Oremus for April 3, 2026

GOOD FRIDAY

Antiphon Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:21-24
(Setting by Stephen Dean: https://tinyurl.com/s7t5v4re)

Ant. Ours were the griefs he bore,
ours were the pains he carried,
Ours were the sins he took on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
V. Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example
that you should follow in his steps.
He committed no sin,
no guile was found on his lips.
When he was reviled,
he did not revile in return. Ant.
V. When he suffered, he did not threaten
but he trusted to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins
in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness. Ant.

Jesus Christ is our peace;
in his flesh he has broken down the dividing wall,
that is, the hostility between us.
He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances,
that he might create in himself one new humanity
in place of the two, thus making peace,
and might reconcile both groups to God
in one body through the cross,
thus putting to death that hostility through it.
So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near;
for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. ^{WS2; cf. Eph. 2:14-18}

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx

God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

HYMN: Bernard of Clairvaux; trans. Henry Williams Baker
Tune: Passion Chorale https://tinyurl.com/2kdmv5br

1 O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
so shamed and put to scorn!
Death’s pallid hue comes o’er thee,
the glow of life decays;
yet angel-hosts adore thee,
and tremble as they gaze.

2 Thy comeliness and vigour
is withered up and gone,
and in thy wasted figure
I see death drawing on.
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesu, all grace supplying,
turn thou thy face on me.

3 In this thy bitter passion,
good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

PSALMS

Psalm 69 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybbl2s4j)
1  Save me, O God *
 for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
2  I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is *
 I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
3  I am weary of crying; my throat is dry *
 my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God.
4  They that hate me without a cause
are more than the hairs of my head *
 they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.
5  I paid them the things that I never took *
 God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee.
6  Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts,
be ashamed for my cause *
 let not those that seek thee be confounded through me,
O Lord God of Israel.
7  And why? for thy sake have I suffered reproof *
 shame hath covered my face.
8  I am become a stranger unto my brethren *
 even an alien unto my mother’s children.
9  For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me *
 and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
10  I wept, and chastened myself with fasting *
 and that was turned to my reproof.
11  I put on sackcloth also *
 and they jested upon me.
12  They that sit in the gate speak against me *
 and the drunkards make songs upon me.
13  But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee *
 in an acceptable time.
14  Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy *
 even in the truth of thy salvation.
15  Take me out of the mire, that I sink not *
 O let me be delivered from them that hate me,
and out of the deep waters.
16  Let not the water-flood drown me,
neither let the deep swallow me up *
 and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
17  Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable *
 turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies.
18  And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble *
 O haste thee, and hear me.
19  Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it *
 O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
20  Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my dishonour *
 mine adversaries are all in thy sight.
21  Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness *
 I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man,
neither found I any to comfort me.
22  They gave me gall to eat *
 and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
23  Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal *
 and let the things that should have been for their wealth
be unto them an occasion of falling.
24  Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not *
 and ever bow thou down their backs.
25  Pour out thine indignation upon them *
 and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them.
26  Let their habitation be void *
 and no man to dwell in their tents.
27  For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten *
 and they talk how they may vex them whom thou hast wounded.
28  Let them fall from one wickedness to another *
 and not come into thy righteousness.
29  Let them be wiped out of the book of the living *
 and not be written among the righteous.
30  As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness *
 thy help, O God, shall lift me up.
31  I will praise the Name of God with a song *
 and magnify it with thanksgiving.
32  This also shall please the Lord *
 better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
33  The humble shall consider this, and be glad *
 seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.
34  For the Lord heareth the poor *
 and despiseth not his prisoners.
35  Let heaven and earth praise him *
 the sea, and all that moveth therein.
36  For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah *
 that men may dwell there, and have it in possession.
37  The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it *
 and they that love his Name shall dwell therein.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 88 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl4xkf)
1  O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee *
 O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear unto my calling.
2  For my soul is full of trouble *
 and my life draweth nigh unto hell.
3  I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit *
 and I have been even as a man that hath no strength.
4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave *
 who are out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand.
5  Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit *
 in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6  Thine indignation lieth hard upon me *
 and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms.
7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me *
 and made me to be abhorred of them.
8  I am so fast in prison *
 that I cannot get forth.
9  My sight faileth for very trouble *
 Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.
10  Dost thou shew wonders among the dead *
 or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee?
11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed in the grave *
 or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12  Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark *
 and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten?
13  Unto thee have I cried, O Lord *
 and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul *
 and hidest thou thy face from me?
15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die *
 even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me *
 and the fear of thee hath undone me.
17  They came round about me daily like water *
 and compassed me together on every side.
18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me *
 and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 69 (Plainsong Tone IV.4)

1 Save me, O God, * †
for the waters have come up even to my neck.
2 I sink down in the deep mire, where there is no ground; *
I have come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
3 I am weary of crying; my throat is dry; *
my sight fails me from waiting so long for my God.
4 Those who hate me without a cause are more
than the hairs of my head; *
those who are my enemies, and would
destroy me wrongfully, are mighty.
5 They bid me restore things I never took. *
O God, you know my foolishness,
and my faults are not hidden from you.
6 Let not those who trust in you, O Lord God of hosts,
be ashamed because of me; *
let not those who seek you be confounded through me,
O God of Israel.
7 Surely for your sake have I suffered reproach; *
shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brethren, *
unknown to my mother’s children,
9 Because zeal for your house has consumed me, *
and the reproaches of those who reproached you
have fallen upon me.
10 I wept, and humbled myself with fasting, *
but that was turned to my reproach.
11 I put on sackcloth also, *
and I became a byword among them.
12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me, *
and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But, Lord, I make my prayer to you *
in an acceptable time.
14 Hear me, O God, in the multitude of your mercy, *
even in the truth of your salvation.
15 Take me out of the mire, lest I sink; *
O let me be delivered from those who hate me,
and out of the deep waters.
16 Let not the floodwaters drown me,
neither let the deep swallow me up, *
and let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.
17 Hear me, O Lord, for your loving-kindness is good; *
turn to me according to the multitude of your mercies;
18 And hide not your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; *
O hasten and hear me.
19 Draw near to me and save me; *
O deliver me because of my enemies.
20 You have known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; *
my adversaries are all in your sight.
21 Reproach has broken my heart; I am full of heaviness; *
I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no one,
neither have I found any to comfort me.
22 They gave me gall to eat, *
and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
23 Let their table become a snare for them, *
and let their prosperity become a trap for them.
24 Let their eyes be blinded, that they may not see, *
and make their loins tremble continually.
25 Pour out your indignation upon them, *
and let your wrathful displeasure overtake them.
26 Let their habitation be desolate, *
and let no one dwell in their tents.
27 For they persecute him whom you have stricken, *
and they talk of the pain of those you have wounded.
28 Lay to their charge guilt upon guilt, *
and let them not receive your vindication.
29 Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, *
and not be written among the righteous.
30 As for me, when I am poor and in pain, *
your help, O God, shall lift me up.
31 I will praise the Name of God with a song, *
and magnify it with thanksgiving.
32 This also shall please the Lord *
more than an ox or a bullock that has horns and hooves.
33 The humble shall consider this and be glad; *
seek after God and your hearts shall live.
34 For the Lord hears the poor *
and does not despise his prisoners.
35 Let heaven and earth praise him, *
the sea, and all that moves therein.
36 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, *
that they may dwell there and have it in possession.
37 The posterity of his servants shall inherit it, *
and those who love his Name shall dwell therein.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 88 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)

1 O Lord God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before you; *
O let my prayer enter into your presence;
incline your ear to my call.
2 For my soul is full of trouble, *
and my life draws nigh to the Grave.
3 I am counted as one of those who go down into the pit, *
and I have become as one who has no strength.
4 I have become like the dead, and like the slain who lie in the grave, *
whom you remember no more,
and who are cut off from your hand.
5 You have laid me in the lowest pit, *
in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6 Your indignation lies heavy upon me, *
and you have overwhelmed me with all your storms.
7 You have put my friends far from me, *
and made me to be abhorred by them.
8 I am in prison; *
I cannot go forth.
9 My sight fails because of trouble; *
Lord, I have called daily upon you;
I have stretched forth my hands unto you.
10 Do you show wonders among the dead, *
or shall the dead rise up again and praise you?
11 Shall your loving-kindness be shown in the grave, *
or your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wondrous works be known in the dark, *
and your righteousness in the land where
all things are forgotten?
13 Unto you have I cried, O Lord, *
and early shall my prayer come before you.
14 Lord, why do you cast off my soul *
and hide your face from me?
15 I am in misery, like one who is at the point of death; *
even from my youth,
your terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16 Your wrathful displeasure goes over me, *
and the fear of you has undone me.
17 Daily they come round about me like water, *
and encompass me on every side.
18 My companions and neighbors you have put away from me, *
and hidden my friends out of my sight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

PRAYER

Assist us mercifully with your help,
O Lord God of our salvation,
that we may enter with joy
upon the contemplation of those mighty acts,
whereby you have given us life
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. ^WS2

THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Zechariah 13
On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more, and also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit. And if any prophets appear again, their fathers and mothers who bore them will say to them, “You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord,” and their fathers and their mothers who bore them shall pierce them through when they prophesy. On that day the prophets will be ashamed, every one, of their visions when they prophesy; they will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive, but each of them will say, “I am no prophet; I am a tiller of the soil, for the land has been my possession since my youth.” And if anyone asks them, “What are these wounds on your chest?” the answer will be “The wounds I received in the house of my friends.”

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is my associate,”
says the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land, says the Lord,
two-thirds shall be cut off and perish,
and one-third shall be left alive.
And I will put this third into the fire,
refine them as one refines silver,
and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

HYMN: Augustus Toplady
Tune: Petra (Redhead) https://tinyurl.com/2jw6remf

1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2 Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

READING: Colossians 1:18-23
He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a minister of this gospel.

HYMN: Frances Ridley Havergal
Tune: Lawes Psalm 47 https://tinyurl.com/2mp4dd7h

1 I bring my sins to thee,
The sins I cannot count,
That I may cleansed be
In thy once opened fount.
I bring them, Saviour, all to thee;
The burden is too great for me.

2 My heart to thee I bring,
The heart I cannot read;
A faithless, wandering thing,
An evil heart indeed.
I bring it, Saviour, now to thee
That fixed and faithful it may be.

3 To thee I bring my care,
The care I cannot flee;
Thou wilt not only share,
But bear it all for me.
O loving Saviour, now to thee
I bring the load that wearies me.

4 I bring my grief to thee,
The grief I cannot tell;
No words shall needed be,
Thou knowest all so well.
I bring the sorrow laid on me,
O suffering Saviour, now to thee.

5 My joys to thee I bring,
The joys thy love has given,
That each may be a wing
To lift me nearer Heaven.
I bring them, Saviour, all to thee;
For thou hast purchased all for me.

6 My life I bring to thee,
I would not be my own;
O Saviour, let me be
Thine ever, thine alone.
My heart, my life, my all I bring
To thee, my Saviour and my King.

READING: John 19:16-30
Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. 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, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 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, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” 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, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” 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), “I am thirsty.” 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, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

CANTICLE 1 Peter 2:21-24; Isaiah 53:4-5
Setting by Stephen Dean https://tinyurl.com/69mp52v9

Refrain:
Ours were the griefs he bore,
ours were the pains he carried.
Ours were the sins he took on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

1. Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example
that you should follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, no guile was on his lips.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. [Refrain]

2. When he suffered, he did not threaten
but he trusted to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. [Refrain]

PRAYER ^WS2

Giver of life, we wait with you to offer the hope
that comes from the cross to earth’s darkest places.
Where pain is deep and affection is denied:
let love break through.
Where justice is destroyed,
let sensitivity to right spring up.
Where hope is crucified,
let faith persist.
Where peace has no chance,
let passion live on.
Where truth is trampled underfoot,
let the struggle continue.
Where fear paralyzes,
let forgiveness break through.
Eternal God, reach into the silent darkness of our souls
with the radiance of the cross.
O you who are the bearer of all pain,
have mercy on us.
Giver of life,
have mercy on us.
Merciful God,
have mercy on us. Amen.

Setting by Eric Wyse:²

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

We thank you, heavenly Father,
that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son;
and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys;
who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. ^WS2

Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^WS2 The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd edition, © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources

The main scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662).  The contemporary versions of the psalms are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. 

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2026 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.