All are welcome to join us in church. Alternatively, to join us live head to our YouTube channel, the service will be uploaded to this page immediately after the service and will also be available on our Facebook page to watch back at a time to suit you.
The Way of the Cross
A Good Friday Sequence of Words and Music
The Gathering
Trisagion 1
Eternal God, in the cross of Jesus we see the cost of our sin and the depth of your love: in humble hope and fear may we place at his feet all that we have and all that we are, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: There is a green hill far away
I – Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 14: 32-36, 43-46
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’
Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.
Silence is kept
Psalm 69: 1–8 sung by the choir
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were betrayed by the kiss of a friend: be with those who are betrayed and slandered and falsely accused. You knew the experience of having your love thrown back in your face for mere silver: be with families which are torn apart by mistrust or temptation. To you, Jesus, who offered your face to your betrayer, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Trisagion 2 sung by the choir
II – Peter denies Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 14: 72
At that moment the cock crowed for the second time.
Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.
Silence is kept
Hymn: Glory be to Jesus
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as Peter betrayed you, you experienced the double agony of love rejected and friendship denied: be with those who know no friends and are rejected by society. You understood the fear within Peter: help us to understand the anxieties of those who fear for their future. To you, Jesus, who gazed with sadness at his lost friend, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Trisagion 3 sung by the choir
III – Jesus before Pilate
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 15: 14-15, 17-19
Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.
Silence is kept
Hymn: O Sacred Head Sore Wounded
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you faced the torment of barbaric punishment and mocking tongue: be with those who cry out in physical agony and emotional distress. You endured unbearable abuse: be with those who face torture and mockery in our world today. To you, Jesus, the King crowned with thorns, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Trisagion 4 sung by the choir
IV – Jesus is led out to be crucified
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 15:20-21
After mocking Jesus, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Silence is kept
Hymn: When I survey the wondrous cross
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were worn down by fatigue: be with those from whom life drains all energy. You needed the help of a passing stranger: give us the humility to receive aid from others. To you, Jesus, weighed down with exhaustion and in need of help, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Trisagion 5 sung by the choir and congregation
Holy God, Holy and strong, Holy and immortal, Have mercy on us.
V – Jesus is crucified
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 15:24
And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
Silence is kept
Anthem Lord, For Thy Tender Mercies’ Sake
Lord, for Thy tender mercies’ sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive that is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives, to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk with a perfect heart before Thee now and evermore.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you bled in pain as the nails were driven into your flesh: transform through the mystery of your love the pain of those who suffer. To you, Jesus, our crucified Lord, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Trisagion 6 sung by the choir and congregation
Holy God, Holy and strong, Holy and immortal, Have mercy on us.
VI – Jesus dies on the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Reading: Mark 15: 34-37
At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
A lengthy silence is kept
Anthem: Were you there?
Hymn: O dearest Lord
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you died on the cross and entered the bleakest of all circumstances: give courage to those who die at the hands of others. In death you entered into the darkest place of all: illumine our darkness with your glorious presence. To you, Jesus, your lifeless body hanging on the tree of shame, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
VII – The glory of the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Acclamation
Choir Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory.
All Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Cantor Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name.
All Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
All Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said to the crowd,
‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’
Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
John 12:23-32
Canticle: sung by the choir
The song of Christ’s glory
1 Christ Jesus was in the form of God, but he did not cling to equality with God.
2 He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in our human likeness.
3 Being found in human form he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
4 Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name above every name,
5 That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth;
6 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Words: Philippians 2: 5–11
Prayer
Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The choir and congregation stand and sing
Trisagion 7 sung by the choir and congregation
The Conclusion
Standing at the foot of the cross, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, set your passion, cross, and death between your judgement and us, now and at the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living, rest to the faithful departed, to your holy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners eternal life and glory; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn: My song is love unknown
Blessing
May the Father, who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, bring you by faith to his eternal life. Amen.
May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross. Amen.
May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory, set your minds on life and peace. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Texts of the music are copyright © 2007 The Royal School of Church Music, except where otherwise attributed.
The prayers and service, from Common Worship: Times and Seasons, are copyright © 2006 The Archbishops’ Council, and used with permission.
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity, you can connect with us online via our contact us page or through our Facebook page. If you want more head to our Blether with HTD Facebook group, check out other services on our YouTube channel or follow us on Instagram.