March 29, 2024 7:30 pm Good Friday Service

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is one of the “best things Methodists do,” according to many people around the world. UMCOR is known for its quick and effective response to natural disasters in every part of the globe. I have personally been on mission trips where UMCOR is present to help with the cleanup, planning, and recovery in the aftermath of hurricanes and floods. I have seen first-hand the dedication, training, and recovery work that is possible.

When the Marshall Fire struck 1000 homes and 6000 acres in northern Colorado in December 2021, UMCOR provided immediate emergency assistance and continued restoration funding in the following year. Because UMCOR is one of the most tangible ways we, as United Methodists, live out our faith in the world, we at St. Paul's UMC have decided that 100% of our March Mission AND Easter Offering will support this incredible and essential work.

Just as the message of Easter is about restoring life after death, the work done through UMCOR helps restore people's lives after tragedy has struck. I encourage you to give generously this month to aid in the work of restoration and resurrection - here in Colorado and worldwide.

~Missions Committee

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

4/7 New Sermon Series "Cultivating Community"
5/10 Pikes Peak Home School Music Concert
5/12 Mother's Day Brunch
5/19 Pentecost
5/19 Vocal Fusion Concert
5/27 Office Closed for Memorial Day

March 29, 2024
Good Friday
 
Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment
Rev. David Petty

Leader: Some days are just lousy and that doesn’t even begin to cover it. The first recorded use of "guode friday” was in the South English Legendary, a text from 1290. Calling a day “good” was a way to denote a time of holy observance. What if even our lousiest days could be experienced as a holy observance of the reality that this IS life? Perhaps the “good news” in the midst of devastation is that God is buried with us in our deepest pain, wrapping us, holding us until we can move through that birth canal once again into renewed life.

Threshold Song
Good Enough
 
What in our lives
do we dream about for tomorrow, 
void of sorrow?
 
Time spent regretting 
decisions of our yesterdays, 
mistakes we made?
 
Sometimes we get what we get,
life disappoints us and yet,
 
 God is still here
and somehow, 
this faith is good enough.
 [repeat]

Hymn
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
UMH #286
WORDS: Anon. Latin; trans. by Paul Gerhardt, 1656, and James W. Alexander, 1830 (Mt. 27:27-31; Mk. 15:16-20; Jn. 19:1-5)
 
 
1. O sacred Head,
now wounded,
with grief and
shame weighed down,
 
now scornfully
surrounded
with thorns,
thine only crown:
 
how pale thou art
with anguish,
with sore
abuse and scorn!
 
How does that
visage languish
which once was
bright as morn!
 
2. What thou, my Lord,
hast suffered
was all
for sinners’ gain;
 
mine, mine was
the transgression,
but thine
the deadly pain.
 
Lo, here I fall,
my Savior!
’Tis I deserve
thy place;
 
look on me
with thy favor,
vouchsafe to
me thy grace.
 
3. What language shall
I borrow
to thank thee,
dearest friend,
 
for this thy
dying sorrow,
thy pity
without end?
 
O make me
thine forever;
and should I
fainting be,
 
Lord, let me
never, never
outlive my
love for thee.
 
  
Thoughts About and Imperfect Life and Faith
Rev. David Petty

Shadow or Darkness

Reading 1: 
Rev. David Petty

Last night in our Maundy Thursday service, we gathered with Jesus in the Upper Room. There is only one other place in the Gospels where the Greek word used to describe the Upper Room was also repeated–the place, the room where Jesus was born. Two places where the dark birthed something new… the dark womb and the dark tomb. Tonight we continue the story that began last night in a tradition of “tenebrae” or “darkness,” descending with Jesus into the depths of our own stories of grief, disappointment, and betrayal.

Reading 2:
CLM Twinkle Gordon

 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Judean authorities seized Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the father–in–law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had given counsel to the religious authorities that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Reading 3:
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman who guarded the gate said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, "I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
 
Hymn
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
UMH #298
WORDS: Isaac Watts, 1707 (Gal. 6:14)
 
1. When I survey
the wondrous cross
on which the
Prince of Glory died,
 
my richest gain,
I count but loss,
and pour contempt
on all my pride.
 
2. Forbid it, Lord,
that I should boast,
save in the death
of Christ, my God;
 
all the vain things
that charm me most,
I sacrifice them
to his blood.
 
3. See, from his head,
his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love
flow mingled down.
 
Did e’er such love
and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose
so rich a crown?
 
4. 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.

Reading 4:
Jackie Fletcher

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not you also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, "I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed.
 
Reading 5: 
Rev. David Petty
 
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The religious authorities said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die.
 
Reading 6: 
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Pilate entered the headquarters again and called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the religious authorities; but my kingship is not from the world.” Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?"
 
Hymn
Jesus, Remember Me
UMH #488
WORDS: Luke 23:42
 
Jesus, remember me
when you come
into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me
when you come
into your kingdom.

Reading 7:
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
After Pilate had said this, he went to the religious authorities again, and told them, “I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
 
Reading 8:
Jackie Fletcher
 
Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him.” The religious authorities answered him, “We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin.”

Reading 9:
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the religious authorities cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gab’-ba-tha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the religious authorities, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” They handed him over to them to be crucified.
 
Hymn
What Wondrous Love is This
UMH #292
WORDS: USA folk hymn
 
 1. What wondrous
love is this,
O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous
love is this,
O my soul!
 
What wondrous
love is this
that caused the Lord
of bliss
 
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul.
 
2. What wondrous
love is this,
O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous
love is this,
O my soul!
 
What wondrous
love is this
that caused the
Lord of life
 
to lay aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
 to lay aside his crown
for my soul.
 
3. To God and to the Lamb
I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb,
I will sing;
 
to God
and to the Lamb
who is the
great I AM,
 
while millions
join the theme
I will sing, I will sing;
while millions
join the theme
I will sing.
 
4. And when from
death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from
death I’m free,
I’ll sing on;
 
and when from
death I’m free,
I’ll sing and
joyful be,
 
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on.

Reading 10:
Rev. David Petty
 
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Gol’-go-tha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Judeans read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The Jewish chief priests then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Reading 11:
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Reading 12:
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
 
Reading 13:
Jackie Fletcher

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
 
Reading 14:
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the religious authorities asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” And again another scripture says, “They shall look on him whom they have pierced.”

Pastor Reading:
Rev. David Petty

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the religious authorities, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
 
A Blessing for When You Mourn What Could Have Been
Rev. David Petty
 
Blessed are you, friend, sitting among the shards of what could have been. It is broken now, that dream you loved, and it has spilled out all over the ground. Blessed are you, dear one, letting your eyes look around and remember all the hope your dream once contained. All the love. All the beauty. Blessed are you, telling your tears they can flow. Telling your anger it can speak. Blessed are you when mourning is the holy work of the moment, for it speaks of what is real. Blessed are you, letting this loss speak all its terrible truth to your soul.
Blessed are we who mourn, saying let us remain in grief’s cold winter for as long as it takes, that mourning might be to our hearts the gentlest springtime. Let the thaw come slowly, so we can bear the pain of it and find comfort at each release. Amen.
 
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Again and Again
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