Around the Cross through out the day, we will be reflecting on the journey of Christ through a different scriptures and prayer at each half hour interval. Please join in this meditation and prayer using the resources below.
At each half hour we will also be lighting a candle to remember all who have suffered through the pandemic.
We also will be glad to take prayer requests for loved ones and bring them to Jesus in prayer as we stand and pray at the Cross. Prayer requests can be emailed to this email duncanhorsforthchurches@gmail.com or posted in the box by the cross on the Grove on the day.
PRAY WITH THOSE STANDING AT THE CROSS –
here are the scriptures and prayers that will be prayed at the Cross.
Journey of Christ Scriptures and Prayers for Download. Also see below
HCT Praying the Cross on Good Friday 2021
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 1
(09.00 to 09.30,)
Jesus in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’
Mark 14.32-36
Possible prayer topics include:
- Those with underlying health conditions who have a particular vulnerability to the effects of Covid-19;
- Long Covid-19 sufferers;
- Those separated from loved ones;
- The lonely and isolated;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you entered the garden of fear
and faced the agony of your impending death:
be with those who share that agony
and face death unwillingly this day.
You shared our fear and knew the weakness of our humanity:
give strength and hope to the dispirited and despairing.
To you, Jesus, who sweated blood,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 2
(09.30 to 10.00,)
Jesus condemned by the Sanhedrin
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands”.’ But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus said, ‘I am; and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power”, and “coming with the clouds of heaven”.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death.
Mark 14.55-64
Possible prayer topics include:
- Those who are persecuted;
- Justice;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were the victim of religious bigotry:
be with those who are persecuted by small-minded authority.
You faced the condemnation of fearful hearts:
deepen the understanding of those who shut themselves off from the
experience and wisdom of others.
To you, Jesus, unjustly judged victim,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 3
(10.00 to 10.30, )
Peter denies Jesus
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.
Mark 14:72
Possible prayer topics include:
- The lonely and isolated;
- Children denied time at school/ with friends.
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as Peter betrayed you,
you experienced the double agony of love rejected and friendship denied:
be with those who know no friends and are rejected by society.
You understood the fear within Peter:
help us to understand the anxieties of those who fear for their future.
To you, Jesus, who gazed with sadness at your lost friend,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 4
(10.30 to 11.00, )
Jesus judged by Pilate
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 15.14,15
Possible prayer topics include:
- Those who work in the prison and courts service;
- Prisoners on remand;
- Justice;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were condemned to death for political expediency:
be with those who are imprisoned for the convenience of the powerful.
You were the victim of unbridled injustice:
change the minds and motivations of oppressors and exploiters to your way of peace.
To you, Jesus, innocent though condemned,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 5
(11.00 to 11.30,)
Jesus carries the cross
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:20
Possible prayer topics include:
- Those who are persecuted;
- Justice:
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you carried the cross through the rough streets of Jerusalem:
be with those who are loaded with burdens beyond their strength.
You bore the weight of our sins when you carried the cross:
help us to realize the extent and the cost of your love for us.
To you, Jesus, bearing a cross not your own,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 6
(11.30 to 12.00)
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Mark 15:21
Possible prayer topics include:
- MHA Communities;
- HCAP;
- NHS and care workers;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were worn down by fatigue:
be with those from whom life drains all energy.
You needed the help of a passing stranger:
give us the humility to receive aid from others.
To you, Jesus, weighed down with exhaustion and in need of help,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 7
(12.30 to 13.00,)
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
Luke 23.27-31
Possible prayer topics include:
- Women becoming mothers during the pandemic;
- Victims of domestic violence;
- Women and girls who are trafficked;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept for you:
move us to tears at the plight of the broken in our world.
You embraced the pain of Jerusalem, the ‘city of peace’:
bless Jerusalem this day and lead it to the path of profound peace.
To you, Jesus, the King of peace who wept for the city of peace,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 8
(13.00 to 13.30,)
Jesus is crucified
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
Mark 15.24
Possible prayer topics include:
- Victims of violence;
- Those who have lost livelihoods;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you bled in pain as the nails were driven into your flesh:
transform through the mystery of your love the pain of those who suffer.
To you, Jesus, our crucified Lord,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 9
(13.30 to 14.00,)
Jesus on the cross; his mother and his friend
A reading from the Gospel according to John.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
John 19.26,27
Possible prayer topics include:
- Families that are separated;
- The lonely and isolated;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your mother and your dearest friend stayed with you to the bitter end,
yet even while racked with pain you ministered to them:
be with all broken families today
and care for those who long for companionship.
You cared for your loved ones even in your death-throes:
give us a love for one another
that is stronger even than the fear of death.
To you, Jesus, loving in the face of death,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 10
(14.00 to 14.30,)
Jesus dies on the cross
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
Mark 15.34-37
Possible prayer topics include:
- Remembering those who have died;
- The bereaved;
- Hospice staff and those who work in palliative care;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you died on the cross
and entered the bleakest of all circumstances:
give courage to those who die at the hands of others.
In death you entered into the darkest place of all:
illumine our darkness with your glorious presence.
To you, Jesus, your lifeless body hanging on the tree of shame,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Jesus’ Good Friday Journey, Episode 11
(14.30 to 15.00,)
Jesus laid in the tomb
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.
Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Mark 15.46
Possible prayer topics include:
- Funeral directors;
- Those who have not been able to have a funeral service for loved ones;
- The bereaved;
- …
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Lord of life, you became as nothing for us:
be with those who feel worthless and as nothing in the world’s eyes.
You were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight:
be with all who suffer and die in secret,
hidden from the eyes of the world.
To you, Jesus, your rigid body imprisoned in a tomb,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
Leader Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the words our Saviour taught us.
All Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Leader Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.