FRIDAY MORNING
The Passion of Jesus

OPENING RESPONSES

O Lord, open my lips.
 And my mouth shall declare your praise.

Zion lifted her hands in prayer,
but there was no one to comfort her.

The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
so let us pray with one heart and mind:

All may bow.

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

CHANT

Jesu Christe, miserere
Mmm, mmm, mmm.

SCRIPTURE READING(S)

Silent reflection.

Either this Morning Canticle or the Benedictus  is said or sung:

CANTICLE OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

Jesus, saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy:
 we look to you to save and help us.
By your cross and your life laid down you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
When they were ready to perish you saved your disciples:
 we look to you to come to our help.
In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains:
forgive the sins of your people.
Make yourself known as our saviour and mighty deliverer:
 save and help us that we may praise you.
Come now and dwell with us, Lord Jesus Christ:
  hear our prayer and be with us always.
And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you and to share the life of your reign.

The Psalms, Readings and Canticles conclude with the Gloria Patri:

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

PRAYERS

All may kneel.

Lord, have mercy
 Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer  may be said or sung.

O Christ the master carpenter,
who at the last, through wood and nails,
accomplished our whole salvation,
wield well your tools in the workshop of your world,
so that we who come rough-hewn to your bench
may be fashioned to a truer beauty by your hand.
Amen.

Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession may be offered.

The prayers are concluded with the Morning Collect.

BLESSING

God make safe to us each steep,
God make open to us each pass,
God make clear to us each road,
and may God take us in the grasp of his own two hands.

Let us bless the Lord:
God's name be praised.

OPENING RESPONSES

O God, make speed to save us.
 O Lord, make haste to help us.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

The day is now past and the night is at hand;
so let us pray with one heart and mind:

All may bow.

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

CHANT

Within our darkest night
You kindle a fire that never dies away,
never dies away
Within our darkest night
You kindle a fire that never dies away,
never dies away.

SCRIPTURE READING(S)

Silent reflection.

Either this Evening Canticle or the Magnificat  may be said or sung:

CANTICLE OF CHRIST THE SLAVE

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
 did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
 being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him
 and bestowed on him the name above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
 in heaven and earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess to the glory of God:
 Jesus Christ is Lord!

The Psalms, Readings and Canticles conclude with the Gloria Patri:

Glory be to God - Maker, Christ and Holy Spirit -
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever,
world without end.  Amen.

PRAYERS

All may kneel.

Lord, have mercy
 Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.

The Lord's Prayer  is said or sung.

Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession may be offered.

The prayers are concluded with this Evening Collect :

Saviour of the world,
though easier paths beckoned
and friends pleaded that you stay with them,
you turned your face towards Jerusalem,
determined to endure the cross and wear its shame.
Take us with you, Lord,
and show us how, in the mystery of your sufferings,
evil is vanquished and the world made new.
Amen.

BLESSING

God go before, to show us the way ;
God shine above, to enlighten the world;
God lie beneath, to bear us up;
God go beside, companion and friend.