Good Friday – April 2, 2021
St. John’s Lutheran Church – Montello, Wisconsin
Pastor John Dolan
All of human history hinges on this day. Humbling himself before the will of the Father and the blood-thirst of men, the Son of God is crucified. The Father must reject his own Son since he bears the sin of the world. But all this served God’s saving purpose, and so we call this Friday…Good.
The bell is tolled seven times to begin the service.
Hand Chimes – “Amazing Grace”
Invocation and Prayer
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
M: God Most Holy, look with mercy on this your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, be given over into the hands of the wicked, and suffer death upon the cross. Keep us always faithful to him, our only Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Hymn, CW119, Were You There – Sung by soloist
The Hands of the Passion Devotion – Nail-Pierced Hands (Jesus) – Luke 23:32-34
2Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Hymn, CW140, God Was There on Calvary – Sung by soloist
Please stand.
Confession and Absolution
M: Let us confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness.
C: Almighty God, merciful Father,
I confess to you that I have not loved you with all my heart.
In what I have done and left undone,
I have pursued my ways instead of your ways.
I have not loved my brothers and sisters as myself.
For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.
I am truly sorry for my sins.
I repent of them.
I beg for your mercy, O Lord.
Silence for meditation
M: Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ who suffered and died for us.
C: Cleanse me from my sins.
Release me from my guilt.
Grant me your Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life.
M: The almighty God has been merciful to us and has sent his Son to die for all. For his sake, God forgives our sins and calls us from darkness to his marvelous light.
Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Exhortation
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us and reconciled us to God and has promised us the power to forgive and love each other. Relying on his promise, therefore, be reconciled with one another.
M and C: Brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions.
Be seated.
Scripture Reading – Isaiah 53:1-5
M: Who has believed our message?
C: And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
M: He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
C: Like a root out of dry ground.
M: He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
C: Nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
M: He was despised and rejected by men,
C: A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
M: Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
C: And we esteemed him not.
M: Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,
C: Yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
M: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.
C: The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
† T H E S E V E N W O R D S F R O M T H E C R O S S †
The First Word – Luke 23:32-34 (The Good Friday Gospel)
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
M: O Lord Jesus Christ touch us with your hands which the sins of the world pierced with nails, and forgive our ignorance, for Lord, we knew not, indeed we know not what we did in sinning against you. Forgive and bless us, O Lord, for your endless mercy’s sake.
C: Jesus, in your dying woes, Even while your lifeblood flows,
Craving pardon for your foes: Hear us, holy Jesus! (CW 139)
The Second Word – Luke 23:38-43
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, look upon us with your eyes as you looked upon the thief on the cross, that with him we may confess our sins and ask humbly, “Lord, remember us when you come into your kingdom,” and by your same voice be comforted, for your endless mercy’s sake.
C: Jesus, pitying the sighs of the thief who near you dies,
Promising him paradise: Hear us, holy Jesus!
The Third Word – John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, fill us with your love, as in your pain you comforted your mother and provided for her need and gave her both home and son. To such love without compare, without limit, lead us, O Lord, now and forever.
C: Jesus, loving to the end Her whose heart your sorrows rend,
And your dearest human friend: Hear us, holy Jesus!
The Fourth Word – Matthew 27:45-49
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, fill us with your faith, since in your last agony you cried to your Father, “My God, my God!” that no suffering, no shadow of doubt, may darken our trust in God nor separate us from your Father and ours, now or ever.
C: Jesus, plunged in depths unknown with our evil foe alone,
While no light from heav’n is shown: Hear us, holy Jesus!
The Fifth Word – John 19:28-29
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, lead us to see your thirst as you suffered in your humanity, that we might drink from you and never thirst again, but live in your Father’s house forever, for your tender mercy’s sake.
C: Jesus, in your thirst and pain, While your wounds the lifeblood drain,
Thus, fulfilling Scripture’s plan: Hear us, holy Jesus!
The Sixth Word – John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, give us your strength, as you resolved to do your Father’s work and finish it, that morning and evening we live in hope, knowing that your great work for us is completed, to the glory of your holy name.
C: Jesus, all our ransom paid, All your Father’s will obeyed,
By your suff’rings perfect made: Hear us, holy Jesus!
The Seventh Word – Luke 23:44-46
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
M: O Lord Jesus Christ, give us your trust—unquestioning and complete—as on the cross you committed your spirit to your Father, that whatever may happen we rest in the same everlasting arms, for your endless mercy’s sake.
C: Jesus, all your labor vast, All your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up your soul at last: Hear us, holy Jesus!
Prayer of the Church for Good Friday and Lord’s Prayer
M: Heavenly Father, you are a just God who accepts nothing less than perfection. We fall short and our sins condemn us. Lead us to recognize the seriousness of our sinfulness. Lead us also to admit our inability to make things right with you. Teach us to look to you as the only one who can make us just and right. Today we are reminded not only of your justice but also of your love. You did not spare your own Son but gave him as a ransom for each one of us. Comfort us with the knowledge of this great love and peace in the forgiveness of our sins. For being our perfect substitute, we thank you, Lord Jesus. The cross was once an instrument of death. It is now a sign of life. Dear Savior, we humbly kneel at the cross in awe of your power and your love. Amen,
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
† T H E S A C R A M E N T †
Personal preparation for Holy Communion listed on page 10.
Hymn of Preparation, CW127 v1,2, Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted – Sung by soloist
Please stand.
Preface
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up unto the Lord.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: It is good and right so to do.
M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death on the tree of the cross, so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
Holy, Holy, Holy – Sanctus
C: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts: heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Words of Institution
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
O Christ, Lamb of God – Angus Dei
C: O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace. Amen.
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
Prayer of Thanksgiving
M: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
The Benediction
M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen
Closing Hymn – CWS 748, Lamb of God – v1 school children, v2,3 children and congregation
PERSONAL PREPARATION FOR
HOLY COMMUNION
Q: What does God tell me about myself in his holy Word?
A: He says that I am a sinner and deserve only his punishment.
Q: What should I do if I am not aware of my sins or am not troubled by them?
A: I should examine myself according to the Ten Commandments and ask how well I have carried out my responsibilities as a husband or wife or single person, as a parent or child, an employer or employee, a teacher or student. Have I loved God with all my heart, gladly heard his Word, and patiently endured affliction? Have I been disobedient, proud, or unforgiving? Have I been selfish, lazy, envious, or quarrelsome? Have I lied or deceived, taken something not mine, or given anyone a bad name? Have I abused my body or permitted indecent thoughts to linger in my mind? Have I failed to do what is right and good?
Q: When I realize that I have sinned against God and deserve his punishment, what should I do?
A: I will confess before God all my sins, those which I remember as well as those of which I am unaware. I will pray to God for his mercy and forgiveness.
Q: How do I receive his gracious forgiveness?
A: His Word assures me that Jesus led a pure and holy life for me and died on the cross for me to pay the full price for all my sins. Through faith in Jesus, I have been clothed in my Savior’s perfect righteousness and holiness.
Q: What further assurance do I have that Jesus is mine and I am his?
A: In Holy Communion he gives me his body and blood together with the bread and wine as a truly life-giving food and drink to unite me with him and my fellow believers. By means of this sacrament, Jesus not only forgives my sins but sweeps away all my doubts about his love for me, gives me his own strength to live a God-pleasing life, and grants me a joyful foretaste of heaven.
Q: How can I be sure that I receive all these blessings in the Lord’s Supper?
A: I have his own word spoken as his last will and testament on the night before he died. There he tells me: “Take and eat; this is my body. Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Q: How will I respond to this priceless gift from Jesus?
A: I will daily thank and praise him for his love to me. With his help I will fight temptation, do my best to correct whatever wrongs I have done, and serve him and those around me with love and good works.
Lord Jesus, with joy and gratitude I now come to your table to receive the precious food of your life-giving body and blood. May it strengthen me to remain in you as you remain in me, so that I bear much fruit in devoted service to you and in acts of kindness to others. Amen.
WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS!
Find & Like us on Facebook
Visit our website: www.stjohnsmontello.org
Pastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830, E-mail: zietlowPL6@hotmail.com
Little Lambs Director & Teacher Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816
K, 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554
3rd-5th Grade Teacher Ms. Katlynn Tindall: 262-352-7021
Principal & 6th – 8th Grade Teacher Mr. Larry Sellnow: 616-822-6689,
Email: principal@stjohnsmontello.org
Church & School Secretary/Office Ciara Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866
Church & School Address/Mail: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949
Church & School E-mail: scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
HOLY WEEK ONLINE VIDEOS
This year for Holy Week (Sunday, March 28-Sunday, April 4), we are hosting our online event:
“Palm Branches to the Tomb: Telling HIStory”.
This event entails short, themed videos each day created by our very own church and school members.
Be sure to check our website www.stjohnsmontello.org and follow us on our church Facebook page each day. Feel free to share this information with your family and friends!
COVID PLAN FOR WORSHIP UPDATE
On Monday 3/8, the Joint Council met to discuss the Joint Worship Committee’s proposals regarding the next phase of our COVID worship guidelines. Beginning on Easter Sunday 4/4, the JC approved returning to the pre-COVID common forms of liturgy with full congregational singing, masks and social distancing for the Sunday services. The Saturday service music, however, would continue to be led by a soloist. The JC decided to replace the 6am Easter Sunrise Service at St. John’s to a 8am Easter Worship at St. John’s. The JC also approved the Joint Worship Committee’s proposal to resume choir practice and school singing after Easter. Finally, the JC also approved the change in the wording of the COVID plan to encourage in-person worship. We are concerned that some are staying away from in-person worship because the policy states that if a person can watch the service online, he or she is asked to do so. We feel it is very important for our members to get back to in-person worship when they feel comfortable to do so.
JOINT EMMANUEL/ST. JOHN’S CHOIR
Emmanuel and St. John’s joint choir will resume on April 5 @6:30pm at St John’s. All Emmanuel and
St. John’s members are invited to join. We will wear masks and socially distance for the time being.
All members high school and older are invited to join as they feel comfortable.
Please contact Lynn Sellnow @ lynnsellnow@stjohnsmontello.org or phone 616-826-0816
if you have questions. It is good to praise the Lord!
