Introit
Men's and boy's voices
resound through the cathedral,
music not of earth
Trisagion
Organ first, then voices
"Holy God, Immortal One"
Crescendo to tears
The Word
Let's approach the throne
of grace with boldness, so that
we receive mercy
The Passion
We, as the crowd, shout,
"Away with him! Crucify!"
So they took Jesus.
He said, "It is finished."
Then Jesus bowed His head and
gave up His spirit.
Prayer
We stand; we pray for
the church, the world, hearts, peace.
A pause; "Lord, hear us."
Ah, holy Jesus by Johann Heerman
"Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee,
I crucified thee."
Psalm 22
A cry in plainsong
"O My God, my God, why have
You forsaken me?"
Bach
A cello calling,
notes like tears sing the weeping;
deep groans beckoning.
The Veneration
Faithful young and old
wait to kneel. men wiping tears.
Come, let us worship
A kiss on the hand,
reaching out to touch the cross
as to touch the hem.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
"Were you there," older
voice wavering in my ear.
I am now undone.
Drop, drop, slow tears by Phineas Fletcher
"Drop, drop, slow tears, and bathe those beauteous feet,
which brought from heaven the news and Prince of Peace;
cease not, wet eyes, his mercy to entreat;
to cry for vengeance, sin doth never cease.
In your deep flood drown all my faults and fears;
nor let his eye see sin, but through my tears.
Communion
They come for a taste.
God sees their hearts, sinners all,
yet for each Christ died.
