Welcome
Here at Engadine Uniting we are working towards being a more open, diverse and caring community. We welcome everyone joining us this evening, valuing and affirming every person exactly as they are regardless of race, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, ability, nationality or faith. No matter where you are in your journey, no matter what your story is, you are welcome here.
The story of God is bigger, wider, more inclusive and welcoming, and filled with more love than we could ever imagine. There is room here for everyone; there is room here for you.
The weeks of Lent are often referred to as a journey. As we arrive at Passion Sunday, we focus on Jesus as he faces the suffering he knew was ahead of him.
As we hear the Passion story, we are invited to reflect on Jesus’ journey and how it resonates with the vulnerability and pain in our own lives, finding strength and hope in following him through Holy Week.
Acknowledgement of country
As we gather together in this time and place, let us acknowledge the Dharawal people who have gathered, baked bread, shared food, nourished each other in story and song for thousands of years.
We pay our respects to their elders, past and present who have handed down stories, songs, recipes, and wisdom. Let us learn from the First Peoples of this land,
listening to their innate knowledge of how to live in this land in harmony with all living things.
All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Call to worship
Come to this place to worship God. Look on us with kindness.
Come to this place to find comfort and strength. Some of us come with sadness and weariness.
Come to this place to listen to God. Make us eager to hear what you are going to teach us.
Come to this place to find faith. Our trust is in you, O Lord; you are our God.
Opening Prayer
God of kindness and mercy, we enter this place of worship today with saddened hearts. Our Lenten journey brings us to the place where Jesus shared his last hours with his special friends and faced suffering and death.
As we travel again with Jesus during his final days on earth, guide and support us on this path so that we may follow him more closely, we pray. Amen.
Hymn 1: O Christ who by a cross made peace your sign (Shirley Erena Murray), Tune: Sursum Corda (Tis 87 or 240) [intro: date, context]
1. O Christ who by a cross made peace your sign, who gives your peace in water, bread and wine:
O Spirit Christ who is our spirit’s home, teach us the secret of the true shalom.
2. We speak of peace when in our hearts we war and, unforgiving, keep our grudges sore,
we promise peace while yet we strive to win, and in our enemy, see not our kin.
3. Two deaths now face the starving and the fed – the blinding bomb, the simple lack of bread;
with riches of the earth at our command, from weaponry to welcome, turn our hand.
4. The selfishness which is our human curse, the arsenal of hatred which we nurse –
all are dispelled when in our hearts we say “There is no way to peace: peace is the way.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession
God of kindness and mercy, we bring you our praise and thanks for the week just past. Thank you for this time of year when we think of Jesus’ life and death and anticipate his resurrection.
Help us to understand Jesus’ journey to the cross with new insights. As we try to enter the events of Holy Week, help us to connect Jesus’ life of love and commitment with our own lives. We bring to you our varied experiences – of joy and sorrow, gratitude and disappointment, hope and fear, pleasure and pain.
(Silence)
Words of Assurance
Hear these words of grace: Do not be discouraged, for God is near. Christ Jesus became like us and has walked this path ahead of us. You are always in God’s care; God looks on you with kindness; and saves you in constant love. Amen, thanks be to God!
Item and Announcements :
- Uniting World Lent Event appeal; sewing video 2.29mins here: https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/event/lent-event/resources-videos?preview=true&edit=true&showtick=true#vid5
- Palm Sunday march promo
- Short interview with Rev Matt Wilson, (relatively) new Mission and Leadership Presbytery Minister
Offertory prayer
Thank you to everyone as you bring your gifts of loving service and financial support through online giving. If you prefer to use cash, it can be placed in the wooden box at the back, and you can also make one-off donations via the QR code on the box.
Let us pray: Today, we bring you our gifts, generous God. We have given our time and talents, money and food during the week. We ask you to accept these offerings. May they be tokens of your loving care to those who most need them.
Prayers of the people (Sarah)
God of palms and passion, we bring you our prayers for others. We pray for our world where opposing interests collide, where there is fear and suspicion, violence and war. Bless those who work in your name and bring peace to the world.
We pray for those in need, those who have few to turn to for help; we think of social and relief agencies who offer support in disaster and distress. Bless those who work in your name and bring hope to the world.
We uphold to you those who are unwell or close to the end of their life’s journey; we pray for those who care for them and for their family and friends. Bless those who work in your name and bring love to the world.
In a short time of silence, we bring to God the concerns that are closest to our hearts today.
(Silence)
Bless those who work in your name and bring faith to the world. Amen.
Hymn 2: Here Hangs A Man Discarded (Brian Wren) TiS 356
Here hangs a man discarded A scarecrow hoisted high A nonsense pointing nowhere To all who hurry by
Can such a clown of sorrows Still bring a useful word When faith and love seem phantoms And every hope absurd?
2. Yet here is help and comfort For lives by comfort bound When drums of dazzling progress Give strangely hollow sound
Life emptied of all meaning Drained out in bleak distress Can share in broken silence Our deepest emptiness
3. And love that freely entered The pit of life’s despair Can name our hidden darkness And suffer with us there
Christ in our darkness risen Help all who long for light To hold the hand of promise Till faith receives its sight
CCLI Song # 3590959 Brian Arthur Wren © 1975, 1995 Hope Publishing Company For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 31951
Introduction to the Liturgy of the Cloaks
Have you ever had to say goodbye to a family member or friend who was going away? What did you do to make the most of your time together? How did you feel about having to be apart?
Jesus planned several activities with his close friends – he visited places that were special, shared a meal with them, asked them to keep him company when he prayed and felt overwhelmed by sadness. We think of some of those things as we hear the story of Jesus’ passion.
We are going to step through 15 pairs of readings and prayers, interspersed with the laying of a cloak or cloth which will extend down the aisle. After each set, we will sing Follow the Way, the Way of the Cross, which we will learn now.
Chorus: Follow the Way (Shirley Erena Murray) Sheet music here.
Follow the Way, the way of the Cross, go where the footsteps lead,
follow the way of sorrow and loss, love is its crime and creed.
Shirley Erena Murray Words © 1995 Hope Publishing Company
At the conclusion of the readings, prayers, singing, and laying of the cloaks, we will have the benediction and you will be invited to pick up a sprig of rosemary at the door as you leave and take it with you for remembrance.
- The cloak of obedience
Leader: Here is the cloak of obedience worn by the suffering servant.
Reader: The reading is from Isaiah 50:4–9
4 The Lord God has given me
a trained tongue,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning God wakens,
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I did not turn backward.
6 I gave my back to those who struck me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
7 The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8 God who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand in court together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9 It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.
Prayer: Let us pray. We wonder at your resolve and commitment to God and to the people you loved, O Christ.
We remember those who have shown dedication to difficult tasks and pray for those struggling to work for good at the limits of their endurance.
In our own times of pain, or shame, or unjust treatment, help us to find strength in you and seek your mercy and justice.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth in front of the cross, draping it across the communion table.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The garment of grief
Leader: Carry for a while this garment of grief.
Reader: The reading is from Psalm 31:9–16
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Prayer: Let us pray. Thank you for those who offer support and comfort to those in distress. We think of those carrying grief and sorrow at this time.
When we feel weak or wasted, forgotten or fear-filled, help us to put our trust in you, O Lord, for we are always in your care.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth in front of the communion table, at the centre and in line with the aisle.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The garment of humility
Leader: Wear this garment of humility and tell us of Jesus’ path of obedience.
Reader: The reading is from Philippians 2:5–11
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly
and gave him the name
that is above every other name,
10 so that at the name given to Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God.
Prayer: We are grateful for the life and example of Jesus, for his path of obedience in the face of danger and difficulty.
We pray for those who offer selfless service in our communities and those who feel frustrated by the confines of being human.
Help us to understand what it means to be your servants.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth on the floor in front of the communion table so it flows over the little steps and is heading towards the aisle.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloth of generous provision
Leader: This cloth is spread on the table of generous provision.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:14–23
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[b] 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
Prayer: Let us pray. Thank you, generous God, for meals eaten together, for conversations shared, and for friendships deepened.
We pray for all those who provide food for others in their homes, in hospitals, in schools and institutions, in cafes and restaurants.
For many, Easter is a busy time: may their generosity and provision offer nourishment and nurture to those who receive.
We think of those who are needy this Easter-time and pray that we will be ready to share more generously in every way.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth on a low table that is set up to one side, and then put the cups/plates provided on top of the tablecloth.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of true service
Leader: Bear this cloak of true service as we hear about Jesus’ greatness
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:24–30
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stood by me in my trials, 29 and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Prayer: Let us pray. God of true greatness, we are grateful for capable and committed leaders who work hard for their communities.
We pray for political leaders, religious leaders, civic and business leaders and all who exercise influence and power over others that they will come to understand and practise true greatness.
Help us to be servant leaders.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth on the floor so it continues the line of floor-fabric and comes down the main step onto the aisle.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- Cloak of false courage
Leader: Here is the cloak of false courage.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:31–38
31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you have denied three times that you know me.”
Purse, Bag, and Sword
35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” 36 He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless,’ and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”
Prayer: Sometimes, loyalty and a sense of dedication lead to us making false promises; many of us are good at over-committing.
Be with all those who find it hard to understand what is being asked of them.
Help us to responsibly care for those we are committed to and to develop a healthy self-awareness to recognise our weak points.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The garment of suffering prayer
Leader: Wear this garment as a symbol of suffering prayer
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:39–46
39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
Prayer: Let us pray. There are times when we are passionate people, O God.
Help us not to be afraid to feel things deeply and to care for others with a depth of compassion that comes from you.
We pray for all those facing dark hours and the depths of despair;
may those around them recognise their need for support and a caring presence. Sometimes, we fail to support others in their distress – keep us alert and watchful, we pray.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of betrayal
Leader: Bear the cloak of betrayal as we hear of Jesus’ arrest
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:47–53
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49 When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”
50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”
Prayer: Some people choose to gain control by force or manipulation, as Judas did.
We pray for all those who encounter violence or coercion against their will. Give us discernment to influence others in just and free ways, we pray.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of denial
Leader: Carry the cloak of denial
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:54–62
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a female servant, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Prayer: Let us pray. Ever-present God, you tell us not to be afraid,
yet often we act out of fear and do not have the courage to say who we are and to whom we belong.
Be close with your strength to all whose loyalty is being tested today.
Help us to witness to your saving grace in our lives both through our deeds and our words.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of false accusation
Leader: Accept the cloak of false accusation.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 22:63—23:5
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it who struck you?” 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him.
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3 Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”
Prayer: Let us pray. It is hard to listen to this story of violence, torture, and abuse.
We are not always willing to face our own or another’s pain.
We are not always able to stand up to those who are perpetrators.
We know that people carry the scars of such experiences for the rest of their lives. We pray that we may develop understanding and the wisdom of the best way to bring hope and healing.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs. .
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of contempt
Leader: Wear the cloak of contempt while we hear how Jesus was treated.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 23:6–12
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Prayer: It was not only the soldiers who treated Jesus with contempt:
Herod, too, only wanted to see Jesus to witness a miracle and experience something sensational.
The fine robe placed on Jesus was a mockery.
We pray for those who are ridiculed, mocked, and bullied,
and pray for courage for ourselves to stand with those who are not treated with dignity.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The cloak of condemnation
Leader: Here is the cloak of condemnation worn by Jesus as he received the death sentence.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 23:13–25
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
18 Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
Prayer: In many times and places, innocent people have been condemned to death.
We pray for judges and police here and abroad who can be faced with decisions over life and death, freedom and imprisonment.
We pray for those falsely accused that they may not lose hope.
We ask for discernment to recognise when justice is not being carried out.
May we never forget the rights and dignity of all people, the innocent and the guilty.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The garment of suffering
Leader: The garment of suffering rests for this time on your shoulders.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 23:26–43
26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus[a] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]][b] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah[c] of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[d] “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding[e] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?[f] Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in[g] your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Prayer: Let us pray. God-with-us, you know our suffering and feel our pain.
Thank you for those who share our burdens and voice their sympathy, for those who walk alongside us and offer support.
Help us, too, to recognise the pain of others and find ways to give assistance and care in their time of need.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
- The curtain of separation
Leader: Take hold of the curtain of separation.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 23:44–49
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land[a] until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”[c] 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
The cloth is torn at this stage as a dramatic picture of this event in the Temple. During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, approximately the length of one row of chairs.
Prayer: Let us pray. Reconciling God, as people saw the Temple curtain torn they recognised the breaking of a barrier of separation.
In his living and dying, Jesus expressed a relationship with God that is open for all. In death, he offered his life back into your hands.
We pray for all who feel separated today:
from you, O God, from loved ones, from places that are life-giving for them.
Remind us that we can never be separated from you and your love in Christ. Amen.
We will not sing this time, but keep a short silence.
Silence (10 seconds)
- The shroud of burial
Leader: Hold this shroud as we hear about Jesus’ burial.
Reader: The reading is from Luke 23:50–56
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[a] 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Prayer: Let us pray. Compassionate God, in death, our bodies return to the earth from which we came.
We give thanks for those who care for the deceased and we pray for medical staff and funeral directors.
For all who mourn today, we pray for your comfort and peace.
During the singing of the chorus, place cloth so that it continues down the aisle, as far as the fabric will allow.
Sing: ‘Follow the way, the way of the cross’
Blessing
And now we come to the end of our service today.
Go from this place not with grief but with gratitude.
Remember Jesus’ journey of love and know that his death is not the end of the story.
Go from this place in peace with the blessing of God the Eternal Spirit: Earth-maker, Pain-bearer and Life-giver.
We go in peace, amen.
As people leave, they are invited to take a sprig of rosemary away with them.
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About our sources this week:
Liturgical writer: Viv Whimster
Kia ora, my name is Viv Whimster and I welcome the opportunity to be involved in preparing worship resources for congregations in Aotearoa-New Zealand and Australia. I have been a member of Wesley Methodist Church, Tauranga since 1974 and accredited since 1998 as a Lay Preacher in the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa. I have also held positions at Synod and national level.
Although I trained as a pharmacist, I took Distance Learning papers through the University of Otago which broadened my understanding of the Christian faith, and since then completed a post-graduate diploma in Pastoral Studies. I co-ordinated the children’s, young people and family ministry in our congregation for 20 years and a highlight was involving children and young people in worship services. I am currently working with a colleague on revising and teaching a basic 2-year course for training Lay Preachers, alongside taking an Open Polytech paper on Adult Teaching.
I have always enjoyed writing, music and creative worship and value being in a congregation where we can create our own liturgy. I enjoyed being on the Seasons of the Spirit writing team for Lent-Easter 2014. I hope that bringing a perspective from Aotearoa will add value to the L3 resource.
Hymn-writer Shirley Erena Murray (b. New Zealand, 1931) studied music as an undergraduate but received a master’s degree with honors in classics and French from Otago University. Her upbringing was Methodist, but she became a Presbyterian when she married the Reverend John Stewart Murray, who was a moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Shirley began her career as a teacher of languages, but she became more active in Amnesty International and for eight years she served the Labor Party Research Unit of Parliament. Her involvement in these organizations has enriched her writing of hymns, which address human rights, women’s concerns, justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and the unity of the church. In recognition for her service as a writer of hymns, the New Zealand government honored her as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2001. In 2009, Otaga University conferred on her an honorary doctorate in literature for her contribution to the art of hymn writing.
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