Empires Crush
Occupiers Crucify
Oppressors Jail
Betrayal and Denial
are in the air
It seems like
…Everywhere
And yet
Forgiveness is Spoken
without Apology
Criminals are Remembered
in Paradise
Crosses are Carried
For a Mile
By Strangers
Women Follow
Beating Their Breast
Confessions Are Made
Of Christ
At even the Last Moment
And It is
Ok
That Friday
Isn’t Good
…
Yet
Feel free to share/use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
I don’t want to live
in a world
Where we live out
imprisoning
and killing
immigrants
innocent
and guilty
side by side
Why they cry out
for water
I don’t want to live
in a world
where
the loneliness
of those in power
manifests
in intimidation
betrayal
and
empty promises
I don’t
want the Palm Sundays
of Protest
to End in the
Fridays
of Violence
where
we think
Sacrifice is
the only answer
I don’t
Want us
to Cry out
“my
God
MY GOD
why…
Why have
You abandoned
Me?”
Feeling the
Hell of
Divine
absence
I don’t
want to
live out
empty
Saturdays
Of Mourning
Where there
is absolutely
no right
word of
comfort to Say
But I do
Want
the resurrection
of community
Where
White people
Learn
Listening
and Community
And Solidarity
for Real this time
I do want the
Apostle-ship
Of the Women
To be
whispered
At Dawn
And for the
Empires
To topple
at the truth
And I do
want the
Church
To be
Alive
and well
Not in pews
Or choirs
But in
Shared Meals
and understandings
Beyond denominations
And accountability
Liberation
And Mission
in the Neighborhood and Beyond
I want to
meet Jesus
And God
in the gardens
And for
the Divine to remind us
That all the
Seeds that we are
Planting Count
(Even the ones that don’t bloom)
And that
God is tending
some to produce
Resurrection
Harvests
Beyond
All Imaginings
And I
Want to
Remember
That Chuffing
Off
the Offal
Is Ok
And that
Jesus
will Rise
Again
And he
Will Kneel
in the Garden
To Plant
And so
Of course
We will kneel
Next to him
In solidarity
And so
With
the Holy Spirit
Whispering
Encouragement
In My
Heart
I walk
Towards
a Kin-Dom
Now.
Feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
God
I am
so angry
I could
Curse out
all the Fig
Trees
That are poisoning
The land
I am so
angry
I could
Flip
the tables
of all those
Who are
Tricking the
Public
with Slight of
Hand
Money
Changing
Pretend
“Money
Saving”
Tricks
God I am so
Angry
That there is
Not actually
A Cursing God
Tuesday
There is not
and actually
Justice Making
Monday
There is not
An
Actually
Action-Making
Stay up all Night
Until things Change
Sunday
We play through
The Emotions
of Holy Week
And all I end up
with is another
Statement
From my Denomination
Don’t get me wrong
I am a Writer
In Love with Words
Grounded in
The Good News
I love Verbal Processing
As much
as the Next Person
And I think
That Art
feeds the Soul
of Movements
But we have to figure
Out how To
Stop our
Senators from
Posting
Mealy Mouth
Social Media
Statements
And Move from
The Theater
To actually
Tearing Down
The things that
Don’t work
Before the
Fig Trees
Are Replanted
Before the Temple
was rebuilt
Before the Table
Was put back together
Things had to be
cursed out
Deconstructed
Torn Apart
Destroyed
There is no
resurrection
Without Death
How do we
Kill Racism
Nazism
Homophobia
Isolationism
Christian Fascism
So that we can finally
Figure out
Liberation
Equity
Justice
and Extravagant Grace
Lord,
Teach us
to be a Resurrection
People
we Pray
Amen
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “Katyandtheword”
The tears
on my Face
the Broken
Butterfly
Bowl
Shattered
reminding me
Of all I missing
I ache, remembering
the Soup I ate from it
at a Homeless-Dinner-Slash-
Leadership-training
As I touch the pieces
I can almost smell
the countless
Ashes I burned
In
it
For
Ash Weds
Saying
Write Everything
You want to give to God
On a Piece of Paper
And I will Burn it for you
The Holy Spririt
will Somehow
transpose it
To the ashes
We will write
in a shape of a Cross
on your forehead
Tears
Shattered Butterflies
Silent Call
Is as Close to a Good Friday Service
I will get today
I pray as I put the pieces in the trash
Jesus
Remember Me
When you Come
Into Your Kingdom
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
I don’t know him
God you know
The kind of denial Peter made
Sudden, unbidden, accidental
Yet complete
Peter did not mean to deny Jesus
But the words once said
Felt true in the moment
He did not know this man
Who willingly went to the cross
Spoke in parables
And left him alone in an angry mob
And Peter
God knew
Never had the gift of keeping quiet
No I do not know him
The words echoed again
As Peter felt lost and alone
Peter watched himself say the words
And thought “what am I doing”
No I do not know him
Peter said a third time
Cock—a—Doodle
Doo
And on the third Day
I will rebuild the Temple
A voice whispered
And Peter say hands breaking bread
And embracing Lazarus
And Jesus resting on a rock
And a tear trickled down
And Peter thought
Did I ever know him?
And his tongue
Finally
Stood still
Feel free to use/Share/Adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
March 29th
Supplies: Purple Cloth, Candles, Nail for each participant, Hammer, A cross you can Nail the Nails into, Old Palms
(Make certain each person has a nail upon entry–each interlude can have music between readings or be silent Suggested Music: Were You There When You Crucified My Lord or Jesus, Remember Me When you Come Into Your Kingdom )
16Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.17And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. -Mark 15:16-19
Lay Purple Cloth on the Cross
20After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.-Mark 15:20
Collect Nails from Everyone
21They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. Mark 15:21-24
Nail the Nails to a Cross
25It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.29Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.-Mark 15:25-32
Place Dried Up Palms by the Cross
33When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Mark 15:33-39
Blow out all of the Candles
Optional: Read Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21 in the dark
eel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy $75
(you can decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe
Good Friday: Dark Night of the Soul. When Jesus descended into Hell—that means Jesus, somehow felt what it meant to be fully abandoned (even though he was God) and he knows the lament of utter desolation, for you have to know that feeling to be human.
Inhale: My pain is valid
Exhale: God can handle my pain
Read: Psalm 22:1-2, 14-15
Read Mark 15:1-39
Hymn: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord
Taize: Jesus Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom (also option for Maundy Thurs), O Lord Hear My Prayer
Have every one say “My God, My God Why have you abandoned me” 4 or 5 times
Then end with the leader whispering it
Prayer Activity: Pray in the dark with candles lit (perhaps each congregant has a pillar/small candle), silently
Blow the candles out at the end
Taize: Ubi Caritas, Watch and Pray
Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy $75
(you decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe
Themes:
Disciples want to get close to Jesus, Jesus continually points the disciples to look outward
Kneeling with Christ :When Jesus Comes Every Knee will bow,
Because Christ will return as he came, Kneeling to Serve
And we will Kneel to be Beside him
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
A World Beyond Capitalism, Breaking Capitalism
Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for entire Liturgy $75
(you can decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please contact me for info
February 14th
Ash Weds
Mark 9:30-37 Last, First, like a Child
Psalm 32:1-5
February 18th , Lent 1
Mark 10:17-31 Rich Man sell all
Psalm 19:7-10
March 3rd, Lent 3
Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] Wicked Tenants, Pay Caesar (Sacrifice)
Psalm 86:8-13
March 10th, Lent 4
Mark 12:28-44 Great Commandment, Poor Widow
Psalm 89:1-4
March 17th, Lent 5
Mark 13: 1-8, 24-37 End of age, Watch
Psalm 102:12-17
March 24th, Lent 6
Mark 11:1-11 Triumphal Entry
Mark 14:3-9 woman anoints Jesus
Psalm 118:25-29
Holy Week Book
Jesus, The Word by Mark Fracisco Bozzuti-Jones Image from here
Also What is God Like
YouTube reading
by Rachel Held Evans
March 28 Maundy Thurs
Mark 14:22-42 Words of Institution, Peter’s Denial foretold, Gethsemane Prayer
Psalm 116:12-19
March 29th Good Fri
Mark 15:16-39 Mocking, Forsaken
Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21
March 31st Resurrection
Mark 16:1-8 Empty tomb, Fleeing
Psalm 118:21-27
Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for entire Liturgy $75
(you can decide what is fair for portions)
Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe
if you wish to send a check please contact me for info
Jesus
I wasn’t there Good Friday
But I’ve planted a garden almost every year
despite the fact, my thumb is black, and nothing will ever grow
I have sat alone in middle school, at the lunch table, at the classroom
Being told to shut up every time I’ve spoken, isolated and alone
I have left a room
only to realize later that I participated in White Supremacy–
Leaving a Person of Color to fend for themselves
And I have participated in politics that have lead to people having to leave
or find solace, because they were so hurt by what happened
I have cried Hosanna! after Massive Gun Violence And Gender Violence
So many times–with phone calls, votes and letters
Again, and again, and again
I wasn’t there on Good Friday
But I have been abandoned or done the Abandoning
Jesus, I picture you
starting your descent into hell
with the words “My God, My God, Why have you abandoned me”
I wasn’t there that Good Friday–
Almost no one was–
Yet that was the point
Hate
Violence
Politics
Sexism
Patriarchy, All the bad things…seemed to be winning
I wasn’t there Good Friday,
But I have felt those pieces of Hell, the utter loneliness
the failure
I have heard the devil whispering to me
that I’m too different
that my voice doesn’t matter
that peace won’t win
that my betrayals are bigger than my good works
that THAT scene, the one on replay in my head? Everyone remembers that one about me
I don’t know how Jesus utterly cut off from Love
in Hell
But I know all humans feel that at some point;
so I know you did it Jesus
You walked into Hell…
so we wouldn’t be alone there anymore
To remind us that Nothing
no height, no death,
no
angels
no
demons
heaven
nor hell
can cut us off from the love of Jesus Christ
I wasn’t there Good Friday..But you were,
Un-abandoning us
Sitting with us
We can’t see you or hear you in the dark
But thanks for being there
with me when the seeds won’t grow,
at the lonesome lunch table
Or in the Aftermath
And it’s ok to sit in the dark for awhile
Amen.
Feel free to adapt/share/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Senator Jones in the foreground Rep Pearson in the background in a black suit—both with their fists raised after the two young, black men were expelled from Tennessee House for partying peaceful anti-gun demonstrations, the white woman senator was allowed to remain
Extinguishing of Lights Worship & Nailing Our Sins to The Cross
(Yes we nontraditionally do communion, because my worshiping community does not do Maundy Thursday, feel free to disclude)
Call to Worship
L The Lord be with you.
P And also with you
THE NAIL OF BROKENNESS*
“We are a resurrection people” we like to say
And we say it often
“But resurrection doesn’t erase or replace the real life that happens before, during and after, the real life that we all know.
The places where we are broken
Where we are grieving
Where we are sad
Where we are angry
Where we are hurting
Where we are anxious
Where we are lonely
Where we are human—fully
And we each carry around the experiences of trauma, and loss and hurt, that are a real part of our life.
Those experiences live within us, and they exist before, during and after resurrection. Yes, we are a resurrection people
But we are also human—fully.
And that means that we know death, just as surely as we know life.
Death is real, it is excruciating, and painful, and it is a part of life.
But God is not afraid of death. God is big enough to hold us in our hurt, in our brokenness, in those places of death where we cannot hold ourselves. When we find ourselves in those places, when we cannot imagine ever feeling joy again, may we remember, that although God will not erase the pain, God will hold us, God will stand with us.
THE NAIL OF BETRAYAL Matthew 26:48-50
. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
NAIL OF HATRED Matthew 27:27-31
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,* and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Sung Response:
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?(silence)
Silent Meditation: Extinguishing of the Light
THE NAIL OF STUMBLING Matthew 26:69-75
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ 70But he denied it before all of them, saying, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ 71When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’* 72Again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’ 73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to
Peter, ‘Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.’ 74Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’ At that moment the cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.
Sung Response
Were you there when they left him on the cross?
Were you there when they left him on the cross?
O, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they left him on the cross? (silence)
THE NAIL OF DEATH Matthew 17:45-50
45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land* until three in the afternoon. 46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 47When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ 48At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.’ 50Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
Sung Response
Were you there when the sun refused shine?
Were you there when the sun refused shine?
O, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (silence)
Silent Meditation: Extinguishing of the Light
THE RESPONSE
ACT OF CONFESSION
You are invited to have your sins nailed to the cross
Sung Response
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
O, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (silent)
Silent Meditation: Extinguishing of the Light
RESPONSIVE READING: THE PROMISE OF MERCY*
O God of my heart, remind us that this was the day the temple’s curtain was torn in two, breaking open the divide between the divine and human. God’s mercy
Let hold onto what centurion and those who were keeping watch said “Truly this man was God’s Son.” (Matthew 27:51, 54)
Communion
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise….(Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the power and the kingdom and the glory forever. Amen.
Jesus came into the world, not to judge it, but to save it.
We are so grateful for God’s infinite love, and we celebrate with all of creation, the saving work, of our Suffering Savior. On the night before he was nailed to the merciless cross,
Jesus shared His last meal with His friends. He took the bread, He broke it, and He gave thanks, and then He passed it among them saying,
This is my body which is broken for you. Eat it and remember Me.
He took the wine, and He gave thanks, and then He passed it among them saying,
This is my blood which is shed for you. Drink it and remember Me.
And so, we take, we eat and drink, and we remember:
There is no greater love, than this sacrifice which You, Jesus, made for us
God is with us, even when we fear.
Come, let us taste and see the Lord.
Sung Response: Extinguishing the Light
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (silence)
*Prayer from Dying Liturgy of NextChurch national gathering 2018
katyandtheword 