Jacquelyne J. Jackson - "The Words from the Cross" Good Friday Service Part 1 (April 4, 1969)
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Transcript
Transcripts may contain inaccuracies.
(gentle music) | 0:04 | |
- | Let the congregation be seated. | 6:10 |
Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by | 6:22 | |
(congregation chants indistinctly) | 6:28 | |
God commended his love toward us | 6:34 | |
in that while we were yet sinners, | 6:37 | |
Christ died for us. | 6:41 | |
(congregation chants indistinctly) | 6:43 | |
Let us offer unto God our unison prayer. | 6:49 | |
Forbid oh God, that we should forget, | 6:53 | |
amid our earthly comforts, | 6:57 | |
the pains and mortal anguish | 7:00 | |
that our Lord Jesus endured for our salvation. | 7:02 | |
Grant us this day a true vision | 7:07 | |
of all that he suffered in his betrayal, | 7:10 | |
his lonely agony, his false trial, | 7:14 | |
his mocking and scourging, and the torture of death | 7:18 | |
up on the cross. | 7:23 | |
As thou has given thyself utterly for us, | 7:25 | |
may we give ourselves entirely to thee, | 7:29 | |
oh Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior Amen. | 7:33 | |
The hymn is 435. | 7:40 | |
(uplifting music) | 7:47 | |
(congregation singing a hymn) | 8:05 | |
Let us pray, | 10:57 | |
Almighty and everlasting God, | 10:59 | |
slow to anger and of great mercy. | 11:03 | |
Hear the prayer in which thy son has made on our behalf. | 11:09 | |
That we may be forgiven our sins | 11:15 | |
and that we like him, | 11:19 | |
may ask thee to forgive those who have wronged us | 11:23 | |
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. | 11:29 | |
Amen. | 11:34 | |
Here are the words of the gospel | 11:37 | |
according to St. Luke, the 23rd chapter, at the 26 verse. | 11:39 | |
"And as they led Jesus away, | 11:47 | |
they seized one Simon of Cyrene | 11:50 | |
who was coming in from the country | 11:55 | |
and laid on him the cross | 11:58 | |
to carry it behind Jesus. | 12:01 | |
And that followed him a great multitude of the people | 12:05 | |
and the women who be wailed and lamented him. | 12:08 | |
But Jesus turning to them said, | 12:13 | |
"Daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me, | 12:16 | |
but weep for yourselves and for your children. | 12:23 | |
For behold the days are coming when they will say, | 12:30 | |
"Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, | 12:34 | |
and the breasts that never gave suck." | 12:40 | |
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, | 12:45 | |
and to the hills, cover us. | 12:49 | |
For if they do these when the wood is green, | 12:53 | |
what will happen when it is dry? | 12:59 | |
Two others also who were criminals | 13:04 | |
were led away to be put to death with him. | 13:06 | |
And when they came to the place | 13:10 | |
which is called The Skull, | 13:12 | |
there they crucified him and the criminals | 13:17 | |
one on the right, and one on the left. | 13:22 | |
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them | 13:28 | |
for they know not what they do." " | 13:35 | |
Amen. | 13:40 | |
(congregation sings a hymn) | 13:47 | |
(uplifting music) | 14:21 | |
- | Father forgive them | 20:52 |
for they know not what they do. | 20:54 | |
And the words of an old emphony, | 20:57 | |
a favorite Negro spiritual, | 21:00 | |
"If you cannot preach like Peter and I cannot, | 21:03 | |
if you cannot pray like Paul and I again, cannot. | 21:08 | |
You can tell the love of Jesus | 21:13 | |
and I can and say he died for all." | 21:15 | |
And so today on this Good Friday, | 21:19 | |
I shall tell the lot of he who died | 21:23 | |
to make the wounded heal, | 21:26 | |
and to heal the sin-sick soul, | 21:29 | |
to help us use that balm in Gilead. | 21:33 | |
When Christ hung on that cross on that Friday, | 21:38 | |
long ago in Cavalry, | 21:40 | |
his heart was not filled with hate and retribution | 21:42 | |
for he loved us. | 21:46 | |
Gazing upon his crucifiers, | 21:49 | |
his voice was heard saying, | 21:51 | |
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." | 21:54 | |
And on that Thursday a year ago, | 22:00 | |
when Martin Luther king Jr, | 22:03 | |
bearing the cross of non-violence, and met this, | 22:05 | |
watch himself so brutally assassinated | 22:09 | |
I believe that had his voice lasted a few minutes longer. | 22:12 | |
He too would asked, "Father forgive give them, | 22:16 | |
for they know not what they do." | 22:21 | |
I believe that Jesus did enter his kingdom | 22:24 | |
where he went to prepare way for us, | 22:28 | |
for you and me. | 22:32 | |
I believe that King is sitting there in paradise today | 22:33 | |
competent by the fact | 22:37 | |
that he at least tried to bring lightness | 22:39 | |
but hurt because there's still darkness. | 22:42 | |
Because he tried to bring help, | 22:45 | |
but hurt because there's even more despair. | 22:47 | |
Because he tried to find peace, | 22:51 | |
and yet we have more violence. | 22:53 | |
I believe however, that they both are interceding | 22:56 | |
with our father today. | 23:00 | |
For his guidance and direction of all of us here on earth, | 23:02 | |
in these our dark hours. | 23:06 | |
But we are beset back problems made by man. | 23:09 | |
But fortunately by problems which can be resolved, | 23:13 | |
by men who put their hands in God's hands | 23:17 | |
and try a little harder, | 23:21 | |
just inching along to forgive those who err, | 23:24 | |
or who lose sight of the main stream. | 23:28 | |
To have compassion for them. | 23:32 | |
And to try to understand better all of their fellow men. | 23:34 | |
We're in God's land, we are all brothers. | 23:38 | |
It is not enough however, just to forgive. | 23:41 | |
Each of us in our own way | 23:45 | |
must try both to forgive and to provide help | 23:46 | |
for the wandering lambs among us. | 23:49 | |
We must forgive, for example, | 23:52 | |
those who have us now in Vietnam, | 23:54 | |
and we must with that forgiveness, | 23:56 | |
help them to help us get out. | 23:59 | |
We must forgive those who have committed such great errors, | 24:01 | |
as those who denied five barley loaves | 24:05 | |
and two small fishes to those who are hungry. | 24:08 | |
And are denying minimum wages | 24:10 | |
to those who tore slave laborers. | 24:12 | |
As do many employed in the kitchens | 24:15 | |
of our state's institutions today. | 24:17 | |
And what that forgiveness help them | 24:19 | |
to ensure sufficient incomes for all. | 24:21 | |
So we can relieve from this line, | 24:24 | |
"Those who suffer in poverty, | 24:26 | |
despite the abundance of wealth." | 24:28 | |
We must forgive those who | 24:30 | |
in seeking to realize their rights and privileges | 24:33 | |
which are just theirs, | 24:36 | |
utilize techniques which are not just theirs. | 24:38 | |
Such as the occupation of buildings, | 24:41 | |
techniques which in the short and long run | 24:43 | |
are more calculated in fact, | 24:46 | |
to thrust us back to a second post-reconstruction period. | 24:48 | |
And so forgiving them however, | 24:52 | |
we must help to make real the kinds of conditions | 24:54 | |
which will not ferment rights and destruction, | 24:57 | |
but will help us realize the good life for all | 25:00 | |
despite race, color, or creed. | 25:03 | |
We must forgive those who respond to such destructive | 25:06 | |
or potentially destructive acts | 25:09 | |
by passing or urging the passage of laws | 25:10 | |
calculated only to further destroy and divide us. | 25:13 | |
Such as instead of restricting | 25:16 | |
the occupancy of a park in our own city | 25:17 | |
to 50 individuals at any one time. | 25:20 | |
And we must help them to understand | 25:23 | |
that Jesus himself, that on the cross, | 25:25 | |
in order to give us time to realize | 25:28 | |
the kind of life and society, | 25:30 | |
which the Father desires for us all. | 25:32 | |
Therefore, we ask again today | 25:36 | |
for Jesus and yes, the King to continue to intercede for us, | 25:39 | |
asking the father to forgive us for we know not what we do. | 25:45 | |
But we hope that each and every one of us | 25:50 | |
throughout the land, EA, throughout the world, | 25:52 | |
will try to forgive and to help, | 25:56 | |
with hearts filled with compassion and patience, | 25:58 | |
with minds filled with knowledge and understanding. | 26:02 | |
So that we may become more worthy | 26:06 | |
of the Father's forgiveness. | 26:07 | |
So that we may truly use generously that balm in Gilead | 26:10 | |
and make the wounded healed, and heal our sin-sick souls. | 26:14 | |
Let us pray. | 26:20 | |
Dear God, on this day when thy son | 26:21 | |
asked thee to forgive those who knew not what they do. | 26:24 | |
And on this day when and one year ago, | 26:28 | |
Martin Luther king was removed from our midst. | 26:31 | |
We ask thee once again, to continue to forgive us | 26:34 | |
for all of our sins and transgressions. | 26:38 | |
And to help us put our hands in your hands | 26:42 | |
so that we may truly do what is right and what is just. | 26:45 | |
So that before long, we can all walk the valley in peace | 26:50 | |
free to blast and bound to each other as thy children. | 26:54 | |
Father forgive us we beseech thee | 26:58 | |
and help us do as we should. | 27:02 | |
So that we will have less and less occasion | 27:04 | |
to ask thee to forgive us, | 27:07 | |
and more occasion to rejoice that we are truly thy children | 27:09 | |
walking in the ways which you have set forth for us. | 27:15 | |
Your children for whom you sacrificed your son | 27:19 | |
on that cross in Cavalry, long, long ago. | 27:23 | |
And who forgave us then as we hope you will forgive us now. | 27:27 | |
Amen. | 27:32 | |
(uplifting music) | 27:36 | |
- | Let us unite in prayer. | 32:17 |
Eternal God, our Father who did send thy son | 32:23 | |
to be the savior of the world. | 32:27 | |
We wait before thee quietly in the shadows of the cross, | 32:31 | |
where he made the Supreme sacrifice | 32:36 | |
that our wayward humanity might find its way back to life. | 32:39 | |
We confess, oh Lord, | 32:45 | |
that the sins which killed him, | 32:47 | |
often beseech, and beseech our own hearts. | 32:49 | |
We see ourselves in the very company around him on Golgotha. | 32:54 | |
We know the mood of fear, of jealousy, of hatred, | 33:00 | |
and of doubt, of those who condemned to die | 33:07 | |
suffered beside him on their crosses. | 33:11 | |
Search us, we ask oh God, | 33:15 | |
and reveal to us our evil ways. | 33:19 | |
That in full surrender to thee and thy will, | 33:23 | |
we may be cleansed of all that corrupts our life, | 33:27 | |
and separates us from thee, and from our brothers. | 33:31 | |
Forbid we ask our Father, | 33:37 | |
that on this day of his great agony, | 33:40 | |
we should join the mob that watched him there | 33:44 | |
in morbid humor and pagan cruelty. | 33:46 | |
Deliver us from the passive curiosity that waits a sign, | 33:50 | |
and the hypocrisy which joins the crowd | 33:55 | |
to hide its emptiness. | 33:58 | |
May thy spirit find us today where we really are. | 34:01 | |
In our human frailty, our lagging loyalty, | 34:05 | |
and our lack of faith. | 34:09 | |
Before thy son's cross, oh God, | 34:13 | |
we ask that thou wouldst forgive us our reluctance | 34:16 | |
to take thee at thy word. | 34:20 | |
We confess with sorrow that we have shut life out | 34:23 | |
through fear and timidity. | 34:26 | |
We have been afraid of vitality, | 34:29 | |
and we have sought the safety of the ordinary. | 34:31 | |
We have been happier with acquaintances than with friends, | 34:35 | |
with repetition than with new victories, | 34:39 | |
with increase of reputation than with renewal of character. | 34:42 | |
Forgive us our failure to accept life | 34:47 | |
through growth and struggle. | 34:50 | |
We confess, oh Lord, above all | 34:54 | |
that our sins have made us | 34:56 | |
incapable of welcoming the good news | 34:58 | |
that is a part of this Good Friday and Easter morn. | 35:01 | |
Selfishness has turned the open hand | 35:06 | |
into the clenched fist in thee, | 35:09 | |
and pride have shut us out of genuine friendship. | 35:12 | |
Forgive us our Father for clinging | 35:16 | |
to these impoverishing sins. | 35:18 | |
And encourage us anew to desire | 35:21 | |
the life that is life indeed. | 35:23 | |
Oh God of ancient prophets and holy martyrs, | 35:27 | |
pour out thy spirit upon us in this Good Friday we ask, | 35:32 | |
that once again in the hour of our need, | 35:37 | |
we may dream dreams and see visions | 35:40 | |
of prophets and of Christ. | 35:43 | |
Drop the plumb line of thy justice | 35:46 | |
beside every wall that we have built. | 35:49 | |
Way in the balances of thy truth, | 35:52 | |
all the accomplishments of our skill and science. | 35:55 | |
Test with thy consuming fire | 35:59 | |
the permanent worth of our industry and our art. | 36:02 | |
If the earth be shaken and the foundations tremble, | 36:07 | |
grant us courage to look beyond the ruins | 36:11 | |
to that which has not fallen we ask. | 36:14 | |
If judgment falls as it fell on Good Friday, | 36:18 | |
and the hollow vanity of much that pass | 36:22 | |
for the substance of our life is revealed | 36:25 | |
as nothing steadious until we lift up our eyes unto thee. | 36:28 | |
And know that our hope is in thee both now and forever. | 36:34 | |
The name of him who was steadfast against death and sin, | 36:42 | |
whose sacrifice for mankind we commemorate this day, | 36:48 | |
even Jesus Christ, our Lord. | 36:53 | |
Amen. | 36:56 | |
Our scripture reading is from Luke 23, verses 39 to 45. | 37:10 | |
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged | 37:20 | |
railed on him saying, | 37:22 | |
"If thou be Christ save thyself and us." | 37:24 | |
But the other answering rebuked him saying, | 37:29 | |
"Dost not thou fear of God, seeing thou art | 37:31 | |
in the same condemnation? | 37:34 | |
And we indeed justly, | 37:37 | |
for we receive the due reward of our deeds, | 37:39 | |
but this man hath done nothing amiss." | 37:43 | |
And he said unto Jesus, "Lord remember me | 37:46 | |
when thou comest into thy kingdom." | 37:49 | |
And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, | 37:52 | |
today shalt thou be with me in paradise." | 37:56 | |
And it was about the sixth hour, | 38:00 | |
and there was a darkness over all the earth | 38:02 | |
until the ninth hour. | 38:04 | |
And the sun was darkened, | 38:06 | |
and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst." | 38:08 | |
( congregation singing) | 38:17 | |
(uplifting music) | 38:59 | |
- | Christ's first word on the cross, | 44:42 |
was a prayer for his enemies. | 44:45 | |
The second word in contrast, was an answer to a prayer, | 44:48 | |
"Verily I say unto thee, | 44:53 | |
today shalt thou be with me in paradise." | 44:56 | |
As we look at this, it evokes a number of questions. | 45:00 | |
What is paradise? | 45:04 | |
What did Christ mean by paradise? | 45:06 | |
Is paradise merely being with Christ? | 45:09 | |
Is it having fellowshipped with Christ | 45:13 | |
fellowship with Christians? | 45:16 | |
What is the real meaning of death? | 45:20 | |
Was Christ death as the disciples tended to believe | 45:25 | |
the end of Christ's kingdom? | 45:28 | |
Why did the one thief | 45:32 | |
and not the other ask Jesus to remember him? | 45:33 | |
Was this reaction of Dismas, the malefactor on the cross, | 45:38 | |
merely a form of so-called foxhole Christianity? | 45:42 | |
Is this reaction due to the fact | 45:48 | |
that he shared with Christ, this experience of dying? | 45:49 | |
This highly emotional experience. | 45:55 | |
Does this deathbed type of repentance | 45:59 | |
give emphasis to the fact | 46:01 | |
that it is never too late to repent? | 46:02 | |
And that in effect there is no reward for good living? | 46:06 | |
What then are some of the implications | 46:11 | |
of Christ's second word on the cross? | 46:13 | |
In the brief time for our meditation, | 46:17 | |
it would not be feasible to attempt to answer | 46:19 | |
these questions nor perhaps are the answers to some of them. | 46:23 | |
On the other hand, I should like to focus intention | 46:28 | |
on the significance of the act, | 46:31 | |
which Christ performed through this his second word. | 46:33 | |
An act of love, indeed an act of mercy. | 46:38 | |
An act which particularly emphasizes | 46:43 | |
the concept of Christianity, | 46:45 | |
which says we get to have not because we are good, | 46:47 | |
but because God is good. | 46:52 | |
During this second time, Christ speaks from the cross | 46:55 | |
several note where the elements are apparent | 46:59 | |
and significant. | 47:03 | |
Unrestrained mercy, to be able to show mercy | 47:05 | |
and love at the time of one's death | 47:09 | |
is indeed the mark of a true Christian. | 47:12 | |
There was an instance sometime ago, a potential air crash | 47:16 | |
where all aboard were expecting to die | 47:20 | |
in a plane that had apparently gone out of control, | 47:22 | |
and it was plummeting towards earth. | 47:25 | |
In the midst of this catastrophic event, | 47:28 | |
many people were caught in fear and panic. | 47:30 | |
However, one of the passengers moved among the others | 47:33 | |
and helped and comforted those who were most fearful. | 47:36 | |
At the last minute, the pilot was able to save the plane, | 47:41 | |
thereby enabling this act of mercy | 47:44 | |
to be recorded for posterity. | 47:46 | |
An act of mercy, which indeed exemplifies the Christian act, | 47:49 | |
which Christ presented to us on the cross. | 47:55 | |
Indeed, the quality of mercy is not strained. | 47:59 | |
The real Christian in emulating Christ | 48:04 | |
does not allow circumstances to dictate his acts of mercy. | 48:06 | |
Our caring for others results in the kind of concern | 48:11 | |
that has us say, Lord lay some soul upon my heart | 48:18 | |
and love that soul through me. | 48:23 | |
And may I bravely do my part to win that soul for thee. | 48:26 | |
The fact that Christ gave us this example of showing mercy, | 48:32 | |
even at the time of his own death, | 48:35 | |
reaffirms our faith in the power of his love | 48:37 | |
and provides for us the shining example | 48:41 | |
of true Christian mercy. | 48:43 | |
A type of mercy which is not dependent upon | 48:46 | |
or dictated by time, place, or circumstance. | 48:48 | |
In a sense, a freedom of mercy, | 48:52 | |
or if you will, a freedom to be merciful. | 48:55 | |
This kind of unselfish service | 49:00 | |
and concern for other knows no bounds. | 49:02 | |
It is inherent in our concern | 49:06 | |
for the social ills of today's society, | 49:08 | |
for the disease written, the underprivileged, | 49:11 | |
the poverty stricken, and the oppressed | 49:16 | |
throughout this country and throughout the world. | 49:18 | |
Far reaching changes in social and individual attitudes | 49:23 | |
have always attended pity. | 49:27 | |
Pity arouses sympathy and wakes our imagination. | 49:30 | |
There was pity at the foot of the cross, | 49:35 | |
and there was pity on the cross. | 49:38 | |
The cross began its saving mission | 49:41 | |
through pity and mercy shown to a dying thief. | 49:44 | |
Another significant element in Christ's second word | 49:50 | |
was that of immediate reaction and authority. | 49:52 | |
There was no red tape, | 49:58 | |
there were no forms to fill out, | 50:00 | |
there were no conferences to be held. | 50:02 | |
The thief asked a question | 50:05 | |
and Christ answered immediately and authoritatively. | 50:07 | |
Christ in his humility was willing to confront | 50:13 | |
and communicate with this man of ill repute. | 50:17 | |
He was not concerned whether this man was a fierce, | 50:20 | |
brutal individual who may have had nothing | 50:23 | |
but contempt for justice and righteousness. | 50:27 | |
Undoubtedly, this thief was moved | 50:30 | |
by the reaction of the crowd, | 50:33 | |
as well as the reaction in the words which Christ spoke. | 50:35 | |
Nevertheless, there must have been a definite relation | 50:38 | |
between the words of Christ, | 50:42 | |
and the transformation brought about in this outlaw's heart. | 50:44 | |
Robert Browning in "The Ring and the Book" | 50:49 | |
tells of a pitch dark night in Naples, | 50:53 | |
when the night's black was burst through by a blaze. | 50:56 | |
One flash of lightning reveal the surrounding mountains. | 51:00 | |
The city thick with spires, the sea white as a ghost | 51:04 | |
So says the poet, "Truth may be flashed out by one blow. | 51:08 | |
And in that instant, the despairing soul | 51:13 | |
may see and be saved." | 51:16 | |
Thus it was with the thief on the cross. | 51:19 | |
Who only a short time earlier, | 51:22 | |
had joined in the curses that were being heaped upon Christ. | 51:24 | |
In these brief moments on the cross, | 51:28 | |
the malefactor perhaps began to understand | 51:31 | |
even better than the disciples what Christ really meant. | 51:33 | |
Since he believed that Jesus did have a kingdom | 51:39 | |
beyond the grave. | 51:42 | |
The third element of concern in Christ second word | 51:45 | |
was that of true repentance. | 51:48 | |
It was a clear vision of the inner meaning | 51:51 | |
of Christ's cross that wrote within this criminal, | 51:53 | |
a broken and a contrite heart. | 51:58 | |
The realization that his own sin | 51:59 | |
was a part of the burden that Christ had to bear. | 52:01 | |
Thus, he becomes Jesus's defender. | 52:05 | |
As he speaks to his companion and crying, | 52:08 | |
"Dost not thou fear of God, seeing thou art | 52:11 | |
in the same condemnation?" | 52:14 | |
And we indeed justly, | 52:17 | |
for we receive the due reward of our deeds, | 52:19 | |
but this man hath done nothing amiss." | 52:22 | |
Here is the plain evidence of true repentance. | 52:25 | |
Whereas the other thief was only concerned | 52:28 | |
with escaping the penalty of his wrongdoing, | 52:31 | |
the penitent thief was aware of receiving | 52:34 | |
the due rewards of his deeds. | 52:36 | |
Indeed, he was in the process of being born again. | 52:39 | |
Speaking in Westminster Abbey, Dr. Ingram, | 52:44 | |
Bishop of London, gave emphasis to this truth | 52:47 | |
when he said the cross belongs to eternity | 52:50 | |
rather than to time. | 52:53 | |
And with awful significance | 52:55 | |
stretches with easy and terrible reach. | 52:57 | |
Not only to the last moment that you'll pass on earth, | 53:00 | |
but back to the earliest dawn | 53:04 | |
of the foundation of the world. | 53:06 | |
The apostle Paul perceived this truth | 53:09 | |
when in 2 Corinthians 5, he says, | 53:11 | |
"God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself." | 53:14 | |
This divine purpose was fully revealed | 53:20 | |
in the conversion of the penitent thief. | 53:22 | |
The fourth element of truth in these words of Christ | 53:26 | |
gives evidence of courage, confidence, | 53:28 | |
the type of unwavering faith, | 53:31 | |
which the true Christian has exhibited throughout the ages. | 53:33 | |
This is exemplified by the fact that | 53:38 | |
not only was the thief on the cross assured of forgiveness, | 53:40 | |
but he was promised reunion with the savior | 53:44 | |
on the other side of death. | 53:47 | |
This promise given with divine authority, | 53:49 | |
certainly must have altered the thief's feeling about death | 53:53 | |
inspired courage and confidence, | 53:56 | |
and finally quieted his fears. | 54:00 | |
Finally, the second words of Christ | 54:03 | |
provide us with an understanding | 54:07 | |
of the real Christian mission. | 54:09 | |
They started the mission of salvation. | 54:12 | |
As Christ returned to God, | 54:16 | |
he bore with him the soul of the penitent thief. | 54:18 | |
The first fruits of his mission to redeem the world. | 54:23 | |
The cross began its saving mission with a thief. | 54:27 | |
"Today thou shall be with me in paradise." | 54:33 | |
This final echo from the cross is our challenge | 54:38 | |
and our obligation. | 54:43 | |
Our challenge to take up our cross and follow him. | 54:45 | |
Our cross of sacrifice, our cross of giving of ourselves, | 54:49 | |
our cross of Christian mercy. | 54:55 | |
May we joined with the poet as he says, | 55:01 | |
"But drops of grief can never repay | 55:06 | |
the debt of love I owe." | 55:09 | |
Here Lord, I give myself away, which is all that I can do. | 55:12 | |
Let us pray. | 55:18 | |
Lord lead us to thee in paradise | 55:22 | |
through thy grace and mercy. | 55:25 | |
Enable us to emulate the example of thy love | 55:28 | |
that knows no bounds of time, place, or circumstance. | 55:30 | |
And open our minds and hearts | 55:35 | |
to accept this greatest of gifts, | 55:37 | |
which began with the thief on the cross, salvation. | 55:40 | |
Amen. | 55:46 | |
(uplifting music) | 55:50 | |
(congregation sings a hymn) | 56:18 | |
- | The Lord be with you. | 59:05 |
(congregation chants) | 59:08 | |
Let us pray. | 59:09 | |
Infinite and eternal spirit, | 59:15 | |
our God and father. | 59:18 | |
Author of all good and never far from any of thy children. | 59:20 | |
We draw near to thee that in fellowship with thee | 59:26 | |
we may receive of thy spirit. | 59:30 | |
May all the bonds of love and ties of friendship | 59:34 | |
be made stronger through him who in his mortal agony | 59:39 | |
was not unmindful that we need one another's love, | 59:43 | |
even the same Jesus Christ our Lord. | 59:47 | |
Oh eternal God, who alone makest men | 59:53 | |
to be of one mind in a house. | 59:57 | |
Help us, the members of this household, | 1:00:01 | |
faithfully to fulfill our duties to thee and to each other. | 1:00:04 | |
Put away from us unkind thoughts, anger, and evil speaking. | 1:00:09 | |
Give us hearts of compassion, | 1:00:17 | |
full of affection and sympathy toward all persons. | 1:00:20 | |
Grant us the grace to feel the sorrows | 1:00:26 | |
and trials of others as our own. | 1:00:28 | |
And to bear patiently with their and our imperfections. | 1:00:32 | |
Preserve us from selfishness, | 1:00:38 | |
and grant that living daily, we may walk in love | 1:00:41 | |
and grow up into the likeness of thy son, | 1:00:45 | |
Jesus Christ, our Lord. | 1:00:48 | |
Amen. | 1:00:51 | |
- | Our scripture is from the gospel | 1:01:08 |
according to John chapter 19 verses 25 through 27, | 1:01:10 | |
"But standing by the cross of Jesus, | 1:01:17 | |
where his mother and his mother's sister, | 1:01:19 | |
Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. | 1:01:23 | |
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple | 1:01:27 | |
whom he loved standing there, | 1:01:29 | |
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son." | 1:01:32 | |
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." | 1:01:37 | |
And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home. | 1:01:42 |
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