Heights Church family,
Even though we are not able to gather together in our church building for our Good Friday service on April 10, we still want to set aside time in our homes this Friday to remember and celebrate what Christ’s death means for us as believers. This liturgy (worship order) below is designed to walk us through Christ’s final hours that lead up to His death through scripture, song, and a brief video sermon Pastor Weyland.
To help us, we’ve also asked a few members of our church family to record the various scripture readings for this home litugy. We encourage you to work through this worship order below at your own pace at home by singing through these songs, and following along with the scripture video links. All of the scripture for this service is read from the ESV. (You can also view a PDF of this liturgy here.)
Call to Worship - Isaiah 53:3-6
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death
so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist,
in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation
perfect through suffering.
Song - The Old Rugged Cross (audio link)
(verse 1)
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame.
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
(chorus)
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.
(verse 2)
Oh the old rugged cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me.
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
(verse 3)
In the old rugged cross stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see.
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.
George Bennard. Public Domain
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives: Luke 22:39-44
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested, Peter Denies Jesus: Luke 22:45-62
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
Song - I Stand Amazed (My Savior’s Love) (audio link)
(verse 1)
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.
(chorus)
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be,
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
(verse 2)
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
(verse 3)
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.
Charles H. Gabriel. Public Domain
Jesus Is Mocked and Rejected by the Council: Luke 22:63-71
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
Song - Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted (audio link)
(verse 1)
Stricken smitten and afflicted,
See him dying on the tree.
'Tis the Christ by man rejected,
Yes my soul 'tis He, 'tis He.
'Tis the long expected Prophet,
David's Son yet David's Lord,
By His Son, God now has spoken.
'Tis the true and faithful Word.
(verse 2)
Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress.
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save.
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.
(verse 3)
Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load.
’Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of man and Son of God.
(verse 4)
Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt.
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.
Thomas Kelly. Public Domain
Jesus Is Condemned Before Pilate: Luke 23:1-25
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
Song – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (audio link)
(verse 1)
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
(verse 2)
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God.
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
(verse 3)
See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
(verse 4)
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts / Lowel Mason. Public Domain
Jesus Is Crucified: Luke 23:26-43
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
Song - Were You there? (audio link)
(verse 1)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
(verse 2)
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
(verse 3)
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Spiritual / John W. Work, Jr. © Public Domain
The Death and Burial of Jesus: Luke 23:44-53
(click below to watch a video of the reading)
Song - The Power of the Cross (audio link)
(verse 1)
Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day,
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
(chorus 1)
This the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath,
We stand forgiven at the cross.
(verse 2)
Oh to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought, every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
(verse 3)
Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life,
Finished! the victory cry.
(verse 4)
Oh to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
(chorus 2)
This the power of the cross:
Son of God, slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Getty/Townend © 2005 Thankyou Music. Used by permission. CCLI# 11210644
Worship in the Word - Video Sermon
(Watch a brief Good Friday meditation by Pastor Weyland below.)