(One Person Read Aloud)

Matthew 26:47–56

While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 

(All Read Together)

All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” 

(One Person Read Aloud)

Holy God,

As we prepare for worship, we ask for your abiding Spirit:

(All Read Together)

To open our eyes to see your love displayed for us .

To open our hearts to experience the weight of our sins that you carried.

To open our hands to receive your willing sacrifice on our behalf.

(One Person Read aloud)  

(All Read Together statements in Bold)

Merciful God,

We meet each other today at the foot of the cross,

as inhabitants of one world.

We wait with each other as those who inflict wounds on one another:

Be Merciful to us.

As those who deny justice to others:

Be merciful to us.

As those who put our trust in power:

Be merciful to us.

As those who are greedy:

Be merciful to us.

As those who put others on trial:

Be merciful to us.

As those who are afraid of the world's torment:

Be merciful to us.

(Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, Copyright 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources.)

(One Person Read Aloud)

Holy and ever-living God,

by the suffering and death of Jesus

you save us from Adam's fall.

Grant in your mercy

that we may be drawn to Christ lifted high on the cross,

and by his redeeming love be raised

to everlasting life with Him,

who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

(All)

Amen.

(Reprinted from The New Handbook for the Christian Year, copyright 1986, 1992 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.)

(All Read Aloud)

Romans 5:6–8

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.