GOOD FRIDAY The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion St. Paul’s Charlottetown 11:00 a.m., April 18, 2025

 
GOOD FRIDAY
The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
St. Paul’s Charlottetown
11:00 a.m., April 18, 2025
 
Prelude:
Ave Maria F. Schubert
Air on a G String J.S. Bach
Olasunkanmi Omotosho, violin
 
Followed by a period of silence as the choir and ministers enter.
 
The Ministry of the Word
When the congregation has assembled and the ministers, having entered in silence, are in their places, all shall stand.
 
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way,
And the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Christ the Lord became obedient unto death,
Even death on a cross.
 
Silence.
 
Almighty God,
our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed; we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We pray you of your mercy, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
 
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, look graciously, we pray, on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
579 O Lord My God
 
A Dramatic Reading of the Passion
A wooden cross is brought in during the Passion.
Hymn during passion play: 192 Were You There (verses 1-5)
 
198 O Sacred Head, Surrounded
 
Meditation on the Cross
This is the wood of the cross,
on which hung the Saviour of the world.
         Come let us worship.
 
Anthem 1 †
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
O my people, O my Church, What have I done to you, or in what have I offended you? Testify against me. I led you forth from the land of Egypt, and delivered you by the waters of baptism, but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
I led you through the desert forty years, and fed you with manna. I brought you through tribulation and penitence, and gave you my body, the bread of heaven, but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
What more could I have done for you that I have not done? I planted you, my chosen and fairest vineyard, I made you the branches of my vine; but when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink, and pierced with a spear the side of your Saviour.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
I went before you in a pillar of cloud, and you have led me to the judgement hall of Pilate. I scourged your enemies and brought you to a land of freedom, but you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me. I gave you the water of salvation from the rock, but you have given me gall and left me to thirst.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
I gave you a royal sceptre, and bestowed the keys to the kingdom, but you have given me a crown of thorns. I raised you on high with great power, but you have hanged me on the cross.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
My peace I gave, which the world cannot give, and washed your feet as a sign of my love, but you draw the sword to strike in my name, and seek high places in my kingdom. I offered you my body and blood, but you scatter and deny and abandon me.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you, and you close your hearts to the Counsellor. I pray that all may be as one in the Father and me, but you continue to quarrel and divide. I call you to go and bring forth fruit, but you cast lots for my clothing.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
I grafted you into the tree of my chosen Israel, and you turned on them with persecution and mass murder. I made you joint heirs with them of my covenants, but you made them scapegoats for your own guilt.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters; I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.
Holy God, holy and mighty,
holy and immortal one, have mercy upon us.
 
The Sermon: Archdeacon John Clarke
 
Anthem: Three Crosses of Shame (Lloyd Larson)
 
The Solemn Intercession
All standing, the deacon says to the people,
 
Dear people of God, our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved, that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death and become heirs with him of eternal life.
 
The people may be directed to kneel. The celebrant says the collects.
 
Let us pray for the one holy catholic and apostolic Church of Christ throughout the world: for its unity in witness and service, for all bishops and other ministers and the people whom they serve, for Sandra our bishop, for David our Metropolitan, and Anne our acting Primate, and all the people of this diocese, for all Christians in this community, for those about to be baptized that the Lord will confirm his Church in faith, increase it in love, and preserve it in peace.
 
Silence
 
Almighty and everlasting God, by your Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified. Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in our vocation and ministry we may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Let us pray for all nations and peoples of the earth, and for those in authority among them: for Charles the King and all the Royal Family, for Mark the Prime Minister and for the government of this country, for Robert the premier of this province and the members of the legislature, for Philip the mayor of Charlottetown and those who serve with him on the city council, for those who serve on the councils of Stratford, Cornwall and other municipalities on PEI, for all who serve the common good, that by God’s help they may seek justice and truth, and live in peace and concord.
 
Silence
 Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that justice and peace may increase, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Let us pray for all who suffer and are afflicted in body or in mind: for the hungry and homeless, the destitute and the oppressed, and all who suffer persecution or prejudice, for the sick, the wounded, and the handicapped, for those in loneliness, fear, and anguish, for those who face temptation, doubt, and despair, for the sorrowful and bereaved, for prisoners and captives and those in mortal danger, that God in his mercy will comfort and relieve them, and grant them the knowledge of his love, and stir up in us the will and patience to minister to their needs.
 
Silence
 
Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer, hear the cry of those in misery and need. In their afflictions show them your mercy, and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them, for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Let us pray for all who have not received the gospel of Christ: for all who have not heard the words of salvation, for all who have lost their faith, for all whose sin has made them indifferent to Christ, for all who actively oppose Christ by word or deed, for all who are enemies of the cross of Christ, and persecutors of his disciples, for all who in the name of Christ have persecuted others, that God will open their hearts to the truth, and lead them to faith and obedience.
 
Silence
 
Merciful God, creator of the peoples of the earth and lover of souls, have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ. Let your gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it, turn the hearts of those who resist it, and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Let us commit ourselves to God, and pray for the grace of a holy life, that with all who have departed this life and have died in the peace of Christ, and those whose faith is known to God alone, we may be accounted worthy to enter into the fullness of the joy of our Lord, and receive the crown of life in the day of resurrection.
 
Silence
 
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favourably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery. By the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation. Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
386 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
 
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
 
The Closing Prayer
Send down your abundant blessing, Lord,
upon your people
who have devoutly recalled the death of your Son
in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.
Grant them pardon; bring them comfort.
May their faith grow stronger
and their eternal salvation be assured.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Mercy Max Richter, Olasunkanmi Omotosho, violin
 
There is no blessing or dismissal added to the service.  The ministers, choir and congregation leave in silence (unless they desire to remain in the Church for prayer).