{"id":165,"date":"2020-04-10T12:20:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T12:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=165"},"modified":"2020-04-10T12:20:27","modified_gmt":"2020-04-10T12:20:27","slug":"good-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/10\/good-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-200\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>A long tradition of shared worship continues as we mark Good Friday.  Thank you to the Rev. Dr. Lance Odland for sharing in the preparation of this service and reflecting on the Good News of Jesus Christ through Romans 6.5-7. Many thanks to Taye and Jenny for special music.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wereyouthere-taye.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Holy One, speak to us again<br \/> as we hear of the suffering and death of Jesus.<br \/> May we hear your Word<br \/> above the shouts of the crowd,<br \/>  and hearing, <br \/> may we follow faithfully, <br \/> even to the cross.<br \/> We pray in the name of Jesus, <br \/> who died for us. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: Jesus keep me near the cross<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nearthecross.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Jesus, keep me near the cross;<br \/>there a precious fountain,<br \/>free to all, a healing stream,<br \/>flows from Calvary&#8217;s mountain.<br \/>       In the cross, in the cross,<br \/>       be my glory ever,<br \/>       till my raptured soul shall find<br \/>       rest beyond the river.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Near the cross, a trembling soul,<br \/>love and mercy found me;<br \/>there the bright and morning star<br \/>sheds its beams around me.  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Near the cross! O Lamb of God,<br \/>bring its scenes before me;<br \/>help me walk from day to day<br \/>with its shadow o&#8217;er me.  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Near the cross I&#8217;ll watch and wait,<br \/>hoping, trusting ever,<br \/>till I reach the golden strand<br \/>just beyond the river.  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And this is the judgment:<br \/> that the truth has come into the world,<br \/> and we loved our illusions,<br \/> rather than reality.<br \/> God is true:<br \/> in God there is no falseness at all.<br \/> For God was in Jesus,<br \/> not to condemn the world, <br \/> but to restore the world.<br \/> Everyone who does evil hates the truth<br \/> and does not live in the spirit of love.<br \/> But all who do what is true, <br \/> live in the Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SILENT REFLECTION AND SUNG RESPONSE:<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/treeoflife.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Christ, you lead and we shall follow,<br \/>stumbling though our steps may be,<br \/>one with you in joy and sorrow,<br \/>    we the river, you the sea,<br \/>    we the river, you the sea.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God will give us what we need:<br \/>\nstrength for today,<br \/>\nhope for tomorrow,<br \/>\nand forgiveness <br \/>\nfor all that is past.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 22.1-18<\/p>\n\n\n<p>My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?<br \/>     Why are you so far from helping me,<br \/>     from the cry of my distress?<br \/> O my God, I cry out in the daytime, but you do not answer;<br \/>     at night also, but I get no relief.  <br \/> But you are the Holy One,<br \/> enthroned upon the praises of Israel.<br \/>     In you our ancestors trusted;<br \/>     they trusted, and you delivered them.<br \/> They called to you, and you rescued them.<br \/>     In you they put their trust,<br \/>     and you did not disappoint them.<br \/> But I am a worm, less than human,<br \/>     an object of derision, an outcast of the people.<br \/> All those who see me laugh me to scorn,<br \/> they curl their lips and toss their heads, saying:<br \/>     &#8216;You trusted in God for deliverance.<br \/>     If God cares for you, let God rescue you!&#8217;<br \/> But you are the One who took me out of the womb.<br \/> You kept me safe on my mother&#8217;s breast.<br \/>     On you have I depended from my birth.<br \/>     Even from my mother&#8217;s womb,<br \/>         you have been my God.  <br \/> Do not be far from me, for trouble is close at hand,<br \/>     and there is no one to help me.<br \/> Many bulls encircle me,<br \/> strong bulls of Bashan surround me.<br \/>     They open wide their mouths at me,<br \/>     like a ravenous, roaring lion.<br \/> My life pours out like water;<br \/>     all my bones are out of joint;<br \/> my heart has melted like wax within my breast;<br \/>     my mouth is parched as dry clay;<br \/> my tongue clings to my palate.<br \/>     I lie in the dust of death.<br \/> Dogs surround me;<br \/>     the wicked hem me in on every side.<br \/> They bind my hands and my feet;<br \/>     I can count all my bones,<br \/>     while they stand staring, gloating over me.<br \/> They divide my garments among themselves;<br \/>     they cast lots for my clothing. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Romans 6.5-7<\/p>\n\n\n<p>5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin\u2014 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION: <\/p>\n\n\n<p>For most of the year we celebrate the new life given to us through Jesus Christ, rejoicing in God\u2019s grace and walking in the Spirit.  On Good Friday, however, the cross of Christ looms before us.  In a world where the Easter bunny is an \u201cessential service\u201d and chocolate eggs fly off the shelves as fast as toilet paper, where many at this time of year think mainly about family feasts, we hold forth Christ\u2019s crucifixion as what has saved human beings from utter destruction.  Jesus was executed in our place.  On our behalf he was put to death; for our sake he died and was buried.  His death was \u201conce for all,\u201d serving to restore relationship with God, however mysteriously, for all who in and through and with him come to know God as Father.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Death, assuredly, has a gravitas which we cannot dismiss since everything living comes to an end.  While many consider this to be simply the order of nature, the circle of life, the dead passing away, or as some say, passing, death is revealed in Scripture to be both a physical and a spiritual reality, the consequence of sin, the inescapable end-point of living apart from God.  Since every human being has at some point spurned God and been consigned to disobedience by the holy One (see Romans 11:32), every human being suffers death of body and soul. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Indeed, the New Testament does not shy from the truth that even the living are as good as dead, our self-directed lives judged as missing the mark of God\u2019s holiness.  Apart from Christ, we are without hope; apart from Christ, everything and everyone perishes.  Yet Christ died to put an end to our death-dealing ways, laying down his life for us.  Now, if we have been united with Jesus Christ in baptism, then we have been crucified with him and are to think of ourselves as dead to sin, our old sin-ruined selves put to death and buried.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>But death has lost its sting!  We have been given a living hope since Christ has been raised to God\u2019s right hand in order to lead us into eternal and abundant life.  While united with Christ in his death, we now live united with him in his resurrection, granted new life apart from sin through the gift of the Spirit.  This God-centered life is Christ-given, a life in communion with Jesus, a life of service and sacrifice, wherein God\u2019s will is done and not our own; and there is joy, eternal joy!  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>So, even on Good Friday we are able to rejoice, singing songs of love for the one who died on the cross.  Now we truly know that the love of God in Christ never passes away.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2191\/2361075034_cf730b8682_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"737\" height=\"491\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/2100years-osther.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>THIRD READING: Galatians 2.19-20<\/p>\n\n\n<p>19 \u201cFor through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION: <\/p>\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve met someone who is best described as animated.  When we say someone is animated, they are generally \u201cfull of life\u201d or uniquely spirited, maybe they seem excited or particularly energetic.  And then there is the other meaning of animated: when a character is \u201cbrought to life\u201d through animation\u2014more commonly called cartoons. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And it is this second meaning\u2014brought to life\u2014that gets to the heart of Paul\u2019s massage.  When Paul says \u201cI no longer live, but Christ lives in me,\u201d he is talking about being animated by the presence of Christ within him.  Crucified with Christ, the old Paul (Saul) is gone, and the new Paul lives\u2014by faith\u2014with the Son of God within him.  He is a new person.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In many ways, the letters of Paul represent working out the meaning.  Paul is writing to others, but you get the sense that he is also writing to himself.  On the road to Damascus, he was crucified with Christ: learning that his life was no longer his own, and that the one who loves him, lives in him.  Paul is desperate to help people understand that what happened to him can happen to others\u2014in the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Good Friday is overwhelming.  When we enter the story, we are never bystanders.  We feel the pain and the shame, the tension and the terror, and we are changed.  Peter Abelard said that just hearing the story can turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.  Whoever has \u201cears to hear\u201d (as Jesus loved to say) will be transformed by the telling, and can become a new person.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So we are animated, transformed, and renewed.  And like Paul, we respond to this gift by sharing it with others.  We become witnesses to the saving power of God, and take on the task of \u201cliberating others from whatever prevents them from fulfilling themselves as human beings and as daughters and sons of God.\u201d (Gutierrez)  The result is a world made new.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May the God of self-giving transform us once more, ever alive in Christ.  Amen. <\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2899\/14771296785_3e8fc489a0_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>This prayer, from the Church of England, allows us to pray through the details of Christ&#8217;s passion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Let us pray to God<br \/>\nwho loved the world so much that he sent his only Son<br \/>\nto give us life.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross for your Son.<br \/>\nGive us grace to lift heavy loads from those we meet<br \/>\nand to stand with those condemned to die.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Your Son watched the soldiers gamble to share his clothes.<br \/>\nTransform the hearts of those who make a profit from their victims,<br \/>\nand those whose hearts are hardened by their work.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The thief, who was crucified with Jesus,<br \/>\nwas promised a place in your kingdom.<br \/>\nGive pardon and hope, healing and peace<br \/>\nto all who look death in the face.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>From the cross Jesus entrusted Mary his mother<br \/>\nand John his disciple to each other\u2019s care.<br \/>\nHelp us also to care for one another<br \/>\nand fill our homes with the spirit of your love.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Mary and John your Son created a new family at the cross.<br \/>\nFill our relationships,<br \/>\nand those of new families today,<br \/>\nwith mutual care and responsibility,<br \/>\nand give us a secure hope for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The centurion was astonished to see your glory in the<br \/>\ncrucified Messiah.<br \/>\nOpen the eyes of those who do not know you<br \/>\nto see in your Son the meaning of life and death.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Joseph of Arimathaea came to take your Son\u2019s body away.<br \/>\nGive hope and faith to the dying and bereaved,<br \/>\nand gentleness to those who minister to them.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Simon and Joseph, Mary and John<br \/>\nbecame part of your Church in Jerusalem.<br \/>\nBring into your Church today a varied company of people,<br \/>\nto walk with Christ in the way of his passion<br \/>\nand to find their salvation in the victory of his cross.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord, in your mercy.<br \/>\nHear our prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>and make us one in heart and mind<br \/> to serve you in Christ our Lord.<br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD&#8217;S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven, <br \/> hallowed be thy name. <br \/> Thy kingdom come,<br \/> Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. <br \/> Give us this day our daily bread; <br \/> and forgive us our trespasses <br \/> as we forgive those who trespass against us; <br \/> and lead us not into temptation <br \/> but deliver us from evil. <br \/> For thine is the kingdom, <br \/> and the power, and the glory, <br \/> for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: What wondrous love is this, O my soul<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/wondrouslove.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,<br \/>what wondrous love is this, O my soul!<br \/>What wondrous love is this<br \/>that caused the Lord of bliss<br \/>to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,<br \/>to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,<br \/>what wondrous love is this, O my soul!<br \/>What wondrous love is this,<br \/>that caused the Lord of life<br \/>to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,<br \/>to lay aside his crown for my soul.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,<br \/>to God and to the Lamb I will sing;<br \/>to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I Am,<br \/>while millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing;<br \/>while millions join the theme I will sing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>And when from death I\u2019m free, I\u2019ll sing on, I\u2019ll sing on,<br \/>and when from death I\u2019m free, I\u2019ll sing on;<br \/>and when from death I\u2019m free, I\u2019ll sing and joyful be,<br \/>and through eternity I\u2019ll sing on, I\u2019ll sing on,<br \/>and through eternity I\u2019ll sing on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May you find in the cross<br \/>\na sure ground for faith,<br \/>\na firm support for hope,<br \/>\nand the assurance of sins forgiven.<br \/>\nAnd may the blessing of God<br \/>\ngo with you, now and for ever more.  <br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SONG TO GO FORTH<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/treeoflife.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Christ, you lead and we shall follow,<br \/>stumbling though our steps may be,<br \/>one with you in joy and sorrow,<br \/>    we the river, you the sea,<br \/>    we the river, you the sea.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A long tradition of shared worship continues as we mark Good Friday. Thank you to the Rev. Dr. Lance Odland for sharing in the preparation of this service and reflecting on the Good News of Jesus Christ through Romans 6.5-7. Many thanks to Taye and Jenny for special music. PRELUDE OPENING PRAYER: Holy One, speak &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/10\/good-friday\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Good Friday<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}