Here is a set of closing responses for Good Friday worship from Good Friday Liturgy, on the Seekers Church website. To see the whole liturgy, click here.
Good Friday: Closing Responses
(Zechariah 12:10, John 19:37)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
And we too look on the one who died
and wonder…
we wonder why –
why this final insult on one already dead.
(Pause…)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
and saw blood flowing from His hands – His feet – His side
and we too look on the one who died
and wonder…
we wonder that such an offering had to be made –
the blood of a spotless lamb.
Was God so angry with his people?
(Pause…)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
and saw water flowing from the wound in His side
and we too look on the one who died
and wonder…
we wonder at the greatness of this gift:
water from his side –
that washes our sin away –
water from the One who died
offering us a way to new life.
(Pause)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
and thought that they had won –
the Word of God was silenced –
the Light of the World was extinguished –
the Way was blocked –
the Truth questioned –
the Life was dead.
Father, forgive them –
they did not know what they were doing.
Father, forgive us –
for often we do not know what we are doing.
(Pause)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
and thought that they had judged rightly –
the Son of God who challenged their gods was wrong
and they had defeated Him.
But God did not send his Son into the world to judge it
to condemn it.
God sent his son, the Beloved,
into the world to save it,
to save us.
(Pause)
They looked upon the One they had pierced
and saw death and emptiness
and we too look on the one who died
and wonder…
we wonder at so great a love –
a love that does not count the cost of loving –
a love that offers its very self so that we might live –
a loved that would have done the same
had I been the only one who needed it.
(Pause)
The sacrifice of love stretched out His arms on the cross
and sent forth His Spirit
into the outstretched arms of the Father
So great a love
so great a sacrifice…
People disperse in silence or very quiet music …
— from Good Friday Liturgy, posted on the Seekers Church website. http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/
For more worship resources for Good Friday, click on Good Friday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
