• First Reading Isaiah 52:13-53:12
• Psalm 22:1-31
• Second Reading Hebrews 10:16-25
• Or alternate Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
• Gospel John 18:1-19:42

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Scripture said the servant would be exalted and lifted high.
All: We never thought that he would be lifted high onto a cross.

One: Scripture also said that upon him is the punishment that made us whole.
All: But how can we become whole when the anointed one is being brought so low?
One: It is getting darker. The night is upon us.
All: We are here with our Savior. Let us accompany him this night into the darkness.

CALL TO CONFESSION
Why are we here tonight? We come to remind ourselves how much God loves us – even to the point of giving the Son. Let us come humbly before our Savior confessing our sins and getting out of our own way.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Oh Lord, on this darkest of nights we sit with your disciples who abandoned you. We denied you three times, sat in the darkness afraid to show our faces much less do your will. We are frozen from living much less doing your righteousness and justice. As we listen to your story told again we hear once more how costly it was to you for us to be able to say “in the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven.” Help us in our unbelief – our inaction.  Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Hear anew what it means.  Hear anew how much our Lord loves all of us.  Hear with deeper understanding what it cost this man so that I can declare to you that in Jesus Christ you are forgiven. Now go forth and live.