A Service of Nails
Apr. 9th, 2004 10:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muscadineaka U2 Good Friday
(The Flyer)
So often people believe there is a gap between the sacred and the profane - between the human and the holy - but not Jesus. Like the band, U2, he shared the belief that all of life is connected. Like Jesus, we believe that we have been called to live with love and compassion in the darkness as well as the light - in the hard and challenging times as well as the simple.
Further, we believe that everyone needs encouragement to make this happen. We cannot be people of integrity all by ourselves. In his comments on the importance of Elvis Presley in the marriage of music and social change, U2's Bono said:
Elvis changed everything: muscially, sexually, politically. He was a Fifties-style icon, who showed us what the Sixties were capable of - and then suddenly not. In the Seventies, he turned celebrity into a blood sport, but interestingly, the more he fell to Earth, the more godlike he became. His last performances showcase a voice even bigger than his gut, where you cry real tears as the music messiah sings his tired heart out, turning casino into temple. In him there was the highness of gospel, the mud of the Delta blues, sexual and social liberation and controversy changing the way people feel about the world... In a way you might say that Elvis was already doing what the civil-rights movement was demanding: breaking down barriers, for he was changing the way people see the world.
Our way of entering into the wisdom of Jesus on Good Friday is a lot like Bono's understanding of Elvis: Jesus made everything new not by becoming a leader, but by joining the pain of real life as everyday people lived it. His death on the cross is not a call to celebrate suffering, but to join in solidarity with the suffering of others and bring God's healing presence into the pain. If you love the music of U2 - if you are seeking a spiritual path that does not preach - if you celebrate the power of live - please join us.
The people will gather while Stranger plays "With or Without You." U2 took the words from II Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" to create this song. Our time of worship tonight will use their music set to a "Service of the Nails" with contemporary images. It is a series of readings, responses, silent reflection, and prayer designed to help us enter more deeply into the meaning of Good Friday. After the opening song, a time of silence will follow.
The Words of the Prophet Isaiah: 52:12-15
"40" - U2
Prayer
O merciful God, you did not spare your only Son, but offered him up for us all, that he might bear our sins upon the cross. Grant that we might so examine ourselves that we realize our own sinfulness, so great as to spiritually crucify him anew. Help us to recognize those nails which we remove from his cross today, and transform us into more faithful disciples in his name. Amen.
"Jesus Christ" - U2
The Nail of Pride: Mark 12:38-40
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2
The Nail of Betrayal: Matthew 26:47-56
"When Love Comes to Town" - U2
The Nail of Envy: Matthew 20:20-28
God: Part II" - U2
The Nail of Indecision: Matthew 27:20-24
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - U2
The Nail of Cruelty: Matthew 27:27-31/39-42
"Love Rescue Me" - U2
The Nail of Hatred: Luke 6:22/32-35
Prayer of Confession: Isaiah 53
He was looked down upon and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away because he looked like scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried - our disfigurements - all the things that were wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself.
But it was our hatred, fear, addiction, and selfishness that ripped and tore and crushed him - our sins - and he took it all so that we might be made whole.
The people may come forward at this time and extract their nail from the cross.
The Promise of Mercy
He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered, he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off - and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of our people.
They buried him with the wicked, threw him into a rich man's grave, though he never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.
Still, it was the will of the Lord to be with him in his pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; for through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many others "righteous ones," too.
Therefore God will reward him extravagantly - the best of everything - the highest honors,
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the outcast and took up the cause of all the black sheep.
Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 (Reprise)
The Prayer of Dedication
Lord God, you have given us everything.
You have not held anything back, not even your only Christ Jesus our Lord.
With humble hearts we thank you.
In new hope we offer to you and for the work of salvation our every gift and our very selves.
Be pleased, O God, in the name of Jesus, to accept all that we offer at this time.
Look upon the intentions of our hearts, Hear our Prayers and in your love answer.
a time for quiet prayer
We ask all these things through him who taught us to pray to you saying...
The Lord's Prayer
"40" - U2 (Reprise)
The people depart in silence
(The Flyer)
So often people believe there is a gap between the sacred and the profane - between the human and the holy - but not Jesus. Like the band, U2, he shared the belief that all of life is connected. Like Jesus, we believe that we have been called to live with love and compassion in the darkness as well as the light - in the hard and challenging times as well as the simple.
Further, we believe that everyone needs encouragement to make this happen. We cannot be people of integrity all by ourselves. In his comments on the importance of Elvis Presley in the marriage of music and social change, U2's Bono said:
Elvis changed everything: muscially, sexually, politically. He was a Fifties-style icon, who showed us what the Sixties were capable of - and then suddenly not. In the Seventies, he turned celebrity into a blood sport, but interestingly, the more he fell to Earth, the more godlike he became. His last performances showcase a voice even bigger than his gut, where you cry real tears as the music messiah sings his tired heart out, turning casino into temple. In him there was the highness of gospel, the mud of the Delta blues, sexual and social liberation and controversy changing the way people feel about the world... In a way you might say that Elvis was already doing what the civil-rights movement was demanding: breaking down barriers, for he was changing the way people see the world.
Our way of entering into the wisdom of Jesus on Good Friday is a lot like Bono's understanding of Elvis: Jesus made everything new not by becoming a leader, but by joining the pain of real life as everyday people lived it. His death on the cross is not a call to celebrate suffering, but to join in solidarity with the suffering of others and bring God's healing presence into the pain. If you love the music of U2 - if you are seeking a spiritual path that does not preach - if you celebrate the power of live - please join us.
The people will gather while Stranger plays "With or Without You." U2 took the words from II Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" to create this song. Our time of worship tonight will use their music set to a "Service of the Nails" with contemporary images. It is a series of readings, responses, silent reflection, and prayer designed to help us enter more deeply into the meaning of Good Friday. After the opening song, a time of silence will follow.
The Words of the Prophet Isaiah: 52:12-15
"40" - U2
Prayer
O merciful God, you did not spare your only Son, but offered him up for us all, that he might bear our sins upon the cross. Grant that we might so examine ourselves that we realize our own sinfulness, so great as to spiritually crucify him anew. Help us to recognize those nails which we remove from his cross today, and transform us into more faithful disciples in his name. Amen.
"Jesus Christ" - U2
The Nail of Pride: Mark 12:38-40
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2
The Nail of Betrayal: Matthew 26:47-56
"When Love Comes to Town" - U2
The Nail of Envy: Matthew 20:20-28
God: Part II" - U2
The Nail of Indecision: Matthew 27:20-24
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - U2
The Nail of Cruelty: Matthew 27:27-31/39-42
"Love Rescue Me" - U2
The Nail of Hatred: Luke 6:22/32-35
Prayer of Confession: Isaiah 53
He was looked down upon and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away because he looked like scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried - our disfigurements - all the things that were wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself.
But it was our hatred, fear, addiction, and selfishness that ripped and tore and crushed him - our sins - and he took it all so that we might be made whole.
The people may come forward at this time and extract their nail from the cross.
The Promise of Mercy
He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered, he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off - and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of our people.
They buried him with the wicked, threw him into a rich man's grave, though he never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true.
Still, it was the will of the Lord to be with him in his pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; for through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many others "righteous ones," too.
Therefore God will reward him extravagantly - the best of everything - the highest honors,
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the outcast and took up the cause of all the black sheep.
Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 (Reprise)
The Prayer of Dedication
Lord God, you have given us everything.
You have not held anything back, not even your only Christ Jesus our Lord.
With humble hearts we thank you.
In new hope we offer to you and for the work of salvation our every gift and our very selves.
Be pleased, O God, in the name of Jesus, to accept all that we offer at this time.
Look upon the intentions of our hearts, Hear our Prayers and in your love answer.
a time for quiet prayer
We ask all these things through him who taught us to pray to you saying...
The Lord's Prayer
"40" - U2 (Reprise)
The people depart in silence
