VERSION: 9 April 2002
MIDWEEK LENTEN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE 5
(in the week following the Fifth Sunday in Lent)
OPENING VERSES
The Lord says, It was my will that he should suffer;
his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness.
After a life of suffering, he will again have joy;
he will know that he did not suffer in vain.
My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased,
will bear the punishment of many
and for his sake I will forgive them.
And so I will give him a place of honour,
a place among the great and powerful.
He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men.
He took the place of many sinners
and prayed that they might be forgiven. (Isa 53:10-12 TEV)
Alternative opening verses could be taken from the beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10), Philippians 2:5-11, selected verses from Habakkuk 3, or Isaiah 38:10-20. The opening sentences of Vespers could be used, or the 'Lamb of God' from the liturgy (LHS p 19 or p 73).
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray (for blessing and peace through Jesus).
(Silent prayer)
Gracious Jesus, our Lord and our God,
you bore our sins in your own body
on the tree of the cross,
so that we might die to sin and live in justice.
Have mercy on us,
both now and at the time of our death,
so that we who celebrate and remember
your suffering for us
may live this life in blessing and peace
and by your grace receive the gift of eternal life;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN
FIRST PASSION READING AND RESPONSE
YEAR A: Matthew 27:45-54 The death of Jesus
(Silence)
Our Shepherd, the fountain of living waters, is gone.
At his passing, the sun was darkened.
Our Saviour has broken the bars and the very gates of death.
Yes, he has destroyed the prisons of hell
and overthrown the power of the devil.
Our Saviour has broken the bars and the very gates of death.
YEAR B: Mark 15:33-41 The death of Jesus
(Silence)
Our Shepherd, the fountain of living waters, is gone.
At his passing, the sun was darkened.
Our Saviour has broken the bars and the very gates of death.
Yes, he has destroyed the prisons of hell
and overthrown the power of the devil.
Our Saviour has broken the bars and the very gates of death.
YEAR C: Luke 23:26-43 The crucifixion of Jesus
(Silence)
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
Look, O Lord, and see how worthless I have become.
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.
PSALM 130 or 143
For musical settings of Psalm 130, see Music Packages 2 and 6.
OR, TIS 81 Out of the depths is a setting of Psalm 130.
OR, the following metrical version of Psalm 130 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Kingsfold, 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' (AT 137, LH 306, TIS 585). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
Out of the depths, I cry to you,
Lord, hear my tearful prayer!
If you should mark iniquity,
O Lord God, who could stand?
But you forgive the sorry soul,
so all may fear your name.
I wait for you, for you I long,
and in your word I hope.
I wait for him far more than those
who wait for dawn to come.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
with him is steadfast love.
He has great power to redeem,
and he alone can save
his people from their deadly sin
and raise them from the grave.
OR, the following metrical version of Psalm 143 by BH Kennedy (modernised by David Sch¸tz) may be sung to any 6.6.8.6 metre tune (eg St Michael, LH 291, TIS 483; or Southwell, LH 398, TIS 546).
O hear my prayer, dear Lord,
and listen to my cry.
Remember now your faithful word,
and graciously reply.
Your judgment, Lord, dismiss
and spare your servant's life.
For no-one who has ever lived
is righteous in your eyes.
I stretch my longing hands
towards your holy place,
with thirsty soul, like weary lands,
for your refreshing grace.
Come quickly, Lord, I pray,
my failing heart to save!
Hide not your face: I faint as they
that sink into the grave.
Your mercy's early light
is my desire and goal.
O let me wake before your sight!
To you I lift my soul.
Let your good Spirit lead
my feet in righteous ways,
and for your name's sake, Lord, my head
above my troubles raise.
SECOND PASSION READING AND RESPONSE
YEAR A: Matthew 27:55-66 The burial of Jesus
(Silence)
See how the righteous one dies, and no one takes it to heart;
the righteous are taken away and no one gives it a thought.
The righteous one, the Lord's servant, shall make many righteous.
Like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
The righteous one, the Lord's servant, shall make many righteous.
YEAR B: Mark 15:42-47 The burial of Jesus
(Silence)
I am counted among those who go down to the pit.
I have become like those who have no help,
like the slain that lie in the grave.
You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep.
I have become like those who have no help,
like the slain that lie in the grave.
YEAR C: Luke 23: 44-56 The death and burial of Jesus
(Silence)
I am counted among those who go down to the pit.
I have become like those who have no help,
like the slain that lie in the grave.
You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep.
I have become like those who have no help,
like the slain that lie in the grave.
ADDRESS/MEDITATION
PRAYERS
Prayers may be preceded by this response:
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Prayers may be selected from the following:
Jesus, our Lord and our God,
you turned the other cheek
to those who struck you
and for our sake
you bore their insults.
May we follow your example
and have the courage
to bear our own cross
and to learn from you;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
O God, the living God,
you have put eternity into our hearts
and have made us to hunger and thirst for you.
Satisfy the desire
that you yourself have implanted in our hearts,
and lead us to life
through the death and resurrection
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Lord Jesus,
by the loneliness of your suffering
as a human being on the cross,
be near to all those who are despairing
because of pain or sorrow;
and let the comfort of your presence
transform their loneliness
into consolation and fellowship with you,
for your name's sake.
Amen.
Lord God,
you make all things work together for good
to those who love you.
Pour into our hearts
such constant love towards you
that the pure desires
aroused in us by your Holy Spirit
may not be turned aside
by any temptation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Merciful, eternal God,
you did not spare your own Son,
but gave him up for us all,
so that he might bear our sin on the cross.
Do not let our hearts be daunted or discouraged
in this faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lord, grant that we may glory
only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world
has been crucified to us,
and we to the world.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
as you rested in the tomb at the evening hour,
and so sanctified the grave
to be a bed of hope for your people:
Lead us to sorrow for our sins,
which were the cause of your suffering and death;
and when our bodies lie in the dust,
take us to live with you;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
From all evil,
Lord Jesus, deliver us.
By the mystery of your incarnation;
by your holy life;
by your bitter suffering and death;
by your prayer repeated three times;
by your sacred body buffeted and beaten;
by the spitting on your face;
and by the false judgment pronounced on you by Caiaphas;
Lord Jesus, deliver us.
By your painful crown of thorns;
by your purple robe of mockery;
by your unjust condemnation;
by your bearing of your own cross;
by the tearing off of your garments;
and by your dreadful crucifixion;
Lord Jesus, deliver us.
By the anguish you suffered on the cross;
by your prayers and tears;
by the insults you endured;
by the shedding of your precious blood;
by your patience and humility;
and by the love with which you loved us to the end;
Lord Jesus, deliver us.
We sinners beg you:
Lord Jesus, hear us.
That being dead to sin, we may live to righteousness;
that we may glory only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ;
that we may take up our cross daily and follow you;
that your blood may cleanse us from dead works to serve the living
God;
that taking your example, we may follow in your steps;
that sharing in your sufferings we may also share in your glory:
Lord Jesus, hear us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace.
We praise and adore you, Lord Jesus;
by your cross you have redeemed the world.
Lord Jesus Christ, you were lifted up on the cross to redeem the world, and you shed your blood for the forgiveness of sins. Lead us through your suffering and death into the gates of Paradise with joy.
Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
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.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you/us all.
Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
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