Choral Services
The Three Hours Devotion
Friday April 22, 2011
12:00 pm - Saint Thomas Church
Over the years, we've had many guest preachers meditate on the seven last words of Christ at the Three Hours Devotion. Among them:
Jesus' Seven Last Words from the Cross (2012) by The Right Rev'd Dr Robert Gillies, Bishop of Aberdeen
Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2011) by Canon Andrew Diestche
Meditation on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2010) by The Very Reverend Joseph Britton
Seven Addresses on the Last Words of Our Lord from the Cross (2007) by Fr Andrew
Among some of the sermons preached at the 5:30pm Good Friday Liturgy are these:
The Blood is on Our Hands (2012) by Fr Spurlock
Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Rubbish (2011) by Fr Spurlock
I Thirst (2010) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Good Friday (2009) by Fr Stafford
A Sermon for Good Friday (2008) by Fr Mead
Collect:
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Above: The altar is completely bare on Good Friday. You will never see Saint Thomas as unadorned as it appears on this day.
Meditations on the Last Seven Words of Christ
The Three Hours Devotion is one of the best opportunities you will find to put yourself in a contemplative state of mind, one which is open to experiencing the mystery of God incarnate sacrificed for those he created and loves.
The service involves a series of meditations on the last seven words of Christ spoken from the cross. Between each mediation, there are prayers, hymns and long periods of silence.
The last seven words are:
Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Saint Luke 23:34
Today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
Saint Luke 23:43
Woman, behold thy son!...
Saint John 19:25-27
My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?
Saint Matthew 27:46
I thirst.
Saint John 19:28
It is finished.
Saint John 19:30
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
Saint Luke 23:46
While we encourage you to come for the entire three hours if you are able, we understand that many worshippers can be here only for shorter periods of time. Even if you are able to be with us for only a half hour or an hour, please do come. We ask, however, if you must leave early, that you please leave during the singing of a hymn so that you do not disrupt the periods of silence, during which many worshippers pray and meditate in their pews.
The service ends at 3pm, the traditional time we commemorate the death of Christ, at which time the bell tolls 33 times.
| Preacher: | Canon Andrew Dietsche |
| Officiant: | Fr Mead |
| Sung by: | The Gentlemen of The Choir |