I’ve never felt more honored to be a part of Sojourn Church New Albany than in this moment. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic that prevents us from gathering physically, we presented our Good Friday service live stream at facebook.com/sojournnewalbany. Interspersed with live music and readings from our worship leaders, we incorporated Stations Of The Cross Bible readings from 14 members, each filmed on their mobile devices from their homes.
Watch it below, and read our Stations Of The Cross liturgy.
Cold Open: Bobby
Good evening, friends. My name is Bobby, and I’m a pastor at Sojourn. Tonight will be a Good Friday service like no other, in part because we’re in the midst of a pandemic that prevents us from gathering physically. Thank God for giving women and men the wisdom to create the Internet.
But I want you to consider the Internet as a metaphor for a deeper, grander reality that we are connected and united all the time in Christ, by the Spirit who lives in each of us, to the glory of our Father.
Throughout tonight’s service, you’ll see the faces of sisters and brothers you probably haven’t seen since the pandemic began, leading you through the Stations of the Cross.
Our separation from God began in a garden called Eden. Christ’s work to bring us back to God began in a garden called Gethsemane. So, by our Spirit-infused imaginations, let’s gather there now.
Opening Prayer: (Instrumental music begins)
Worship Leader (Justin):
Good evening. Welcome to Good Friday at Sojourn New Albany! Tonight we enter into the paradox of sorrow and joy; –we remember the agony, suffering, and utter darkness that Christ experienced on the cross, OUR sin having led him and held him there. Yet at the same time, we rejoice greatly that his “obedience to the point of death, even death on a cross,” has brought us life, his submission to be separated from God has brought us near to God. Let’s begin our time together in prayer-
God of power and mercy,
in love you sent your Son
that we might be cleansed of sin
and live with you forever.
Bless us as we gather to reflect
on his suffering and death
that we may learn from his example
the way we should go.
We ask this through that same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Song: Go to Dark Gethsemane
First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Reader: (Sarah Ash)
Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
-Matthew 26:36-41 NLT
Worship Leader (Justin):
Lord,
grant us your strength and wisdom,
that we may seek to follow your will in all things
Song: Come Ye Sinners – Vs 1 and 2 –
Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested
Reader: (Sam Huff)
And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
-Mark 14:43-46 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us the courage of our convictions
that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring.
Come Ye Sinners – Vs 3
Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Reader: (Tera Laffin)
At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?”
But he replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.” They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?”
And he replied, “You say that I am.”
“Why do we need other witnesses?” they said. “We ourselves heard him say it.”
-Luke 22:66-71 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us your sense of righteousness
that we may never cease to work
to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.
Song: Let Justice Roll Like a River
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Reader: (Michael Miller)
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
-Matthew 26:69-75 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us the gift of honesty
that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.
Song: I Have to Believe
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate (Begin Death Has Lost it’s Sting)
Reader: (Katie Posten)
Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.
So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
-Mark 15:1-5,15 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us discernment
that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.
Song: Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Reader: (Ron Williams)
Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.
-John 19:1-3 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us patience in times of suffering
that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
Song: Death Has Lost it’s Sting
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
Reader: (Noelle Quillo)
When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).
-John 19:6,15-17 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us strength of purpose
that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.
Death Has Lost it’s Sting (Bridge and Final Chorus… ambient outro)
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Reader: (John Cordray)
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
-Mark 15:21 ESV
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us willing spirits
that we may be your instruments on earth.
Song: The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Reader: (Melissa Gordon)
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
-Luke 23:27-31 NIV
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us gentle spirits
that we may comfort those who mourn.
Song: Psalm 126
Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
Reader: (Brad Jackson)
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
-Luke 23:33-34 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us merciful hearts
that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Song: Were You There? (Vs 1)
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Reader: (Allison Sage)
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
-Luke 23:39-43 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us perseverance
that we may never stop seeking you.
(Vs 2)
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
Reader: (Lachlan Coffey)
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
-John 19:25-27 NLT
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us constancy
that we may be willing to stand by those in need.
(Vs 3)
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Reader: (Lindsey Blair)
Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
-Luke 23:44-46 NKJV
Worship Leader:
Lord,
grant us trust in you
that when our time on earth is over
our spirits will be with you without delay.
(Vs 4)
Fourteenth Station/Homily: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Reader: (Travis McGowan)
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.
-Matthew 27:57-60 NLT
(worship leader):
Lord,
grant us your compassion
that we may always provide for those in need.
Song: By the Mark -Meg and Justin
Good Friday closing script (Jonah):
Standing in the lobby, just in front of the auditorium doors.
Good evening, friends. My name is Jonah, one of Sojourn’s pastors. Nearly 2000 years ago the horrible excitement of Good Friday gave way to the dull, heartbreaking ache of Holy Saturday, the darkest day of the year. “There in the ground, His body lay – light of the world by darkness, slain.”
Tonight and tomorrow, imagine the sorrow of those first Christians, the shame of Peter, the sword that pierced Mary’s heart.
It seems that Satan has won. Sin reigns. Death got the last word, after all.
But …
See you Sunday.”
Turns, opens one of the auditorium doors, walks through and shuts it. Fade to Good Friday art.