Order of Service
Good Friday, 3rd April 2026
Welcome and Introduction
Song
Holy Forever
The Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21:1-11
Narrator
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
Jesus
Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
Narrator
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
People
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Narrator
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, Who is this? The crowds answered,
People
This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.
Song
Gratitude
The Last Supper: Matthew 26:20-28
Narrator
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said,
Jesus
Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.
Disciples
Surely not I, Lord? Surely not I?
Narrator
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus then answered,
Jesus
You have said so.
Narrator
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
Jesus
Take and eat; this is my body.
Narrator
Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,
Jesus
Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Song
Build My Life
Gethsemane: Matthew 26:36-42
Narrator
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them,
Jesus
Sit here while I go over there and pray.
Narrator
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them,
Jesus
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
Narrator
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
Jesus
My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
Narrator
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
Jesus
Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
Narrator
He went away a second time and prayed,
Jesus
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.
Song
You Alone Can Rescue
Jesus Arrested: Matthew 26:45-56
Jesus
Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! let us go! Here comes my betrayer!
Narrator
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them:
Judas
The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.
Narrator
Going at once to Jesus, Judas said,
Judas
Greetings, Rabbi!
Narrator
and Judas kissed him.
Jesus
Friend, do what you came for.
Narrator
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Jesus
Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?
Narrator
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Before the Sanhedrin: Matthew 26:57-68
Narrator
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared,
People
This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.”
High Priest
Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?
Narrator
But Jesus remained silent.
High Priest
I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus
You have said so. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.
High Priest
He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?
People
He is worthy of death.
Narrator
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said,
High Priest
Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?
Song
I Stand Amazed
Jesus Before Pilate: Matthew 27:11-26
Narrator
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
Pilate
Are you the king of the Jews?
Jesus
You have said so.
Narrator
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him:
Pilate
Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?
Narrator
Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the Festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them,
Pilate
Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?
Narrator
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
Pilate
Which of the two do you want me to release to you?
People
Barabbas!
Pilate
What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?
People
Crucify him!
Pilate
Why? What crime has he committed?
People
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Narrator
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.
Pilate
I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility!
People
His blood is on us and on our children!
Narrator
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Song
Boldly I Approach
The Soldiers Mock Jesus: Matthew 27:27-31
Narrator
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him.
People
Hail, king of the Jews!
Narrator
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion: Matthew 27:32-41
Narrator
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him:
People
THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The Death of Jesus: John 19:25-30
Narrator
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,
Jesus
Woman, here is your son,
Narrator
and to the disciple.
Jesus
Here is your mother.
Narrator
From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,
Jesus
I am thirsty.
Narrator
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said,
Jesus
It is finished.
Narrator
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Song
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
Communion Prayer
Eternal God,
we praise you
for your creation of the world
in all its richness and glory;
for your great work of redemption
in liberating the oppressed,
renewing the weary and forgiving the sinful;
for your calling of men and women to share in the work of salvation
in the story of Israel and our story.
And now we give you thanks
for Jesus Christ our Lord,
your word of love made flesh,
who shared our humanity
and revealed your grace.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We thank you
for his lifting up of the lowly,
his healing of the broken
and his death on the cross
for the redemption of the world,
of which this bread and cup are sign and symbol.
We thank you for raising him to life
and exalting him
so that we might call him ‘Lord’,
and follow in his way.
We thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit,
for the fellowship of your church,
and for all the means of grace and hope of glory.
Living God, fill us with your Spirit,
that, as we share this bread and wine,
we might feed on the body and blood of Christ
and be empowered for witness and service in your world.
Accept our prayers and thanksgiving
in the name of Jesus Christ,
the light of the world
and the life of your people. Amen.
Songs
The Stand
Hymn of Heaven
All Hail the Lamb
The Grace
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all.
Amen.