Good Friday, Narrative Lectionary

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
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Receipt Available upon request
Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

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P-e-f-e-c-t

God,
this is the time of year
to reflect

To think about all that has been
accomplished
or not

We human really like progress
but really hate change
How did you do that God?
Make us this way?

We want to be prefect, pefect
perfect
Whatever that means….

I am, as you know too well God
a recovering perfectionist
so full of goals
Give me a minute
and I can give you plans, dreams
ideas to fill a jar

But this year
when I got the Star Word* intention
I politely

declined

I am trying to fall into God
this time

I am trying to
wait

I am trying to
Sabbath

I am trying to do this thing
perhaps you have heard of it

Trust in God

It is not easy
I am more of the
goal-setting, work-hard-and-be-rewarded
early-bird-gets-the-worm
plan your way out of catastrophe person

But I am not a catastrophe
or a trophy

I am beautifully
and fiercely made

And perhaps
unfinished–and
that thought should not
be scary
but
comforting

God has more to do with
us

There is peace
to be made

Hunger for righteousness
to be fed

Help that needs
to be given
(and perhaps more scarily)
asked for

So here I go
into a new year–
reaching up
and out

full of prayer
and letting go
of intentions

Amen.

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

*Star Word is an Epiphany Practice to pull a word to help set an intention/focus for the upcoming year