Quote for Reflection: -Second Light: Darkness of Betrayal- -Sixth Light: the Trial-

Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. Mark 14:3-4, 6, 8, 10-11 Dawn Mark 14:53-54, 60-61 15:1-5 Eve
All things break. And all things can be mended. The Second Light Is Extinguished The Sixth Light Is Extinguished
Not with time, as they say, but with intention.
So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. HYMN What Wondrous Love Is This? 292 vss. 1, 2 MUSIC Losing My Religion Romy Politzki
The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you. That's me in the corner
L.R.Knost That's me in the spotlight, losing my religion
-Third Light: Darkness of Desertion- Trying to keep up with you
Matthew 26:36-40 Craig And I don't know if I can do it
-We Gather as God’s People- The Third Light Is Extinguished Oh no I've said too much; I haven't said enough

GATHERING Hurt Johnny Cash Every whisper of every waking hour

I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair I'm choosing my confessions
Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair Trying to keep an eye on you
Beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
You are someone else I am still right here Oh no, I've said too much; I set it up
lyrics Trent Reznor R.E.M.

CALL TO WORSHIP REFLECTION Losing Our Religion

This night, what gathers us here?
If you have ever believed that love inevitably leads to betrayal
 LEITOURGIA Names in the Sand
this night says it doesn’t

if you have ever believed that some people can’t be redeemed
this night says they can
 -Seventh Light: Shadow of the Cross-
if you have ever believed that forgiveness wears out
 Mark 15:16-20 Heidi
this night says it won’t
 The Seventh Light Is Extinguished
if you have ever believed you aren’t worth saving

this night says you are

-Fourth Light: Arrest in the Garden-
if you have ever believed that you don’t deserve freedom
 -Eighth Light: Darkness of the World-
this night says you do
 Luke 22:47-48, 54 David
The Fourth Light Is Extinguished John 3:19 Kathy
if you have ever believed that fear, anger,
The Eighth Light Is Extinguished
hate and despair will always win

HYMN What Wondrous Love Is This? 292 vss. 3,4
this night says they won’t. HYMN Go to Dark Gethsemane 290 vss. 1,2
This night says love wins; this night love gathers us here.

-Fifth Light: Darkness of Denial-

HYMN Be Still My Soul 534 -Ninth Light: Darkness of Death-
Luke 22:55-62 Alison
The Fifth Light Is Extinguished Mark 15:25-28 Barb
The Ninth Light Is Extinguished
-First Light: Darkness of Suffering- RESPONSE
LEADER: Lord, when have we left you alone?
Isaiah 53:2-6 Roger PEOPLE: When have we left you alone? MUSIC Passion Peter Gabriel
The First Light is Extinguished
HYMN O Sacred Head Now Wounded 286 Matthew 27:45-46, 50 Mitch
HYMN Ah, Holy Jesus 289 vss. 1, 2 The Christ Candle Is Extinguished
HYMN Were You There
(the song leader will sing the first line,
288 vss. 1-4
O Heaven, be struck with horror;
then we are invited to join in the rest of the verse.)
earth be plunged in chaos;

Good Friday
1. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
3. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Do not dare, Sun, to behold
Your master on the cross,
-Recess in Silence-
hanging there of his own will,
j Let rock be shattered,
Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
 for the rock of life
[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?]
is now wounded by nails . . . .
In the beginning you created pain.
You split yourself. Light from darkness. In fact let all creation
This from not this. Separation.
But you are the light and the darkness. shudder and groan
You made space in yourself for another, at the passion of the Creator.
and you are the other, and the space.
You are the unity and you are the abyss,
width and depth, post and arms of the cross. Adam alone exults.
Yours is belonging, and being alien is yours, Romanos, 6th Century
loneliness and its aching distances,
a world of gap and absence.
In our pain you cry out to yourself,

Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?


When we can't imagine closeness

it is you who cry in us for that return,

even as we push you away into yourself.



My God, my God, that you know my pain,

that you live in terror of losing God,

is my salvation. There is no exile

in which I am not in you.



When I am derelict, abandoned, deserted,

you cry out to me, in me, for me. 
 Easter Morning Worship
“Losing Our Religion”
Your agony is mine.
 Easter Sunrise Service Bixby Hill Road, 6:15 am
I am in your arms. Steve Garnaas-Holmes Resurrection Worship at church 10:00 am