Sunday, April 10^th, 2020

Good Friday

Call to worship

You can listen to this call to worship and all the rest of this service on youtube here

We are pausing to acknowledge the presence of God in our lives. We are stilling ourselves, our fears, our anxieties, and all the distracting things around us, to seek and enjoy God’s presence with us. Let us worship God!

Call to Worship

(based on John 19: 16-17)

So they took Jesus, and he went out carrying his own cross,

to the place of a skull, called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

There they crucified him.

This is not a day for mourning but for awe,

wonder, love and gratitude.

All you who bow in reverence, praise Him.

All you daughters of faith, glorify him.

All you sons of faith, stand in awe before him.

— written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage.

Our prayer – Dear God,

We remember today, the pain and suffering of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure, so we could be set free and forgiven. He paid the price, such a great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life and to show the extent of God’s love.

Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf. Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you freely given, what you have done for us.

Thank you Lord that by your wounds we are healed. Thank you that because of your huge sacrifice we can live free. Thank you that sin and death have been conquered, and that your Power is everlasting.

Thank you that we can say with great hope, “It is finished…” For we know what’s still to come. And death has lost its sting. We praise you for you are making all things new.

Opening Song Amazing grace

Or listen to this song When you prayed beneath the trees

(same tune as the summons)

Bible Readings:

· Trials Matt 26:57-67 & 27:11-26

· Mocking by Romans soldiers Matt 27:27-31

· The Crucifixion – Matt 27:32-55

· Burial - Matt 27:57-66

Or watch the youtube videos of the story

Old Testament reading is Psalm 22 (click to listen)

Brett’s Message

When life is out of control (click Here)

There is all sorts of things that create Chaos. A failure to do my filing makes for a chaotic office. Lockdown has caused some chaos and feeling of being out of control also but far less that catching covid19. I saw some pictures of the chaos of Cyclone Harold in Vanuatu and going through a storm like that would remind you how powerless humans really are. In our lives things like illness, or hospitalizations, of the death of a close friend or family member, can bring feelings of helplessness. For others it might be unemployment or threats to your business – Can we have the calm of Jesus and the trust in God’s greater purposes.

WHEN Jesus seemed so powerless during his trial and beatings and crucifixion we do see a greater calm. We see no anger, no hate, no cursing.

It seems to me that Jesus was fully aware that every moment of his life was part of God‘s greater plan. This doesn’t mean God plans suffering for us, but rather when it happens God can use it, can transform it for our greater good.

There are 4 scriptures in chapter 26 which speak of Jesus' awareness that suffering could not be escaped.

· V 24 The Son of Man will die as the Scriptures say he will.

· V26 all of you will run away and leave me, as the scripture says…

· V54 how could the Scriptures come true which say that this is what must happen?”

· V56 all this has happened in order to make come true what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures

Jesus knew God can use the worst of situations, times of great Chaos to demonstrate his love and power and to fulfill his purposes.

I think there are 4 clear purposes in these passages.

1. God wants to fulfill his scriptures – to show that he is indeed faithful to his promises.

2. The temple curtain was torn in two (27:51). This is interpreted as evidence that God was making himself accessible, removing the barriers of our sin and shame.

3. The acclamation of the Roman Centurion – truly this was the son of God (27:54). Through his life, death and resurrection we understand more of who Jesus really is.

4. The religious leaders quote Jesus' words (27:63) about being raised to life again. Even death and a secured stone, and armed guard could not stop God bringing eternal life.

What are we to conclude from all this?

When life is out of control, when life is Chaotic we have a God who is dependable, one who is able to save. One who can use powerlessness and chaos for his greater purposes.

Chaos is, therefore, an opportunity to trust and worship. Powerlessness points us to the God who does have the power to save.

As I sais in my introduction – today is not a day to mourn but a day of awe, a day of wonder. Indeed it is a good Friday.

· Pray for those whose life is chaotic and who feel helpless

· Pray for People with Corona virus in HB

· People struggling with anxiety and depression

· People worried about their employment and businesses

· Doctors and nurses and all carers

· Our Government and all leaders

Final HYMN

Were you there when they crucified my lord

Or When I survey the wondrous cross

As an alternative you can listen to Lauren Daigle sing “You say”

May the God who raised Jesus from the dead give you life and peace.

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At the Cross - a poem

I wait,
And time ticks past.
I gaze,
Made silent by the sight.
I watch,
As soldiers meticulously move
Executing each terrible, torturous task.
I gasp,
Still life lingers in His fragile, broken form.
I flinch,
As blow by blow,
Nails bite deep through flesh to find wood.
I stand
As He is lifted high,
Silhouetted 'gainst the sky which He has made.
I weep
As His cry echoes deep in my hardened, calloused heart.
I wail,
As He screams 'it is complete,
Finished, final, said and done.'
I fall,
As the sky turns inky black
And the sun and moon and stars forget to shine.
I kneel,
As worlds collide,
And time ticks by;
What once bound, no longer seems to hold.
I bow,
For part of me is gone,
Kept forever on Calvary's painful peak.
I wait,
At the foot of the cross, to begin my journey home.
Andy Stinson - April 2011
From https://engageworship.org/ideas/poem-for-good-friday

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Notices

Graves to Gardens

This is an all age 3 day reflection on the Cross and resurrection

Day one is The Grave (Friday evening)

Day 2 is The Sabbath (Saturday)

Day 3 The Garden (Sunday)

I highly recommend these resources

Zoom Meeting after worship (BYO cuppa and chat)

Sunday after worship at 10:30am.
You can also use your regular phone and dial in the numbers below and add the meeting id when asked

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/376981534?pwd=K1dlTWZMNUJUUDZpTnNyRWhydzVxZz09

Meeting ID: 376 981 534 Password: 014488

One tap mobile
+6498846780,,376981534# New Zealand
Dial in using your phone
+64 4 886 0026 New Zealand

Ministers all the people Parish contact details

Website: www.stcolumba-taradale.org.nz

Church office Will be unstaffed but Anna will answer emails for all needs or questions Phone Brett Walker

Home 06 8442256 Mobile 0274083658

brettjwalker@gmail.com

TV and Online services on Sunday

St Columba’s

Look for the link on the church facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/stcolumbataradale/

or go to https://brett-walker.blogspot.com

Other online and TV Church services

· Presbyterian moderator of NZ devotions 9am on Sunday – Right Reverend Fakaofo Kaio

https://www.facebook.com/modpcanz/