SERVICE OF LIGHT
Pastor: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world,
People: the light no darkness can overcome. (John 8:12; John 1:5)
Pastor: Stay with us Lord, for it is evening,
People: and the day is almost over. (Luke 24:29)
Pastor: Let Your light scatter the darkness
People: and illumine Your Church. (1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 4:6)
Pastor: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led Your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of Your Christ; may His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for You are merciful, and You love Your whole creation and we, Your creatures, glorify You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Let us pray. (Silence for individual prayer)
People: Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before You, O Lord, and let Your loving-kindness descend on us that we may, with purified minds, sing Your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host and may glorify You forever. Amen. (Psalm 141)
Versicles
L Hear my prayer, O Lord;
C let my cry come to You.
L In the day of my trouble I call upon You,
C for You answer me.
L Hide Your face from my sins,
C and blot out all my iniquities.
L Create in me a clean heart, O God,
C and renew a right spirit within me.
L Cast me not away from Your presence,
C and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
L Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
C and uphold me with a willing spirit.
L Because Your steadfast love is better than life,
C my lips will praise You.
L For You have been my help,
C and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy.
L Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth;
C unite my heart to fear Your name.
L I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
C and I will glorify Your name forever.
L May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You.
C May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
L Save Your people and bless Your heritage!
C Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
L Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
C listen to my plea for grace.
(Please be seated)
HYMN ~ TFBF#61, “The Lord is My Light”
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation
Whom shall I fear?
[Chorus]
Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life
Whom shall I fear?
2 In the time of trouble, He shall hide me
In the time of trouble, He shall hide me
In the time of trouble, He shall hide me
Whom shall I fear?
3 Wait on the Lord and be of good courage
Wait on the Lord and be of good courage
Wait on the Lord and be of good courage
He shall strengthen thine heart
READINGS
Reading Matthew 27:45-66
RESPONSORY (Psalm 51:14; 59:1; 141:8)
Pastor: Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful
People: slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents of evil. (Joel 2:13)
Pastor: Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me,
People: let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)
Pastor: Christ was wounded for our transgressions.
People: He was bruised for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)
HYMN ~LSB#731 O God, Forsake Me Not
1 O God, forsake me not!
Your gracious presence lend me;
Lord, lead Your helpless child;
Your Holy Spirit send me
That I my course may run.
O be my light, my lot,
My staff, my rock, my shield—
O God, forsake me not!
2 O God, forsake me not!
Take not Your Spirit from me;
Do not permit the might
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which You alone have wrought.
O be my strength and pow’r—
O God, forsake me not!
3 O God, forsake me not!
Lord, hear my supplication!
In ev’ry evil hour
Help me resist temptation;
And when the prince of hell
My conscience seeks to blot,
Be then not far from me—
O God, forsake me not!
4 O God, forsake me not!
Lord, I am Yours forever.
O keep me strong in faith
That I may leave You never.
Grant me a blessèd end
When my good fight is fought;
Help me in life and death—
O God, forsake me not!
SERMON
PRAYER
(Please Rise)
L: O Lord, C: have mercy. L: O Christ, C: have mercy. L: O Lord, C: have mercy.
L: O Christ, C: hear us. L: God the Father in heaven, C: have mercy. L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world, C: have mercy. L: God the Holy Spirit, C: have mercy.
Jesus, Son of the living God, Have mercy. From all evil, O Jesus, deliver us.
From sudden, unprepared, or evil death; From the snares of the devil; From anger, hatred, or ill-will; From everlasting death, O Jesus, deliver us.
By the mystery of Your incarnation; By Your most holy life and conversation; By Your most bitter Passion and death; By Your agony and bloody sweat; By Your thrice-repeated prayer; By Your bonds and stripes; By Your sacred body, buffeted and smitten; By the spitting upon Your adorable face; By the false judgment pronounced by Caiaphas; By Herod’s disdain of You; By the shameful stripping of Your garments; By Your painful crown of thorns; By Your purple robe of mockery; By Your most unjust condemnation; By Your bearing Your own cross; By Your footprints to the place of death; By the tearing off of Your garments; By the cruel straining of Your sacred limbs; By Your dread crucifixion; By the anguish You did suffer; By Your prayers and tears; By the insults You endured; By the shedding of Your most precious blood; By Your patience and humility; By the love with which You loved us to the end: O Jesus, deliver us.
We poor sinners implore You to hear us: O most loving Jesus.
That being dead to sin, we may live unto righteousness; That we may take up our cross daily and follow You; That Your blood may cleanse us from dead works to serve the living God; That looking on Your example, we may follow Your steps; That being partakers of Your sufferings, we may be also partakers of Your glory: We implore You to hear us, O Jesus.
To give comfort and relief to all who have asked for our prayers [especially ______________]: We implore You to hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, Grant us Your peace.
**THE LORD’S PRAYER
**BENEDICTION
Pastor: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you. People: Amen