THE WOMEN AT THE CROSS
A candle is lit ~
Will you not watch a while, here at the foot of the cross.
Where so greater love was shown toward you and me?
Will you not walk with Jesus on that last night when it began with Jesus gathering his disciples for their last supper together and ended in his arrest?
Will you not listen and share in the stories of the women gathered at the foot of the cross?
Maundy – command – when during supper Jesus gave a new commandment to ‘love one another as I have loved you.’
HYMN: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small:
love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all. (WOV258)
PRAYER:
Jesus was captured at night, stripped of his garments, interrogated, tortured, crowned with thorns and finally condemned to death on a cross by Pontius Pilate, the representative of Roman imperial authority.
Jesus was led away and carrying the cross by himself ne was sent out to what is called the Place of the Skull – Golgotha.
There he was nailed to a cross.
The candle is extinguished.
There is wounding, there is weeping, there is darkness.
God is not separated from that.
So greater love shown that we might love.
HYMN: Were You There? (please remain seated)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble:
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
There was a group of women gathered there.
Some women were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and Salome. Mark 15:40
A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don’t cry for me, but for yourselves and your children.” Luke 23:27-28
The women stood and watched Jesus die. There was nothing they could do.
The soldiers ignored them, so did the priests. A handful of women were no threat to anyone.
Jesus knew they were there – and that’s what mattered to the women.
All they could offer him was their love and grief.
SING:
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble:
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
READING: John 19:25-27 Jesus sees his mother there Mele
Yes I was there. I am Mary, mother of Jesus…
SING:
Were you there when Mary watched and wept?
Were you there when Mary watched and wept?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble:
Were you there when Mary watched and wept?
Yes I was there. My name is Joanna.
Yes I was there. My name is Mary Magdalene.
SING:
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble:
Were you there when the women watched and wept?
Yes we were all there at the foot of the cross.
Each influenced by Jesus’ life; his death.
Each expressing our love for Jesus in our own way.
We were there when the women watched and wept.
SILENT REFLECTION
HYMN: He Came Singing Love
He came singing love and he lived singing love; he died, singing love. He arose in silence. For the love to go on we must make it our song: you and I be the singers.
He came singing faith…
He came singing hope…
He came singing peace… ©Colin Gibson (WOV 636)
I invite you now to come up and take some rose petals and scatter them at the foot of the cross.
Stay as long as you like.
I send you out knowing that you are loved by God.
I send you out to walk through darkness and uncertainty until the joy of Easter day.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES:
25th March 10.00am Good Friday Combined Service
27th March 9.00am St Martin’s Easter Communion
10.30am Beckenham Easter Celebration
All Welcome. Please join us.