The Gospel lessons on Palm Sunday and Good Friday may be a different length than given here.

Scripture passages, unless otherwise noted, are from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (March 28, 2021)

The Liturgy of the Palms

Mark 11:1-11a (NRSV)

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (BCP)

Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *
Lord, send us now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28 “You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Psalm 31:9-16 (BCP)

Miserere mei, Domine

9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, “You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.”

Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 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 to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mark 14:1—15:47 (NRSV)

Narrator	It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said,
C. Priest	Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.
Narrator	While Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger,
Bystander 1	Why was the ointment wasted in this way?
Bystander 2	For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.
Narrator	And they scolded her. But Jesus said,
Jesus	Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.
Narrator	Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus. On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him,
Disciple	Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?
Narrator	So Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
Jesus	Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.
Narrator	So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said,
Jesus	Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.
Narrator	They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another,
Disciple	Surely, not I?
Narrator	Jesus said to them,
Jesus	It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.
Narrator	While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said,
Jesus	Take; this is my body.
Narrator	Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them,
Jesus	This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Narrator	When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them,
Jesus	You will all become deserters; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.
Narrator	Peter said to him,
Peter	Even though all become deserters, I will not.
Narrator	Jesus said to him,
Jesus	Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.
Narrator	But Peter said vehemently,
Peter	Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.
Narrator	And all of the disciples said the same. They went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to his disciples,
Jesus	Sit here while I pray.
Narrator	Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to the three disciples,
Jesus	I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.
Narrator	And going a little farther, Jesus threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said,
Jesus	Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.
Narrator	Jesus came and found the disciples sleeping; and he said to Peter,
Jesus	Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Narrator	And again Jesus went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found the disciples sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. Jesus came a third time and said to them,
Jesus	Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.
Narrator	Immediately, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given the crowd a sign, saying,
Judas	The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.
Narrator	So when Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once and said,
Judas	Rabbi!
Narrator	and kissed him. Then the crowd laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them,
Jesus	Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.
Narrator	All of Jesus’ followers deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following Jesus, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. The crowd caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked. They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed Jesus at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against Jesus, saying,
Witness	We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.”
Narrator	But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,
H. Priest	Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?
Narrator	But Jesus was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,
H. Priest	Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?
Narrator	Jesus said,
Jesus	I am; and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,” and “coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Narrator	Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
H. Priest	Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?
Narrator	The whole council condemned Jesus as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
Council	Prophesy!
Narrator	The guards also took Jesus over and beat him. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said,
Servant	You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.
Narrator	But Peter denied it, saying,
Peter	I do not know or understand what you are talking about.
Narrator	And Peter went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,
Servant	This man is one of them.
Narrator	But again Peter denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter,
Bystander 1	Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.
Narrator	But Peter began to curse, and he swore an oath,
Peter	I do not know this man you are talking about.
Narrator	At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him,
Jesus	Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.
Narrator	And Peter broke down and wept. [Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)] As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,
Pilate	Are you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	Jesus answered him,
Jesus	You say so.
Narrator	Then the chief priests accused Jesus of many things. Pilate asked him again,
Pilate	Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.
Narrator	But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Now at the festival Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then Pilate answered them,
Pilate	Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again,
Pilate	Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?
Narrator	The crowd shouted back,
Crowd	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate asked them,
Pilate	Why, what evil has he done?
Narrator	But they shouted all the more,
Crowd	Crucify him!
Narrator	So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, Pilate handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed Jesus in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him saying,
Soldier	Hail, King of the Jews!
Narrator	They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. The soldiers compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry Jesus’ cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then the soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). ¶ All stand. And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And the soldiers crucified Jesus, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Jesus. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews,” And with Jesus they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided Jesus, shaking their heads and saying,
Passer-by	Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!
Narrator	In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking Jesus among themselves and saying,
C. Priest	He saved others; he cannot save himself.
Scribe	Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.
Narrator	Those who were crucified with Jesus also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
Jesus	Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
Narrator	which means,
Jesus	My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Narrator	When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
Bystander 1	Listen, he is calling for Elijah.
Narrator	And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to Jesus to drink, saying,
Bystander 2	Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.
Narrator	Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. ¶ Silence may be kept. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way Jesus breathed his last, he said,
Centurion	Truly this man was God’s Son!
Narrator	There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow Jesus and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if Jesus were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Jesus had been dead for some time. When Pilate learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Joseph then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Maundy Thursday (April 1, 2021)

Exodus 12:1-4(5-10)11-14 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it.

[Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.]

This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Psalm 116:1, 10-17 (BCP)

Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the Lord *
for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the Lord’s house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
[Hallelujah!]

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (NRSV)

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Good Friday (April 2, 2021)

Isaiah 52:13—53:12 (NRSV)

See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals—so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 22 (BCP)

Deus, Deus meu

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried out to you and were delivered; *
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.
7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
and there is none to help.
12 Many young bulls encircle me; *
strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13 They open wide their jaws at me, *
like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; *
my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16 Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
17 They stare and gloat over me; *
they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
18 Be not far away, O Lord; *
you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19 Save me from the sword, *
my life from the power of the dog.
20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; *
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *
stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; *
but when they cry to him he hears them.
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
“May your heart live for ever!”
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; *
they shall be known as the Lord’s for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done.

Hebrews 10:16-25 (NRSV)

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 18:1—19:42 (NRSV)

Narrator	Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them,
Jesus	Whom are you looking for?
Narrator	They answered,
Soldier	Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator	Jesus replied,
Jesus	I am he.
Narrator	Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again Jesus asked them,
Jesus	Whom are you looking for?
Narrator	And they said,
Soldier	Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.
Narrator	This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken,
Jesus	I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.
Narrator	Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
Jesus	Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?
Narrator	So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter,
Guard	You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?
Narrator	Peter said,
Peter	I am not.
Narrator	Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,
Jesus	I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.
Narrator	When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,
Police	Is that how you answer the high priest?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?
Narrator	Then Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Those who were standing near the fire asked him,
Guard	You are not also one of Jesus’ disciples, are you?
Narrator	Peter denied it and said,
Peter	I am not.
Narrator	One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked,
Slave	Did I not see you in the garden with Jesus?
Narrator	Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said,
Pilate	What accusation do you bring against this man?
Narrator	They answered,
Elder 1	If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.
Narrator	Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.
Narrator	The Jews replied,
Elder 2	We are not permitted to put anyone to death.
Narrator	(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
Pilate	Are you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?
Narrator	Pilate replied,
Pilate	I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.
Narrator	Pilate asked him,
Pilate	So you are a king?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.
Narrator	Pilate asked him,
Pilate	What is truth?
Narrator	After Pilate had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
Pilate	I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	They shouted in reply,
Priest	Not this man, but Barabbas!
Narrator	Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,
Soldier	Hail, King of the Jews!
Narrator	and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to the Jews,
Pilate	Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.
Narrator	So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Here is the man!
Narrator	When the chief priests and the police saw Jesus, they shouted,
Priest	Crucify him!
Police	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.
Narrator	The Jews answered him,
Police	We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die
Priest	because he has claimed to be the Son of God.
Narrator	Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,
Pilate	Where are you from?
Narrator	But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,
Pilate	Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?
Narrator	Jesus answered him,
Jesus	You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.
Narrator	From then on Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out,
Priest	If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor.
Police	Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.
Narrator	When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews,
Pilate	Here is your King!
Narrator	They cried out,
Priest	Away with him!
Police	Away with him!
Priest	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate asked them,
Pilate	Shall I crucify your King?
Narrator	The chief priests answered,
Priest	We have no king but the emperor.
Narrator	Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. ¶ All stand. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
Priest	Do not write, “The King of the Jews,” but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.”
Narrator	Pilate answered,
Pilate	What I have written I have written.
Narrator	When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another,
Soldier	Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.
Narrator	This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,
Jesus	Woman, here is your son.
Narrator	Then he said to the disciple,
Jesus	Here is your mother.
Narrator	And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture),
Jesus	I am thirsty.
Narrator	A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said,
Jesus	It is finished.
Narrator	Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ¶ Silence may be kept.Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Church of the Redeemer

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.