Good Friday Evening April 2, 2021 - 8:00pm
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Good Friday Evening
April 2, 2021
8:00pmWelcome to Bethlehem!
We welcome our guests who are worshipping with us today. Thanks for joining us! We’d
love to have you join us again soon. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do for
you.
A lounge for parents needing to quiet small children is located at the rear of church. The
room has a clear window for viewing and is equipped with a speaker system. The lounge
is currently limited to one family at a time.
Today’s Worship: Yesterday, Maundy Thursday, we celebrated Christ's institution of the
Lord's Supper. Today our Holy Week worship continues with our Good Friday service. On
this most solemn day, we worship our Lord for His tremendous sacrifice. We also
remember that our own sins, which, like nails, have placed Jesus on the cross, have been
forgiven because of Jesus' death. Tenebrae, which means darkness, lends its name to this
service, because we begin with lights on and candles lit and gradually extinguish both to
point to the darkness that came to earth on that Friday afternoon when Christ died.
To Prepare Our Hearts for Worship
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious
Word and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that
with undivided attention I may hear your voice and sing your praise.
2TENEBRAE
A Service of Darkness for Good Friday
We gather quietly to consider the words of forgiveness, paradise, human
care, divine suffering, thirst, completion, and committal that our Savior
Jesus Christ spoke from the cross.
OPENING HYMN | “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” CW 125
OPENING READING | Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as
there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that
of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— 15 so he will
sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were
not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. 53 Who has
believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up
before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or
majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was
despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one
from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely
he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was
crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his
wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our
own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and
afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and
judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from
the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished 9 He was assigned
a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor
was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to
suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and
prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he
3will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will
justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among
the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto
death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.
PRAYER FOR GOOD FRIDAY
P: 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 now lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P: In the name of our God, to whom all hearts are open and from whom no secrets are hidden.
Amen.
C: I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I
sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and
justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother
conceived me. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Psalm 51:3-5,9
P: Jesus says to his people: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” His death paid for
the guilt of your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?
C: Yes, I believe.
P: Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I forgive you all your sins. Be assured that you
are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life.
C: Amen.
SONG | “The Cross” by Julie Brink
A GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE
“The Moment of Truth”
Luke 23:39-43
4OFFERTORY | Use this time to sign the connection card located in the back of the pew in front of you and
quietly meditate. Sign the blue side if you are a member of Bethlehem or the yellow side
if you are a visitor.
- Prayer & Meditation -
Based on the Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross
THE FIRST WORD | Forgiveness Luke 23:26-34
P: Lord Jesus our Savior, at your crucifixion you spoke not a curse, but a blessing. We confess
that it is our sin that led you to suffer the punishments of hell in our place. Forgive us, and
help us by your Holy Spirit to measure the depths of your undying love for us.
C: Amen.
HYMN | “O Sacred Head, now Wounded” CW 105:1-2
brief silence for meditation
THE SECOND WORD | Paradise Luke 23:38-43
P: Lord Jesus our Savior, by your suffering and death you have won eternal life for all who trust
in you. Remember us today as you remembered the penitent thief on the day of your
crucifixion, and strengthen our faith through your promise of paradise.
C: Amen.
HYMN | “O Sacred Head, now Wounded” CW 105:3-4
brief silence for meditation
THE THIRD WORD | Human care John 19:25-27
P: Lord Jesus our Savior, by your perfect love you provided care for your mother and
righteousness for all who trust in you. Lead us always to turn to you for comfort and relief,
for you have promised to supply us with everything we need for body and life.
C: Amen.
HYMN | “O Sacred Head, now Wounded” CW 105:5-6
brief silence for meditation
5THE FOURTH WORD | Divine Suffering Matthew 27:45-49
P: 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: Amen.
HYMN | “O Sacred Head, now Wounded” CW 105:7
brief silence for meditation
THE FIFTH WORD | Thirst John 19:28,29
P: Son of Man, you suffered hunger in the wilderness, you wept at the grave of Lazarus, and
you thirsted as your life ebbed away. You were tempted in every way just as we are, yet you
are without sin. We praise you, Lord Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer.
C: Amen.
HYMN | “Oh, Perfect Life of Love” CW 138:1-3
brief silence for meditation
THE SIXTH WORD | Completion John 19:30
P: 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: Amen.
HYMN | “Oh, Perfect Life of Love” CW 138:4-6
brief silence for meditation
THE SEVENTH WORD |Committal Luke 23:44-49
P: O Lord Jesus Christ, give us your trust, unquestioning, complete as on the cross, you
committed your spirit to your Father. That whatever may happen, we may rest in the same
everlasting arms, for your endless mercies’ sake.
C: Amen.
Hymn: CW 122 v. 1-2 “Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle”
brief silence for meditation
6LORD’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.
CLOSING HYMN | “Were You There” Rachel Schulz, soloist
STREPITUS | The sound of the closing of the tomb
SILENT PRAYER | Please dismiss yourself when you are finished with your prayer. Leave quietly in
respect to our fellow worshippers and our Lord.
Good Friday is certainly a somber day. We see our Savior die on the cross. However, we know Jesus rose
again Easter morning. We are reminded that no Christian in this world ever need remain in sadness, even
on Good Friday, because no Christian can forget that that the Lord who died for us on that first Good Friday,
also rose in triumph over sin on Easter morning. Go home this evening knowing your Lord loved you more
than you can ever imagine and his death showed it, and live every day of your life, even today, in the triumph
and joy of Easter! Join us as we celebrate that victory on Easter Sunday morning.
OFFERING | In place of a regular offering during the service, offering plates have been placed
outside the sanctuary. If you’d like to give online, go to bethlehem-wels.com/giving (or scan the
QR code) to offer a one-time or recurring gift. Guests are welcome to give, but need not feel
obligated.
7Pastors
Bethlehem’s Mission Tristan Paustian
tpaustian@bethlehem-wels.com
We believe that there is no more important 920.779.6761 ext. 324 (office)
message in the world than the one about Jesus. 262.612.3870 (cell)
He’s the world’s savior. That’s Good News! Kevin Westra
kwestra@bethlehem-wels.com
It’s all because of that message that we make it
920.779.6761 ext. 323 (office)
our goal to reflect God’s love by:
614.270.1318 (cell)
1. Gathering | Making worship of our Savior a
top priority each week Principal
John Kujath
2. Growing jkujath@bethlehem-wels.com
920.779.6761 ext. 326
1. Strengthening and maturing in our
faith through daily contact with Early Learning Director
God’s Word Elaina Mercier
2. Fostering Christian friendships for emercier@bethlehem-wels.com
920.779.6761 ext. 325
mutual encouragement and
support Church
3. Using our unique gifts in our 752 E. Grandview Dr.
Hortonville, WI 54944
callings inside and outside of this
congregation Office
3. Going | Sharing the good news of God’s 126 N Pine St.
forgiving love with others Hortonville, WI 54944
office@bethlehem-wels.com
920.779.6761
Copyright Information: All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise
indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,
NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by Weekly Services
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. All music in the
Sundays at 8:00am & 10:30am
service, unless noted, is used by permission and reprinted under One
License.net A726510. Mondays at 6:30pm
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