You are invited to worship with us at 7:00pm on Friday April 3, 2026 for a traditional Good Friday service.
Below, you will find the Order of Service so you can follow along and participate in the worship service. If you would prefer, you can also download a bulletin here:
Before we start, please share the live stream on your favorite social media site and invite your friends.
About the Service
Tenebrae
Tenebrae is the Latin word for “darkness.” The Officium Tenebrae, the Service of Darkness, is a devotional and meditative service held on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The Service of Darkness is not a funeral service for Jesus but a time for repentance and reflection on his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The darkness in the church symbolizes the miraculous Tenebrae, the darkness which surrounded the cross and darkened the earth from noon until three o’clock on the day Jesus died.
Seven Candles
There are seven candles and the Christ candle in the front of the church. Throughout the service the candles are extinguished and the lights are dimmed representing the extinguishing of the life of Jesus. The Christ candle is not extinguished but it is removed from the chancel. Just as Christ’s body was hidden in the grave until the third day so also is the Christ candle removed from sight for a short time. We then hear the loud sound of the Bible closing representing the stone being set in place in front of the tomb. The Christ candle is returned to its place at the end of the service foreshadowing Christ’s return from death to life.
Silence
In keeping with the solemnity of the day, there is no pre-service or post-service music. The service begins in silence and ends in silence. Worshipers are invited to remain after the service for as long as they wish for prayer and meditation. All are asked to leave the sanctuary, the courtyard and the parking lot in silence. The stillness and darkness of tonight are intended to contrast with the bright and glorious celebration of Easter morning
Preservice: Silence for Meditation
Invocation
Responsive Prayer
P: Come let us worship the Lord,
C: Who was obedient to death, even death on a cross.
P: God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
C: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
P: Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
C: As a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Confession and Forgiveness (Hebrews 4:14-16)
P: Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,
C: Let us hold fast our confession.
P: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
C: But one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
P: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
C: That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.
(Time of Silent Reflection and Confession)
P: Let us confess our sins before the Lord.
C: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. …Deliver me from my guilt, O God
P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. Here the promise of our merciful God in 1 John chapter 1. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God’s promises are always true. Your sins are forgiven.
C: Amen
1st Reading – Luke 23:32-38
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Message: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The First Candle is Extinguished
Song: Go to Dark Gethsemane (vs 1 and 2)
“Go to dark Gethsemane, all that feel the tempter’s power.
Your Redeemer’s conflict see; watch with Him one bitter hour.
Turn not from His griefs away. Learn from Jesus Christ to pray.
Follow to the judgment hall; View the Lord of life arraigned;
O the worm-wood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame or loss; learn of Him to bear the cross. © Public Domain
2nd Reading – Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Message: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Second Candle is Extinguished
Song: What Wondrous Love is This (vs 1 and 2)
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul.
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
3rd Reading – John 19:25-27
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Message: “Woman, behold, your son!”
The Third Candle is Extinguished
Song: Old Rugged Cross (vs 1 and 3)
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame.
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see.
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
(Chorus)
4th Reading – Matthew 27:45-46
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Message: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
The Fourth Candle is Extinguished
Song: When I Survey (vs 1 and 3)
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.
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. © Public Domain
5th Reading – John 19:28-29
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
Message: “I thirst.”
The Fifth Candle is Extinguished
Song: Were You There (vs 1 and 2)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? © Public Domain
6th Reading – Luke 23:44-46
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Message: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
The Sixth Candle is Extinguished
Song: Were You There (vs 3)
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? © Public Domain
7th Reading – John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Message: “It is finished.”
The Seventh Candle is Extinguished
The Lord’s Prayer (Spoken softly by the congregation)
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 and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Christ Candle is Removed and Extinguished
THE CLOSING OF THE BIBLE AND THE “STREPITUS”
The Christ Candle is Returned (The candle is unlit.)
The Service Ends and the People Exit in Silence
Offering (Please click to give online)
Please see the announcements below as well.
God bless and thank you for worshiping with Faith!
Upcoming Events
Apr 5, 10 AM – Easter Breakfast | 11 AM – Easter Worship
Noon – Egg Grab
Faith Lutheran Church
Meeting Address:
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Ph: (813) 602-1104
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