The following is an outline of a Good Friday service first experienced on April 6, 2007 in Sarnia, Ontario @ theStory.

More Info & Pictures: For a behind the scenes look and developed explanation, go here.

Original Concept: The following is an adaptation of Dead Man Waiting. Thanks to Cheryl and Mark for the inspiration, advice and help.

Included in this Package: Original Photography/JPG’s for Powerpoint slides; Original writings (Denial: Cheryl; Anger/Bargaining/Depression/Acceptance, Intro/Benediction: Joe Manafo); links to song lyrics and videos.

Supplies Needed: 30-50ft of barbed wire; wire mesh (to hold ice); ice dyed red; fishing line to (hang).

Intro:

-this weekend is highlight of Xtian calendar, while at the same time today is our darkest hour

-in a paradox of emotions, today we both celebrate and mourn Christ’s death

-unfortunately in the past, the Church has glossed over Good Friday and done a disservice to its meaning by avoiding its with statements like: “…but don’t worry, Sunday’s a ‘comin’”, or ‘we’ve read the last page and we know who wins and the end’

-while in one sense these statements are true, in another they have no place in our gathering today

-today is about pain, suffering, sorrow, degradation and the brutality of sin

-traditionally in the Lenten season, it is forbidden to even utter the word ‘hallelujah’ because it is reserved for the resurrection and has no place in the events we observe and remember today

-in this morning’s gathering, our approach will be this:

-confronted with His death, we will reflect on the words uttered by Christ while living on earth, then, through the lens of the 5 stages of grief (Denial/Anger/Bargaining/Depression/Acceptance) we will also explore the immediate feelings associated with these stages that would not only have been present to the fist hand witnesses, but also very present feelings and questions that we have been or are confronted with as disciples of Christ 2000yrs after the fact

-this morning’s experience will be multi sensory…taste, touch, smell, sound and sight

-in some places you will have the opportunity to participate, in others you’ll observe

Death Reading (Mark 15:22-39)/Christ Candle blown out

blood on our hands: DENIAL

Text: “But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone I will send the Spirit to you.” John 16:7

Reading:
You think this is what’s best for us?
They humiliated you on a cross.
And we’re humiliated too, because we put our trust in you.

No wonder Peter denied you.
Maybe it wasn’t out of fear, but out of sheer, bloody rage
that this is how the dream ended.

How can you think this is what’s best for us?

We put everything we had into you.
Our trust.
Our belief that you were the one who could save us.

You offered us a taste of welcome,
a hint of grace,
a touch of freedom.

For a moment we glimpsed a new world,
and you promised an eternity of that.

And we trusted you.

We’re left wondering which is worse
- that it ended like this or that you knew it would end like this
and you took us with you anyway.

music: (Oh God, Where are you Now?) over video (finger paint Jesus)

blood on our hands: ANGER

Text:
“Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,[a]’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9″Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

Reading:

Are you kidding? Persecuted ‘til death? Speak for yourself. No thanks.

Why didn’t you come down? Why didn’t you snap that cross in two and beat down those soldiers with the pieces, or grab the mockers by their throats and squeeze them lifeless?

And what’s this about the end coming? You’re delusional, the end if here. If you couldn’t get the job done, what makes you think that I’ll fare any better? Plus, I’m not interested in picking up your leftovers. I have enough to deal with, especially now. You’re on your own.

music: (Wake up Dead Man)

blood on our hands: BARGAINING

Text:
27″But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32″If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

Reading:

Please have mercy. I’m not sure if I can deal with this right now. I really hoped that things would’ve been different – but maybe they still can. What must I do? Pray more, give more, be more? If we could rewind all of this, I would do things differently. I would. I swear. You have to believe me on this one. I promise.

I promise, no more doubt.
I promise, no more snickering. (Even though you did say some of the stupidest things I have ever heard)
I promise, I won’t deny you.
I promise, I’ll be the first to hop out of the boat this time.
I promise, stick up for you when they take you in.
I promise…just name it…I’ll do it.

One more chance.

Have mercy.

Rewind the tape.

Please.

I promise.

Corporate Reading: (Ps 22:1-11):

blood on our hands: DEPRESSION

Text:
25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Reading:

I’m freaking out. I’m scraping bottom.

For such a lonely place there are quite a few of us down here. Never have I been in the company of so may morbid thoughts.

So low.

I am forgetting what it was like to live on the surface. I barely remember the sound of your voice.

To live in the absence of hope is the darkest place.

So this, is this the way it’s going to be?

Help.

Video: (Hurt)

blood on our hands: ACCEPTANCE

Text:
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 25

Reading:

In the back of my mind, I suppose I knew things were heading in this direction the whole time. It’s not like you hid it from us, it’s just that we chose not to hear you. We had other hopes in mind, or maybe we just didn’t believe that you were serious about this. Guess you were, and now I see things for what they are.

I’m sorry. This, all of this, is my fault – our fault. I’ve look everywhere in search for someone to pin the blame. But just now, I caught a glimpse of my own hands.

They’re red. It’s me. I’m guilty.

I get it now.
Sorry.
And Thank you.

Music: (Some will seek Forgiveness, Others Escape)
Inked/Communion: (see explanation here)
Music: (Wonderful Cross)

Benediction:

Today, we leave this place in darkness.

The taste of His death still in our mouths, and our hands stained with guilt.

And now we wait. (pause)

Go, in the uneasy peace of this Good Friday.

Amen.