Beneath the Cross: Letters from a Good Friday World

Community Good Friday Service

Sponsored by the Cadillac Area Ministerial Association

United Methodist Church of Cadillac

March 21, 2008 Seven O’clock in the Evening

Prelude.............................................................................................Dr. Glenn Verbrugge

*Call to Worship

One: A cradle and a cross and between these — a life

All: Bethlehem and Jerusalem a birth and a death

One: One “of sorrows” who often wept

All: One of joy who also kept sensitivity and compassion

alive and real.

One: Tonight, let us feel the surge of that life.

All: Let us receive the beauty of that love.

One: Let us reflect on the meaning of that cross.

*Hymn.........................“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”..........................#298

Scripture Reading................................................................................Matthew 26:47-56

Welcome..................................................................................................Rev. Pete Byma

Beneath the Cross: Letters from a Good Friday World

From the Post Office in Jerusalem to 49601

Hymn...................................“Beneath the Cross of Jesus”..................................#297

Unison Prayer

God, Our Savior, you gave us your beloved Son, Jesus,

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth;

you abandoned him to the agony of the cross,

so that the abandoned people of the world might have life;

Lift our hearts and bring us together beneath the cross,

ready to leave behind our sin and fear,

confident in the grace that brings us into your abiding love,

for you will prevail and earth itself will die.

In the name of the Crucified One, whose victory is life. Amen.

Scripture Reading................................................................................Matthew 26:57-68

Letter One...........................................................................................Rev. Jim Helmboldt

From: The High Priest Caiaphas • To: The Sanhedrin

Scripture Reading......................................................................................Luke 22:47-62

Letter Two.........................................................................................Rev. Thomas E. Ball

From: Simon Peter • To: The Acme Fishing Supply Company

Song.............................................“Lamb of God”..................................................#2113

Scripture Reading..........................................................Luke 8:1-3 • John 19:16-19, 25

Letter Three....................................................................................................Judy Coffey

From: Mary Magdalene • To: Her Sister, Esther

Responsive Prayer

Hymn..................................“O How He Loves You and Me”................................#2108

Scripture Reading.................................................................................Matthew 27:3-10

Letter Four.................................................................................................Rev. Ed Gilbert

From: Judas Iscariot • To: Whomever Finds This Note

Hymn..................................“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”...............................#286

Offertory Invitation

Offertory

Offering our Gifts

*Response to God’s Gift......................................................................Tune: Old 100^th

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine;

demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen.

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

Scripture Reading...............................................................................Matthew 27:32-44

Letter Five..............................................................................................Rev. Peter Byma

From: The Centurion • To: His Commander

Hymn...............................“Tis Finished the Messiah Dies”....................................#282

Scripture Reading.................................................................................Matthew 27:45-56

Letter Six.................................................................................Rev. Valori Mulvey Sherer

From: The Virgin Mary • To: Her Mother, Anne

Song of Reflection..........................................................................Rev. Paul Tomlinson

“Watch the Lamb” Arr. Ray Boltz

Scripture Reading................................................................................Matthew 27:57-61

Letter Seven........................................................................................Rev. Will Markham

From: Joseph of Arimathea • To: His Brother, Tommy

Reflective Prayer (see bottom of page)

Closing Hymn......................“Were You There” vs. 1, 2 and 5................................#288

Postlude

Depart as you feel led in silence.

FRIDAY

The sky peels back to purple

and thunder slaps the thighs of heaven,

and all the tears of those who grieve

fly up to clouds and are released

and drench the earth.

The ones who see and hear know that all is lost.

The only One name Savior died upon a cross.

The ones who believed and loved huddle together stunned.

All night long the angels weep.

✺ Ann Weems

A Very Special Thank You to . . .

Dr. Glenn Verbrugge for his Ministry of Music

Laurie Kinney for creating the power point presentation

Pastor Tom Ball, Judy Coffey and the congregation

of the United Methodist Church for their wonderful hospitality

For each participant in this Good Friday service and

for each of you who came to sit beneath the Cross of Christ

Those who are participating in this service

Rev. Dave McMahon - First Baptist Church

Rev. Pete Byma - Cadillac Christian Reformed Church

John Martek - First Christian Church

Ron Bellevue - First Baptist Church

Rev. Rick Baker - Christian Family Fellowship

Rev. Jim Helmboldt - Victory Outreach Fellowship

Rev. Thomas E. Ball - United Methodist Church of Cadillac

Rev. Dave Bassett - Chaplain Pugsley Correctional Facility

Judy Coffey - United Methodist Church of Cadillac

Rev. Ed Gilbert - Foursquare Lighthouse Church

Rev. Valori Mulvey Sherer - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Paul Tomlinson - First Presbyterian Church

Rev. Will Markham - Cadillac Revival Center

Rev. Jerry Lange - First Covenant Church

Resources used in creating this service included

Beneath the Cross: Letter from a Good Friday World - CSS Publishing

Touch Holiness edited by Ruth C. Duck & Maren C. Tirabassi

Stages on the Way by the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group

Reflective Prayer - Lord, We are Amazed

from Worship Ways - Worship Resources • United Church of Christ

Reflective Prayer - Into Your Hands - Henri Nouwen

and the direction, guidance and creativity of the Holy Spirit

Good Friday Offering

Our offering this evening will go to the support of the Cadillac Area Ministerial Association Chaplain at Mercy Hospital. Pastor Ed Gilbert works twenty hours each month calling on patients who indicate “No Religious Preference,”

visiting in the Emergency Waiting Room to provide support

to families and visiting others upon request.

Ed offers spiritual care with a “non-anxious” presence,

connects persons to local churches and helps to reestablish connections. Ed truly brings hope and pastoral care to all.

We invite your support of this vital ministry in our community.

If you are writing a check, it can be made out

to the Cadillac Area Ministerial Association.

Thank you for your generosity.

Reflective Prayer

Rest now, Holy Jesus, hero of the Cross.

Your work is done.

The world has done its sinning, and

you have done your loving,

each beyond limit.

And, at the end, limitless love prevails.

Your dying becomes our hope and the hope of the world.

Go, silent friend,

your life has found its ending.

To dust returns your weary mortal frame.

God, who before birth,

called you into being,

now calls you back,

his accent still the same.

Lord Jesus, we let you go. Amen.