March 29, 2024 
Good Friday 
John 18:1-19:42
“The Sword” 

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Many: Why are you so far from helping me?
One: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Many: Why are you so distant from my groaning?
One: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Many: In the midst of our tears, you do not answer.
One: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Many: Even in the shades of shelter, I find no rest.

INVOCATION
God of the Fearful and Grieving,
Faith’s eclipse of light has overtaken our souls.  The darkness sits with us as a companion on this part of the journey as we retreat into our spirits.  Confusion, exhaustion, tears, and aches become part of the story.  Even on the night of the sword, we will find solace. Even when the glances of neighbors pierce our hearts and their words swirl around in our minds, God’s peace will alleviate any anxiety.  Amen.

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE
God of the Healing Wounds,
The pain of our traumas shadow the light that beams from our souls.  From the shadows, we cast a shade upon our neighbors.  Such gloom is a sword in their hearts.  May we be aware of how our pain creates agony in the life of our neighbors.  May we reach out to our companions on the journey when we have cause them grief in their own lives.  Amen.

WORDS OF GRACE
Even when we abide in Gesthemenes and Golgathas and can’t see the presence of the Divine, God still abides with us.  God’s grace extends to us.  May the soothing love and grace of God bring us peace even in valleys, gardens, and hills of shadows, and may we see hope for the future beyond the gloom.

REFLECTION ON GIVING
Jesus spoke to his followers “I am the light of the world.”
The Illumination of Christ, the Light of the World radiated to and and for all,
Encouraging others to share their lights.
We remember the Light, the one who reminded us of our gifts, 
Whether our time spent with others
Or sharing our unique talents,
Whether pouring our energy
Or sharing our treasures,
All gifts will build God’s Realm
In worship spaces and places to heal.
Holy One, may our offerings be blessed.  Amen.

On Good Friday, many use a different means of a time of offering.  This considers the solemnity of the service, and an offering box or plate will be in the back of the sanctuary.

THE PASSION NARRATIVE: ELIMINATING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The John passion story historically has been used as a way to condemn people of the Jewish faith.  As you read the John 18-19 text, please consider using words like “crowd” or “religious elite” in verses such as John 18:14, 18:30, 18:38, 19:7, 19:12 & 19:14 out of sensitivity to our Jewish neighbors.  Please consider taking a couple of moments before the reading of the John text to contextualize the reading, noting to the congregation that when the text reads that “the Jews” were the ones to condemn Jesus, it was a small group compared to the many Jewish people of the time.

As the shadows of light creep in
And the light takes its last breath,
The dawn of betrayal begins to saunter
Into the tense and tender evening.

God so loved the world that Jesus wept-
Knowing that betrayal and hate
Were sweeping across the land.

The gift of understanding was swept away
For money, or fame, or one’s own protection-
Out of privilege, out of fear.
The Light of the world, the greatest Light
Was extinguished bit by bit,
Hour by hour.

The reading of John 18:1-14

The Light was extinguished
For the hope of riches,
For the booming voices of the powers-that-be.
The charisma of power
Delight even the most faithful
Enough for one to drown in shame
And block one’s sight from forgiveness.

The reading of John 18:15-18 & 25-27

The Light was dimmed
From the winds of denial-
Dimmed out of fear.
Holding one’s breath
Wondering if they knew
And distancing from the Light.
One denial.  Then two.
And at the third “I do not know him”
There was weeping from a torn soul.

The reading of John 18:19-24 & 28-32

The Light was quenched
By the ones in power-
Whether it was the top of Religion
Or the top of the State.
The Light had no endurance
When the two mixed their powers.
They schemed together.
Maybe, just maybe, they’ll keep their control a little while longer
By stamping out the Light.

The reading of John 18:33-40

The Light was smothered
By the ones who aimlessly followed 
The ones in power.
Was it their demeanor?  Their voices?
The way they made all the rules for them?
Was it the way they sustained their privileges?
Why would they follow the hateful
Instead of the one who beamed love?
Why would they save the life of a bandit,
Instead of the one who taught kindness?
The Light never mattered to this gathering,
To the ones who loved strength through dominance. 
Their empire was of this world.

The reading of John 19:1-25 & 31-37

The Light was dying out
After torture and beatings,
After thorns pressed into his flesh.
After dragging a wooden beam
To the place of the Skull.
After nails driven, and insults thrown,
After the blood of life ran dry.
“It is finished,” he said.
As tired, dimming light
Flickered its last movement
And soberly died.

The reading of John 19:25b-27 

The Light was snuffed out
From the dust of followers fleeing.
Not knowing what would come next
And bolting to an undisclosed location.
Terrified, they hid-
Far, far away from events
At the Place of the Skull.
Deserting the One.  Leaving the One behind.
For the few who found strength and courage-
For a mom and a few bold friends-
We give our thanks.

The reading of John 19:38-42

This reading can be used as the Benediction or closing of the service.
The Light had died out
From trauma and hate
From fear and frustration
From greed, ego, and power.
The Light was gone
By the time myrrh and aloes
Anointed the Empty One.
The Light was gone 
As spices and linen wrapped the Empty One.
The Light was gone
As the Empty One was placed in the tomb-
Set in a space of shadows.
And as the dusk wrapped around the tomb,
We, too, walk away.

Close with 30 seconds in darkness.
Slowly bring up the lights.  Congregants will leave in silence.

*****

The Sword: Service Prayers for Good Friday Year B was written by Rev. Michelle Torigian, the senior pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville, Illinois.  Her liturgies and prayers can be found at michelletorigian.com.