AM.
www.stkatharineofsiena.org
WORSHIP LEADERS
Senior Pastor, Wayne Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Ryan Balsan
Associate Pastor, Wayne Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Katy Shevel
Director of Music Ministry, Wayne Presbyterian Church
John Grecia
Associate Director of Music Ministry, Wayne Presbyterian Church
Ryan Fleming
Soloist, Wayne Presbyterian Church
Melanie Sarakatsannis
Pastor, St. Katharine of Siena
Msgr. Hans Brouwers
Lead Pastor, Wayne United Methodist Church
The Rev. Greg Impink
Congregational Care Pastor, Wayne United Methodist Church
The Rev. John Shannon