GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE WORSHIP

“We thought it was because of God that he was stricken, smitten, and afflicted, but it was because of our rebellion that he was pierced. He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all have gone astray like sheep. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCHApril 2, 2021

Tonight’s Tenebrae service or the service of darkness is a devotional service which focuses on the words of Jesus on the cross and the events at Calvary. In our service tonight you will see elements of both.

Good Friday is not observed as a funeral for Christ. It is a day of repentance over sin and restrained joy and praise for the redemption Christ accomplished for us on the Cross. The Scripture lessons, sermon and music solemnly point us to the gravity of our sin and the price Christ paid to atone for it. Good Friday worship teaches all Christians to see that our salvation is free, but it came at the price of the innocent sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we bow our head with the tax

collector in Jesus’ parable, beat our breast and confess, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!” In keeping with our theme throughout this Lenten season – Hands of the Passion - tonight we will consider Jesus’ hands, pierced for us.

In keeping with our solemn thanks of Christ‘s sacrifice and to express our sorrow for our sins, you will note that the sanctuary has been stripped of all adornments. The pastor wears only a simple black robe. Pre-service music is solemn and there is no postlude. All attention should be drawn to the cross alone, for only in Christ alone is salvation found and deliverance from our sins.

At the conclusion of our service tonight, we ask that you please exit the sanctuary in silence.

On Easter Sunday Morning will see the sanctuary adorned for the joyous victory of celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and the forgiveness, life and salvation it guarantees to us.

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. on Easter morning for festival worship followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for children.

GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC AND LIGHTING OF THE TENEBRAE CANDLES

OPENING HYMN.............................................................................“Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?” (CW 129)

OUR GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATION.............................................................................................Luke 23:32-34Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” They cast lots to divide his garments among them.

THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL.................................................................................................Matthew 26: 20-25 M: When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he

said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

C: They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” M: Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man

will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

C: Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

M: Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

C: When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. M: Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will

strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

C: Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” M: “I tell you the truth,” this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

C: But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

The first candle is extinguished.

HYMN.....................................................................................“Lord Jesus, You Are Going Forth” (CW 126:1, 3)

THE SHADOW OF AN UNSHARED VIGIL.................................................................................Mathew 26:36-46

M: Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

C: He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

M: Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

C: Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. M: “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you

will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

C: He went away a second time and prayed, M: “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

C: When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

M: Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my

betrayer!”

C: Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them:

M: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”

C: Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

M: “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

C: Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

The second candle is extinguished.

HYMN.................................................................................................... “Go to Dark Gethsemane” (CW 104:1-2)

THE SHADOW OF DENIAL....................................................................Matthew 26:69-75

M: While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said,

C: “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.” M: But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about. Woman, I do

not know him.”

C: When Peter went out to the entry way, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This is one of them. This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

M: Again Peter denied it with an oath and said, “I do not know the man.”

C: After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, because even your accent gives you away. You are a Galilean!”

M: Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about! I do not know the

man!”

C: At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him,

M: “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.”

C: And he went outside, broke down and wept bitterly. The third candle is extinguished.

HYMN................................................................................................ “Jesus! And Shall It Ever Be” (CW 347:3,4)

THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION...................................................................................................Mark 14:44-65M: The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put

him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

C: Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ‘“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’”

M: Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,

C: “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” M: But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him,

C: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” M: Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

C: The high priest tore his clothes. he asked, “Why do we need any more witnesses?” “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

M: They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

The fourth candle is extinguished.

HYMN..........................................................................................“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (CW 105:1-2)

THE SHADOW OF CRUCIFIXION.............................................................................................Matthew 27:11-38

M: Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

C: Jesus answered, “Yes, it is as you say,” M: When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”

C: But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. M: Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time

they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them,

C: “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” M: But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked Pilate.

C: “Barabbas!”

M: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.

C: “Crucify him!” M: “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

C: The crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” M: When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an up- roar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your

responsibility!”

C: The crowd shouted, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” M: Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers

around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him.

C: “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.M: They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. Afterthey had mocked

him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The fifth candle is extinguished.

HYMN.................................................................................................“God Was There on Calvary” (CW 140:1-4)

THE SHADOW OF DEATH.............................................................................................................Luke 23:32-49

M: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

C: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” M: The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him, saying “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

C: The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” M: There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

C: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

M: But the other criminal rebuked him: “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,

remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

C: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

M: It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

C: When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened,praised God and said “Surely this was a righteous man.”

M: When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The sixth candle is extinguished.

HYMN....................................................................................................... “O Perfect Life of Love” (CW 138:1-2)

THE SHADOW OF THE TOMB.....................................John 19:31-42; Matthew 27:62-66

M: Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man

who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his

testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” “They

will look on the one they have pierced.”

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

“Sir, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said, “Take a guard. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went

and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

The last candle is taken from the sanctuary. Please keep silent for meditation.The strepitus is heard representing the closing of Christ’s tomb.

The seventh candle is returned, symbolizing that while the Light has gone out, Christ, the Light of the World will live again.

The minister exits the chancel.

The congregation may remain for prayer and meditation before dispersing quietly.

OUR MISSION: Ascension exists to proclaim the joy of Jesus Christ in the Macomb County area by gathering to grow in the timeless truths of the Bible and by scattering to share the hope of heaven with everyone we meet. We are a mission congregation of the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH? Please contact Pastor Dan Simons at revdsimons@gmail.com. Phone or text him at 586-569-9895. Visit our website at www.ascensionmacomb.com Check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/ALCmacomb. For more about the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod visit www.wels.net.

NEED TO CONNECT TO WI-FI HERE AT CHURCH? Our Wi-Fi name is ASCENSION Guest. Password is macombwels. Please silence cell phones. Let God do all the “texting” for the next hour as he brings his Word to you.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE US TODAY: Worship accompanist, Gloria Aita;Security, Paul Fuller; Recording, Paul Kokesh; Preacher & worship leader, Pastor Dan Simons.