Hymns, Lessons, and Prayers, Good Friday, A, April 3, 2026
All: Isaiah 52:13-53:12: The Suffering Servant bears our griefs and carries our sorrows
All: Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
All: Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9: Jesus the great high priest learned obedience through
suffering and therefore obtained salvation for all who obey him
OR RCL/ELW: Hebrews 10:16-25: We have confidence to enter the Holy Place through Jesus’ blood; so let us urge one another to love, good deeds.
All: John 18:1-19:42: The Passion of Our Lord according to St. John
********************************
Here are a number of hymns to use whether you use the above texts, have a Tenebrae service with 7 readings, or do the 7 last words of Christ.
Were You There: LBW #92, ELW #353, LSB #456
Ah, Holy Jesus: LBW #123, ELW #349
O Sacred Head: LBW 116, ELW #352, LSB #450 [rhythmic; note 7 verses in LSB makes it useful for separating portions of the Passion reading]
OR LBW #117, ELW #351, LSB #449 [more familiar; note ELW and LSB use Bach harmonization]
Jesus, in Thy/Your Dying Woes LBW #112, 113 {need to use both of these to get all 7 words}; LSB #447
O Darkest Woe: LSB #448 [if you have the old SBH, it’s #87]
Upon the Cross Extended: LSB #453 [Lovely Paul Gerhard tune, heartfelt lyrics, public
domain. If you want to use it, therefore, feel free to copy it!]
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle: LBW #118, ELW #356, LSB #454
Go to Dark Gethsemane: LBW #109, ELW #347, LSB #436
There in God’s Garden: WOV #668, ELW #342 (wherever your last hymn appears in the service, and whatever form of Good Friday liturgy you use, I think this is a perfect “capstone” to our worship)
In Christ Alone (Such a powerful hymn! It’s not in any of our hymnals but readily available online. If you have a CCLI license, good!)
*******
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
A brief silence
Forgive and save your Church, O God, when it turns away from trusting, proclaiming, and sharing the love of Jesus, its crucified and risen Redeemer.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and renew pastors, theologians, and other church leaders, when by treacherous words and shameful deeds they crucify Christ anew, and turn people from his salvation.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and guide each of us in this congregation, when in small and great ways we fail to love you with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, and do not love one another as Jesus has loved us.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and challenge everyone who says they believe in you, but make excuses for why they don’t worship, pray, forgive, or serve in your name.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and enlighten all who believe in other gods, or who have limited and distorted notions of who you are.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and rescue all who say they are “spiritual but not religious,” or who are fascinated by the occult or dark spiritual arts.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and teach those who do not believe in you at all, especially those who persecute believers.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and bring to repentance our enemies, personal and communal. Forgive all who slander, lie, and spew hate toward your beloved Son.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and transform all who break promises, break laws, and break hearts, especially when we still struggle to forgive.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and energize all who whine, complain, deny, and shift blame to others.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and reform everyone who seeks to divide, not build up; to sow suspicion, not trust; and who insists on their own way at any cost.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and liberate those who are enslaved by their desires, passions, fears, and addictions, or by their attraction to evil for its own sake.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive and heal all who are bound by illness, pain, depression, anxiety, regret, or shame.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Forgive, save, transform, and redeem all of us. If we are honest, we know we are numbered in the great and miserable fellowship of sinners. Dear Lord, forgive us when we despair, seek revenge, are cruel, selfish, bored, or apathetic. Forgive us who are thoughtless, clueless, heedless, merciless, and faithless.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
By the suffering and passion of your holy and beloved Son, have mercy on us. By his prayers from the Cross for our sake, have mercy on us. By his sinless death and his descent into the depths of hell for the sake of sinners, have mercy on us. By his glorious resurrection and ascension, and by his promise to come again as victorious Lord of all, have mercy on us, heavenly Father. Crucify our sins and burn them in hell. But hide us, your poor sinful creatures, in the life-giving wounds of Jesus, and shelter us in his outstretched arms. Anoint us with the same Spirit he committed to you with his dying breath. Raise us, in the power of that Spirit, to share in the glorious resurrection life of Christ. And speed the coming of that great eternal day when all whom you have covered with your mercy are made fit to stand together before your throne, there to praise and adore you in the unity you share with your Son, our Savior and Lord, and with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
