Notes on the Notes – April 18, 2025 – Good Friday

Service music:

“I Come to the Cross”

“I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace.
I come to the cross where You died in my place.
Out of my weakness and into Your strength,
Humbly, I come to the cross.

Your arms are open, You call me by name.
You welcome this child that was lost.
You paid the price for my guilt and my shame.
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come,
Jesus, I come to the cross.” 

We begin our Good Friday service by opening ourselves to be present during this time of worship.  The song was written by Bob Somma and Bill Batstone (1996).

“Don’t Be Afraid” (MV #90)

“Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger, 
my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid.
My love is stronger 
and I have promised, promised to be always near.”

As we come to the final candle in our Lenten Tenebrae, the white candle representing Christ, we join our voices in this response by John L. Bell and Graham Maule (1995) of the Iona Community in Scotland.  Written in the voice of God, we are once again reminded of God’s love for us, even in times of fear and sorrow.

“There is a Balm in Gilead” (VU #612)

“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.” 

We will be using the chorus of this African-American spiritual as our sung response to the Assurance of Forgiveness. The words reference the prophet Jeremiah. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the “balm of Gilead” was a precious, healing substance from the area east of the Jordan River that was used to soothe wounds and injuries. It became a symbol of hope for healing and restoration.  Christians believe that Jesus is the ultimate source of healing, both physical and spiritual. His sacrifice on the cross is seen as the ultimate act of healing, offering forgiveness of sins and a path to eternal life. By calling Jesus the “Balm of Gilead,” we express the belief that He is the true source of healing, offering a way to overcome the wounds of sin and find spiritual restoration. The balm represents the power of God’s grace and love to heal and restore. 

“Why is it, Lord”

“Why is it, Lord, that when we’re stressed
we feel things more and think things less?
We let the fear that is inside
become our ruler and our guide.

We’re called to welcome stranger in
Yet we let fear and hatred win.
When we ignore what’s just and true,
O Lord, are we denying you?

In anxious times, Lord, make us wise
to look within our inner lives.
When fear tempts us to cave to sin,
may we seek truth and let love win!”

The three verses of this hymn come from a longer hymn “As Peter Stood Outside in Fear” by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, which is based on the story of Peter’s Denial of Jesus.  Carolyn is a prolific modern hymn writer and pastor who has written over 400 hymns and commentaries on current issues through a biblical lens. We will be using the melody, HESPERUS (Quebec), composed by Henry Baker (1854).

“O Come and Mourn” (VU #136 v 1, 2 & 4)

“O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come now to the Saviour’s side;
O come, together let us mourn:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for him,
while soldiers scoff and foes deride?
Ah!  Look how patiently he hangs:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified. 

O love of God!  O sin-filled world!
In this dread act your strength is tried,
and victory remains with love: 
Jesus, our Love, is crucified.” 

As we near the end of the story of Jesus’ Passion from the Gospel of John, we feel the grief of the Crucifixion. The words for this hymn were written by Frederick William Faber in 1849, with alterations for Voices United.  In previous United Church hymn books (The Hymnary, The Hymn Book) the final line was “Jesus, Our Lord” but Faber’s original wording, “Jesus, Our Love,” has been restored in Voices United.  The music is the hymn tune ST CROSS by John Bacchus Dykes, which was composed for the text (1861).

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” (VU #135 v 1 & 3)

“Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand:
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land,
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noon-tide heat and the burden of the day.

I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face,
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all, the cross.”

At the end of the Passion reading, we will sing this familiar hymn by Elizabeth Clephane (1868).  In the hymn, Elizabeth alludes to a passage in Isaiah that speaks of “the shade of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:1-2).  Perhaps one reason that this hymn has become so well-loved is that we know what it means to live in a weary land.  We feel the need of a mighty rock to shelter us from the heat.  The cross of Jesus is that resting place.  Jesus’ cross is our home within the wilderness, our rest upon the way.  This hymn has appeared in the three main hymn books of the United Church: The Hymnary, The Hymn Book and Voices United.  The tune, ST CHRISTOPHER, was composed by Frederick Charles Maker for Elizabeth Clephane’s hymn (1881).

“Where Joy and Sorrow Meet”

“There’s a place of quiet stillness ‘tween the light and shadows’ reach,
Where the hurting and the hopeless seek everlasting peace.
Words of men and songs of angels whisper comfort bittersweet,
Mingling grief and life eternal where joy and sorrow meet.

There is a place where hope remains in crowns of thorns and crimson stains,
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet:
Where joy and sorrow meet.

There’s a place the lost surrender and the weary will retreat,
Full of grace and mercy tender in times of unbelief.
For the wounded, there is healing,
Strength is given to the weak;
Broken hearts find love redeeming:
Where joy and sorrow meet.

There is a place where hope remains in crowns of thorns and crimson stains,
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet:
Where joy and sorrow meet.

There’s a place of thirst and hunger where the roots of faith grow deep.
There is rain and rolling thunder when the road is rough and steep.
But there is hope in desperation, there is vict’ry in defeat,
at the cross of restoration: where joy and sorrow meet!

There is a place where hope remains in crowns of thorns and crimson stains,
And tears that fall on Jesus’ feet:
Where joy and sorrow meet.
Where joy and sorrow meet.”

Reflecting on the sorrow of Good Friday, we look to the hope of Easter Sunday.  The words and music for our closing anthem are by David James White (2005), arranged by Bruce Greer.