West Linn Lutheran Church Good Friday Service Narrator Jesus Soilders (2) Pilate Peter Woman Slave

Caiaphas Policeman Mary (non-speaking) The Disciple (non-speaking) Judas (non-speaking

(First, a welcome. An orientation. Some things to expect. This should be improvised- and not feel scripted. It should be warm and real, but also meditative. Its probably not the narrators) Welcome: Name of church, your name. Whos putting on the service. Some thing you need to know before we begin: o Darkness safety o Theme for lent: Burdens o Pieces of red paper and nails. o What to do with them Gathering hymn #

Scene 1: Betrayal in the garden Narrator: Jesus went out with his disciples away from the city. They crossed a valley and entered a garden. Judas, who betrayed him, also knew of the garden because Jesus and the disciples would often meet there. Judas brought a detachment of Roman soldiers as well as police from the chief priests and the Pharisees. The detachment came to garden meeting spot with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus knew that they were there to arrest him. Jesus: Whom are you looking for? Soldier: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus: I am he (they stepped back and fell to the ground.) Narator: Judas was standing among the soldiers and police. Jesus: "Whom are you looking for?" Soldier: "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus: "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let my friends go." Narrator: 9This was to fulfill a promise Jesus had made that he would not lose a single one of his disciples. 10Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck one of the high priest's slaves cutting off his right ear. Jesus: "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

(Music as the First Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (As this is happening the worship space dims)

Scene 2: Arrest and Denial Narrator: The soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and tied him up. They took him to Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple secretly followed the soldiers to the Caiaphas headquarters. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he went past the gate into the courtyard, and Peter was left standing outside . So the other disciple spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, who allowed Peter in. Woman: "You arent one of this man's disciples, are you?" Peter: "I am not." Narrator: In the courtyard the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold. They were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter joined them and waited. Narrator: Inside the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus: I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." (Policeman strikes Jesus on the face) Police: "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus: "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Narrator: Back at the fire Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Another Policeman: You are one of his disciples, arent you? Peter: "I am not." Narrator: One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off was also there. Slave: Did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter: I do not know him! Narrator: and at that moment the cock crowed and Peter remembered his promise that he would never deny Jesus. (Music as the Second Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (As this is happening the worship space dims)

Scene 3: Interrogation Narrator: Early in the morning the high priests men took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. They did not enter the headquarters, because they were Jews, and would be ritually defiled if they did. They wanted to avoid ritual defilement so that they could eat the Passover meal, which would be happening soon. Because they would not come in, Pilate went out to speak with them Pilate: What accusation do you bring against this man?" 3 Policeman: If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you. Pilate: Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. Policeman: "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." 32 Narrator:33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, and summoned Jesus Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus: Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 5 Pilate: I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 3 6 Jesus: If I am a king, my kingdom is not from this world. If it were my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to Caiaphas and the chief priests. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. Pilate: So you are a king?" Jesus "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. 8 Pilate: What is truth? Narrator: After he had said this, he went out to the crowd that had gathered outside his headquarters. 8 Pilate: I find no case against this Jesus. Every year I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" Big Group: Not this man, but Barabbas!(Adlibs) Narrator: To the Romans Barabbas was a bandit, but to many of the jews he was a hero whod fought against the Romans. (Music as the Third Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (As this is happening the worship space dims)

Scene 4: The Crowd Rejects Jesus Narrator: Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. (A whip is placed where the cross will be) To mock him soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, (A crown of thorns is places where the cross will be) and dressed him in a purple robe. (A purple piece of fabric is placed where the cross will be)3They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him on the face. 4Pilate went out again to address the crowd. Pilate: Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him. Here is the man! Narrator: Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. The chief priests and the police were also in the crowd. Group: Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate: Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him. One of the Crowd: We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God. Narrator: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever that the Jews would rise up violently against him and his men. 9He entered his headquarters again. Pilate: Where are you from? (beat) Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to set you free, as well as the power to crucify you? Jesus: You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin. Narrator: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, One of the Crowd: If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor and against Rome! Narrator: When Pilate heard these words he knew the crowd would riot if he didnt do something so he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. Pilate: Here is your King! Group: Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate: "Shall I crucify your King?" Caiaphas: We have no king but the emperor! Narrator: he handed him over to the soldiers to be crucified. (Music as the Fourth Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor)

(Cross carried and moved onto the floor among the candles) (As this is happening the worship space dims) Scene 5: Narrator: Pilates men took Jesus, and they were accompanied by some of the crowd. Jesus carried the cross by himself, and they all went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There the soldiers crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. (One of the ensemble strikes the cross with a hammer seven times. Deliberately and hard.) BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG Narrator: Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek so everyone who walked by could read it. Caiaphas: Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate: What I have written I have written.

(Music as the Fifth Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (As this is happening the worship space dims)

Scene 6: The Soldiers, and a New Family Narrator: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. Soilders: Lets not tear it, but shoot dice for it to see who will get it. Narrators: This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." 25 And that is what the soldiers did. While Jesus was slowly dying on the cross standing near were his mother Mary Magdalene and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Jesus saw them. Jesus: Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother. Narrator: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

(Music as the Sixth Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (As this is happening the worship space dims) (The ensemble member who played Jesus take the bible from the alter and opens it)

Scene 7 Narrator: After this, Jesus knew that all was now finished Jesus: I am thirsty. Narrator: A jar full of sour wine was standing there. Someone put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. Jesus: It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (The ensemble member playing Jesus slams the Word shut) (The worship space is dark) (There is a silence) (There is Music as the Last Candle is moved from the candelabra to the floor) (Nailing our burdens)