The seven (7) last words of Jesus from the Cross with accompanying readings, prayers, and hymnody (including The Reproaches) so beautifully led by the choir made this Good Friday Service a time of deep contemplation on my own waywardness and the Messiah’s deeper love and self-giving for me and indeed the entire world.

With me, as we meditate on the Cross of Christ at Calvary which is God’s love in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, may you be nurtured in your loving trust in the God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the words of the Exhortation with which the Good Friday Service begins:

Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said that he resolved to know nothing apart from Jesus Christ and him crucified. On this most solemn day our thoughts should also be focused on him who died that we might live, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Let us hear again his words from the Cross, words of forgiveness, salvation and compassion; of anguish, suffering, victory, of faith and hope. Let us hear again of God’s love for the world shown in the gift of his Son. Let us return again to Calvary.

I am grateful to the Dean of Hobart for making the Good Friday Order of Service available: Good Friday Order of Service  as is his Good Friday Sermon in MP3 audio on, “Thirsty”.   Further information at St David’s Cathedral.