A Broken Road.

 One: Christ walks the Lenten road alone, his shadow the only thing that understands.

All: In the shadow of Christ we follow.

One: The path is punctuated by brokenness

All: The narrow broken road we have walked has lead us to this moment. Despite waving branches and songs of praise He rides on in majesty into the holy city, but his shadow weeps knowing that this broken road is the road to the cross. It is a road of Relationships broken over power, and want.  Relationships sacrificed for personal gain.  Relationships broken not only with you and world, the planet, but within ourselves. The shards of all the broken relationships of our world form the crown which shall pierce his brow.   

One: When we fail to nurture our relationship with you, our selves, our fellow travellers and even the planet the light of Christ is dimed as we come to know that all paths lead to the cross. 

Sixth Candle extinguished

Prayer

The road so clearly laid before your Son O God is one that is covered in the broken relationships, betrayal denial and pain.  We confess that in our lives, we have not always nurtured the relationships that you call us into.  We at times fail to see the value of those relationships and far to easily toss them aside.   

With a contrite heart we come and ask for forgiveness  

Personal Prayers of Confession

Song Come now, O God of second chances

          May we forgive ourselves

          May we become your living sign

          Children of God’s love

Assurance of Pardon

One: God who takes away the sin of the world have mercy

All: Christ who takes on the brokenness of the world be with us

One: Spirit of wholeness bind us together once more. 

All: God comes to find us beyond the shattered pieces of our lives.

One: God comes to make all things whole. This is our hope touched by your love that will bring peace and joy to our souls for our faith will lift us up and bring wholeness to all our relationships .  The path that leads to the cross is our assurance of forgiveness

      One Listen to that howling mob of blockheads in the street! A trick or two with lepers and the whole town’s on its feet. 

All Jesus Christ Superstar tell us that you’re who they say you are. 

One He is dangerous.

All Jesus Christ Superstar.

One and Ciaphas said we need a more permanent solution to our problem  We dare not leave him to his own devices his half witted fans will get out of control 

All The other Priests asked  But how can we stop him? His glamour increases by leaps every minute -- he’s top of poll

One I see bad things arising the crowd crown him king which the Romans would ban

All  What do we do about this Jesus mania? How do we deal with the carpenter King? Where do we start with a man who is bigger than John was when John did this Baptism thing?

One: Fools ! you have no perception! The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high! We must crush him completely  so like John before him, this Jesus must Die.

All This Jesus must Die.

One so like John before him this Jesus Must die 

All Must die.

One: Who is this Jesus? He moves us, he frightens us he has changed us. 

    One we remember that day long ago. They gathered to celebrate the Passover. All together in an upper room. Rich scents of roasted lamb and bread, wine hung in the air, and an even more ancient story is told and a gift of freedom remembered.

  The end…is just little harder when brought about by friends  For all you care this wine could be my blood For all you care this bread could be my body. The end! This my blood you drink. ..This is my body you eat. If you would remember me when you eat and drink. 

The end…on you denies me one of you betrays me. 

All Not I not I not I

One: Let us to the garden. Night’s sound surround them. A tear laden breath of a breeze touch his sorrowed brow.   “Will no one stay awake with me? Peter James John?  Will no one awake with me? Peter James John.”

Prayers of the people 

One: For justice, for freedom, for mercy hear our prayer

All: In sorrow, in grief: be near hear our prayer, O God

One: For wisdom, for courage, for comfort: hear our prayer.

In weakness in fear: be near, hear our prayer, O God

All For healing, for wholeness, for new life hear our prayer.

In sickness, in death be near, hear our prayer, O God.

One: Lord, save us take pity, ling in our darkness.

We call you, we wait: be near hear our prayer, O God.

Lord’s Prayer

Offering

We give thee but thy own.   The work of the Church continues and there are three ways you can continue to support that work.   Consider using PAR, use the donate button on our Web Site or drop your gift at the Manse.   Let us make our offering and give thanks.     

 One Wandering in the wilderness we are sustained by our living faith. sign and symbol of that faith we present our offering to God for the work of Christ’ Church

Song

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below; praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 Prayer    We give up our complaints and our tendency to dwell on our suffering and losses, even as we give of our treasure. May the joy of sharing move us beyond grief and pain. We dedicate our offerings to spreading good news of your love for all people . Through Jesus Christ Amen