Our second joint Holy Week service where Central, West, St Andrews, EU, and Living Waters churches join for the holy week journey. Leading worship with communion are Rev Calum Stark and Rev Kevin de Beer. All are welcome as the journey continues.
Introduction – Kevin de Beer
This service of worship proves more reflective than most. In various Christian traditions, it is accompanied by candles being extinguished as we move into the desperate darkness that is Good Friday.
We tend to see Good Friday through the lens that is the Resurrection – hence the depiction: Good!
It would be helpful to remind ourselves that this is a dark time in human history. In Jesus Christ, we honestly believe that we are face to face with a human being ‘fully alive’. We believe that in him we are encountering the fullest and best expression of Love. We confess that ‘in Christ’ we are made new and are transformed by God’s Spirit.
It would take centuries for the Church to find the words to try and describe the mystery. Yet here, this evening, in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire we believe that we are in the company of the Son, the One who with the Father and the Spirit are to be glorified and worshipped.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, world without end.
Introit: The Lamb of God
This is no ordinary evening.
The passages of Scripture we read will be followed by a brief prayer. The prayers prove brief and poetic and yet we are confident that they will impact our hearts and lives.
Come then and enter the drama.
Come and gather at the Table of the Lord.
Come and hear the Word of God.
Come and offer your prayers, for we are in the presence of the holy.
Opening hymn: 251 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
Opening prayer: Kevin de Beer
Hymn: 458 Man of Sorrows! What a name
1. “The shadow of Betrayal” Matthew 26:17-29.
O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come ye to the Saviour’s side;
O come, together let us mourn;
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
2. “The Breaking of the Bread” Matthew 26:26-29.
Hymn: 55 Beneath the cross of Jesus
Reading and reflection on John 12:1-19
Communion (Choir – I saw him hanging on a tree)
3. “The shadow of Denial” Matthew 26:31-35.
Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah! Look how patiently He hangs:
Jesus, our Lord, is Crucified.
4. “The shadow of Time” John 17:1-6.
How fast His hands and feet are nailed
His throat with parching thirst is dried;
His failing eyes are dim with woe:
Jesus, our Lord, is Crucified.
5. “The shadow of Evil” John 17:15-23.
Seven times He spoke, seven words of love,
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
Hymn: 755 When I survey the Wondrous Cross
6. “The shadow of Agony” Luke 22:39-46.
Come, let us stand beneath the Cross:
The fountain opened in His side
Shall purge our deepest stains away:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
7. “The shadow of Sleep” Mark 14:32-42.
A broken heart, a fount of tears,
Ask, and they will not be denied;
A broken heart love’s candle is:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
8. “The shadow of Deceit” John 18:1-8.
O Love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your strength is tried:
And victory remains with love;
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
9. “The shadow of Death” Mark 15:16-39.
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.
After silent prayer, we sing in closing Hymn 288 I need Thee every hour
Benediction
at 10.45am
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 