In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ suffering and death is marked by three hours of the day: “at nine o’clock in the morning they crucified him” (Mk. 15:25),
“when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land” (Mk. 15:33), and “at three o’clock in the afternoon Jesus cried in a loud voice, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me? and breathed his last” (Mk. 15:34).
This Good Friday, at 9 am, noon and 3 pm you are invited to take a few minutes, wherever you are, and join together in prayer; remembering the death of Christ and praying for all who suffer.
Our 9 am prayer, adapted from Rex Hunt:
This day we pause to remember Jesus. A man of extraordinary religious insight. An innocent man who died a cruel death. On this day we look at the cross, and we remember… the betrayal of friendship and its consequences, the casual cruelty of state authority, and how unreliable others proved to be in a crisis. On this day may we also remember that religious bigotry, cruelty and unreliability are still a part of our everyday lives. On this day we remember that the innocent still suffer at the hands of the powerful; that the cries of the weak go unheard. On this day, then, may we learn some new precepts for living…do not close your heart before suffering; do not maintain anger, hatred or vengeance; do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest, do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature, do not put your own interests before the interests of other. On this day we remember and may we learn a new way.
Our noon prayer, by Anonymous:
Lord, When I am hungry, give me someone who needs food; When I am hurting, send me someone to console; When I am poor, lead someone needy to me; When I have no time, give me someone to help for a moment; When I am humiliated, give me someone to praise; When I am discouraged, send me someone to encourage; When I need another’s understanding, give me someone who needs mine;
When I need someone to take care of me, send me someone to care for. When I think of myself, turn my thoughts to another. Amen.
Our 3 pm prayer, by Nancy Wood:
You shall ask what good are dead leaves?
And I will tell you
They nourish the sore earth.
You shall ask why the leaves are so green
And I will tell you
Because they are rich with life
You shall ask why must summer end
And I shall tell you
So that the leaves can die.
We invite you to come worship with us! First Presbyterian Church of St. Louis is a multi-generational, multi-cultural, social justice-seeking church with a big heart. Our approximately 100 members reside in more than 19 different zip codes across the St. Louis area, but we are drawn together by common interests and values. Far from formal and austere, as our building would first have you believe, this vibrant, faithful congregation thrives with love for one another and for God.
