Worship Service: https://youtu.be/wjRKHdMADF4
Prelude Miriam Enman
Leader: Jesus said: I am the light of the world.
People: Anyone who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Leader: If I say, “Let the darkness cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O God.”
People: The night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike.
Leader: Let us pray,
Gracious God,
You give us the sun to illumine the day and the moon and stars to shine by night. Kindle in us the flame of your love that our lives may shed abroad the radiance of your light and the world may be full of the splendor of your glory; through Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. Amen.
Light the Candles
Leader: Brothers and sisters, we are called to be children of the day and not children of the night.
People: Let us approach the throne of grace that we may receive mercy.
Leader: Let us pray,
All: Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Leader: This is the message we have heard from Christ and proclaim to you: God is light.
People: If we walk in the light as Christ is in the light, we have communion with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
Hymn Were You There?
1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
3 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Readings and Extinguishing of Lights
FIRST READING- Shadow of Betrayal Matthew 26: 20-25
SECOND READING- Shadow of Desertion Matthew 26: 31-35
THIRD READING- Agony of the Soul Luke 22: 39-44
FOURTH READING- Unshared Vigil Mark 14: 32-42
FIFTH READING- “Father, the hour is come” John 17: 1-6
SIXTH READING- “That they may all be one” John 17: 15-22
SEVENTH READING- Arrest in the Garden John 18: 1-6
EIGHTH READING- Shadow of the Cross Mark 15: 16-20
Four More Candles Extinguished Representing the Disciples
Special Music “In the Shadow of the Tree” Kristine and Jeremiah Geer Accompanied by Miriam Enman
FINAL READING- The Word was God (paraphrased from John)
Before the world was created, the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was the same as God. From the beginning the Word was with God. Through the Word God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without the Word. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to humanity.
The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us.
The Word was in the world; and though God made the world through the World, the world did not recognize the Word. Some, however, did receive the Word and believed in the Word. So the Word gave them the right to become God’s children.
This is now the judgement works: the light has come into the world, but people love the shadows rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.
The Final Candle Represents Christ
Portions of this service are reprinted from UCC Book of Worship ©1986 by permission of the United Church of Christ Office for Church Life and Leadership.