St. Margaret's Church - Good Friday 2025 (18 Apr 2025)
GOOD FRIDAY 2025 (St. Margaret Parish Hall) 18 Apr 2025
Entrance (silent)
Opening Prayer
Part I: Liturgy of the Word
1st Reading – Isaiah 52:13-53:12
See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man so shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
For all my foes I am an object of reproach, a laughingstock to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; they who see me abroad flee from me. I am forgotten like the unremembered dead; I am like a dish that is broken.
R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
But my trust is in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God. In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.”
R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. Take courage and be stout hearted, all you who hope in the LORD.
R. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
2nd Reading – Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
All: Thanks be to God.
Verse Before The Gospel – Philippian 2:8-9
Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ (sing twice)
Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.
Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ (sing once)
Gospel – John 18:1-19:42
J-Jesus, N-Narrator, O-Other single narrator, C-Crowd)
N: Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.
Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them,
J: “Whom are you looking for?”
N: They answered him,
C: “Jesus the Nazorean.”
N: Jesus said to them,
J: “I AM.”
N: Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM, ” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them,
J: “Whom are you looking for?”
N: They said,
C: “Jesus the Nazorean.”
N: Jesus answered,
J: “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.
N: ” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
J: “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”
N: So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in.
Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter,
O: “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”
N: Peter said,
O: “I am not.”
N: Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him,
J: “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said.”
N: When Jesus had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said,
O: “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
N: Jesus answered him,
J: “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”
N: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to Peter,
O: “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” N: Peter denied it and said,
O: “I am not.”
N: One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said,
O: “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” N: Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed.
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said,
O: “What charge do you bring against this man?”
N: They answered and said to Pilate,
C: “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
N: At this, Pilate said to them,
O: “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”
N: The Jews answered him,
C: “We do not have the right to execute anyone, “
N: in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him,
O: “Are you the King of the Jews?”
N: Jesus answered,
J: “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?”
N: Pilate answered,
O: “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
N: Jesus answered,
J: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
N: So Pilate said to Jesus,
O: “Then you are a king?”
N: Jesus answered,
J: “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
N: Pilate said to Jesus,
O: “What is truth?”
N: When Pilate had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them,
O: “I find no guilt in him.
But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
N: They cried out again,
C: “Not this one but Barabbas!”
N: Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.
And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, C: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
N: And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them,
O: “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”
N: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And Pilate said to them,
O: “Behold, the man!”
N: When the chief priests and the guards saw Jesus they cried out,
C: “Crucify him, crucify him!”
N: Pilate said to them,
O: “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.”
N: The Jews answered,
C: “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
N: Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,
O: “Where are you from?”
N: Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him,
O: “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?”
N: Jesus answered him,
J: “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
N: Consequently, Pilate tried to release Jesus; but the Jews cried out,
C: “If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
N: When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And Plate said to the Jews,
O: “Behold, your king!”
N: They cried out,
C: “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”
N: Pilate said to them,
O: “Shall I crucify your king?”
N: The chief priests answered,
C: “We have no king but Caesar.”
N: Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, Jesus went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
C: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.”
N: Pilate answered,
O: “What I have written, I have written.”
N: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another,
C: “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, ”
N: in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother,
J: “Woman, behold, your son.”
N: Then he said to the disciple,
J: “Behold, your mother.”
N: And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said,
J: “I thirst.”
N: There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
J: “It is finished.”
N: And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
All kneel and pause for a short time.
N: Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken.
And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced. After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So Joseph came and took Jesus' body.
Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
Now in the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.
So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
All: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Solemn Intercessions
I. For Holy Church
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray, dearly beloved, for the holy Church of God,
that our God and Lord be pleased to give her peace,
to guard her and to unite her throughout the whole world
and grant that, leading our life in tranquility and quiet,
we may glorify God the Father almighty.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
who in Christ revealed your glory to all the nations,
watch over the works of your mercy,
that your Church, spread throughout all the world,
may persevere with steadfast faith in confessing your name.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
II. For the Pope
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for our most Holy Father Pope N.,
that our God and Lord,
who chose him for the Order of Bishops,
may keep him safe and unharmed for the Lord’s holy Church,
to govern the holy People of God.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose decree all things are founded,
look with favor on our prayers
and in your kindness protect the Pope chosen for us,
that, under him, the Christian people,
governed by you their maker,
may grow in merit by reason of their faith.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
III. For all orders and degrees of the faithful
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for our Bishop N.,
for all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons of the Church
and for the whole of the faithful people.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is sanctified and governed,
hear our humble prayer for your ministers,
that, by the gift of your grace,
all may serve you faithfully.
Through Christ our Lord.
All:. Amen.
IV. For catechumens
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for (our) catechumens,
that our God and Lord
may open wide the ears of their inmost hearts
and unlock the gates of his mercy,
that, having received forgiveness of all their sins
through the waters of rebirth,
they, too, may be one with Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
who make your Church ever fruitful with new off spring,
increase the faith and understanding of (our) catechumens,
that, reborn in the font of Baptism,
they may be added to the number of your adopted children.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
V. For the unity of Christians
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for all our brothers and sisters who believe in Christ,
that our God and Lord may be pleased,
as they live the truth,
to gather them together and keep them in his one Church.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
who gather what is scattered
and keep together what you have gathered,
look kindly on the flock of your Son,
that those whom one Baptism has consecrated
may be joined together by integrity of faith
and united in the bond of charity.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
VI. For the Jewish people
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for the Jewish people,
to whom the Lord our God spoke first,
that he may grant them to advance in love of his name
and in faithfulness to his covenant.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
who bestowed your promises on Abraham and his descendants,
hear graciously the prayers of your Church,
that the people you first made your own
may attain the fullness of redemption.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
VII. For those who do not believe in Christ
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for those who do not believe in Christ,
that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit,
they, too, may enter on the way of salvation.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
grant to those who do not confess Christ
that, by walking before you with a sincere heart,
they may find the truth
and that we ourselves, being constant in mutual love
and striving to understand more fully the mystery of your life,
may be made more perfect witnesses to your love in the world.
Through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
VIII. For those who do not believe in God
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for those who do not acknowledge God,
that, following what is right in sincerity of heart,
they may find the way to God himself.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
who created all people
to seek you always by desiring you
and, by finding you, come to rest,
grant, we pray,
that, despite every harmful obstacle,
all may recognize the signs of your fatherly love
and the witness of the good works
done by those who believe in you,
and so in gladness confess you,
the one true God and Father of our human race.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
IX. For those in public office
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray also for those in public office,
that our God and Lord
may direct their minds and hearts according to his will
for the true peace and freedom of all.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
in whose hand lies every human heart
and the rights of peoples,
look with favor, we pray,
on those who govern with authority over us,
that throughout the whole world,
the prosperity of peoples,
the assurance of peace,
and freedom of religion
may through your gift be made secure.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
X. For those in tribulation
Deacon/Cantor:
Let us pray, dearly beloved,
to God the Father almighty,
that he may cleanse the world of all errors,
banish disease, drive out hunger,
unlock prisons, loosen fetters,
granting to travelers safety, to pilgrims return,
health to the sick, and salvation to the dying.
(Prayer in silence)
Priest:
Almighty ever-living God,
comfort of mourners, strength of all who toil,
may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation
come before you,
that all may rejoice,
because in their hour of need
your mercy was at hand.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Part II: Veneration of the Cross
The Veneration
Priest: Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world
Response: O come let us adore Him.
The Reproach [255]
Refrain: O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I hurt you? Answer me.
I led you out of Egypt, from salvery I set you free.
I brought you into a land of promise, you have prepared a cross for me.
I led you as a shepherd; I brought you safely through the sea,
fed you with manna in the desert, you have prepared a cross for me.
I fought for you in battles; I won you strength and victory,
gave you a royal crown and sceptre; you have prepared a cross for me.
I planted you, my vineyard, and cared for you most tenderly;
looked for abundant fruit and found none only the cross you made for me.
Then listen to my pleading, and do not turn away from me.
You are my people; will you reject me? For you I suffer bitterly.
Were you there [336]
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 a tree? Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?
3. Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
4. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
5. Were you there when they laid him in a tomb? Were you there when they laid him in a tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in a tomb?
Behold the Wood of the Cross [31]
Refrain: Behold, behold the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation. O come, let us adore.
Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon the ground and die,
It shall remain but a single grain and not give life.
And when my hour of glory comes as all was meant to be.
You shall see me lifted up upon a tree.
For there can be no greater love shown upon this land
Than in the one who came to die that we might live.
My Father if it be your plan, this cup might pass me by,
Yet let it happen as you will if I must die.
For surely he has borne our tears, is wounded by our sin,
And yet he opens not his mouth that we might live.
My body now is torn with pain, my friends have left and gone.
O loving Father, take my life into your hands.
Love is Forever [192]
Father, the hour has come, for me to glorify Your name.
I have made You known to all within my care, brought life to those You call your own,
Brought love to those You call Your own.
Father, may they be one, Father, may they all be one in Us.
I will live in them as You live in Me, through love the world will believe,
Through love the world will see.
Father, I pray for those You gave Me, to be with Me where I am
That they may always know the glory that You gave Me, because You’ve loved Me forever,
Because Your love is forever, because Your love is forever.
Lord of the Dance [186]
I danced in the morning when the world was begun, and I danced in the moon and the stars
and the sun, and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth, at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Chorus: Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance said He.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said He.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, but they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; they came with me and the dance went on.
3. I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame. The Holy people they said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high, and they left me there on the cross to die.
4. I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black. It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone but I am the dance and I still go on.
5. They cut me down and I leapt up high, I am the life that’ll never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me. I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
By the blood that flowed from Thee [40]
By the blood that flowed from thee, In thy bitter agony,
By the Scourge so meekly borne, By the purple robe of scorn.
Ant.: Jesus, Saviour, hear our cry: you were suff’ring once as we;
Now enthroned in majesty, countless angels sing to thee.
By the thorns that crowned thy head; by thy sceptre of a reed;
By thy footstep faint and slow, weighed beneath thy cross of woe.
By the nails and pointed spear; by the people’s cruel jeer;
By thy dying prayer which rose, begging mercy for thy foes.
By the darkness black as night, blotting out the sun from sight;
By the cry with which in death, thou didst yield thy parting breath.
Soul of my Saviour [281]
1. Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast; body of Christ, be thou my saving guest;
Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in thy tide, wash me with water flowing from thy side.
2. Strength and protection may thy Passion be; O blessed Jesus hear and answer me;
Deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me; so shall I never, never part from thee.
3. Guard and defend me from the foe malign; in death’s dread moments make me only thine;
Call me, and bid me come to thee on high, when I may praise thee with thy saints for aye.
Our Father (sing)
Part III: Holy Communion
We Remember You [332]
In broken bread, and the cup that we share
We remember You, in broken bread
And the cup that we share we remember You
We remember You Jesus, we remember Your love for us
We remember the blood You shed, we remember You
The Servant King [263]
1. From heav’n You came, helpless Babe, enter’d our world, Your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve, And give Your life that we might live.
Chorus: This is our God, the Servant King, He calls us now to follow Him;
to bring our lives as a daily offering, of worship to the Servant King.
2. There in the garden of tears, my heavy load He chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn, “Yet not My will, but Yours,” He said
3. Come, see His hands and His feet, the scars that speak of sacrifice;
Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered.
4. So let us learn how to serve, and in our lives enthrone Him;
Each other’s needs to prefer, for it is Christ we’re serving.
My God Loves Me [209]
1. My God loves me. His love will never end.
He rest within my heart for my God loves me.
2. His gentle hand. He stretches over me,
Though storm-clouds threaten the day He will set me free.
3. He comes to me in sharing bread and wine.
He brings me life that will reach past the end of time.
4. My God loves me, His faithful love endures.
And I will live like a child held in love secure.
Silent departure after the Concluding Rite
