An Order For The Veneration Of The Cross Service

The following liturgy is based on the historical insights described in the last two articles. Adapt the service below to local usage and custom.

THE ENTRANCE The ministers, wearing black, enter into the sanctuary in silence and take their seats. All kneel or stand for silent prayer. Minister: Blessed be our God. People: Forever and ever. Amen. Minister: Let us pray. Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. THE SERVICE OF THE WORD The Readings The Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 52:13–53:12 or Genesis 22:1–18 The Responsorial Psalm: 22:1–11 (12–21) or 40:1–14 or 69:1–23 The Epistle: Hebrews 10:1–25 The Reading of the Passion Story Commentary: The Passion story may be read as it was on Palm Sunday or it may be sung. The Sermon Hymn: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" The Solemn Prayers of the People Commentary: The people stand. They are led in prayer with the following solemn collects. (Adapt these prayers to local use and custom.) Minister: Dear People of God: Our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved; that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death, and become heirs with him of everlasting life. We pray, therefore, for people everywhere according to their needs. Let us pray for the holy catholic church of Christ throughout the world; For its unity in witness and service, For all bishops and other ministers and the people whom they serve For , our bishop, and all the people of the diocese, For all Christians in this community, For those about to be baptized (particularly ) That God will confirm his church in faith, increase it in love, and preserve it in peace. (Silence) Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray for all nations and peoples of the earth, and for those in authority among them; For, the president of the United States, For the Congress and the Supreme Court, For the members and representatives of the United Nations, For all who serve the common good, That by God's help they may seek justice and truth, and live in peace and concord. (Silence) Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart, the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity your dominion may increase, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us pray for all who suffer and are afflicted in body or in mind; For the hungry and the homeless, the destitute and the oppressed, For the sick, the wounded, and the crippled, For those in loneliness, fear, and anguish, For those who face temptation, doubt, and despair, For the sorrowful and bereaved, For prisoners and captives, and those in mortal danger That God in his mercy will comfort and relieve them, and grant them the knowledge of his love, and stir up in us the will and patience to minister to their needs. (Silence) Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer: Let the cry of those in misery and need come to you, that they may find your mercy present with them in all their afflictions; and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us pray for all who have not received the gospel of Christ; For those who have never heard the word of salvation, For those who have lost their faith, For those hardened by sin or indifference, For the contemptuous and the scornful, For those who are enemies of the cross of Christ and persecutors of his disciples, For those who in the name of Christ have persecuted others, That God will open their hearts to the truth, and lead them to faith and obedience. (Silence) Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son, Jesus Christ; let your gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under on shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us commit ourselves to our God, and pray for the grace of a holy life, that, with all who have departed this world and have died in the peace of Christ, and those whose faith is known to God alone, we may be accounted worthy to enter into the fullness of the joy of our Lord, and receive the crown of life in the day of resurrection. (Silence) O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Commentary: This service may be concluded here with the singing of a hymn or anthem, and prayer. If the service continues with the Veneration of the Cross the following takes place: A person carrying a wood cross proceeds up the center aisle of the church, stopping three times during which the congregation says or sings Anthem 1, 2, and 3. Anthem 1 (The cross is carried one third of the aisle. The carrier stops and the following is said or sung) We glory in your cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection; for by virtue of your cross, joy has come to the whole world. May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance, and come to us. Let your ways be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. We glory in your cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection; for by virtue of your cross, joy has come to the whole world. Anthem 2 (The carrier of the cross proceeds to walk the second third of the aisle. The carrier stops and the following is said or sung) We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Anthem 3 (The carrier walks to the front of the sanctuary and places the large wooden cross in a place where all may see. Then the following is said or sung) O Savior of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us: Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Commentary: The people may now walk to the cross, touch it, embrace it, or kiss it. This action may be done in silence or to a hymn, such as "Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle" or some other hymn extolling the glory of the cross. The service may be concluded here with the Lord's Prayer and the final prayer below. Lord's Supper Commentary: If Holy Communion is to be administered from the reserved sacrament, the following order is observed: A Confession of Sin The Lord's Prayer The Communion Commentary: The service concludes with the following prayer. No blessing or dismissal is added. Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy church, peace and concord; and to us sinners, everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.