Good Friday: Where Your Treasure Is: At the Place of the Skull

Friday, April 3, 2026
7:00 PM 8:00 PM 19:00 20:00

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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In the most solemn service of our Church year, we will gather at the cross to remember the last hours of Jesus’s life. We will do so by hearing the story as told by the Gospel According to Matthew, in a Tenebrae service. The Tenebrae is the Service of Deepening Shadows. After each reading, a candle will be extinguished, and the sanctuary will grow darker. As with Maundy Thursday, we will leave in silence.

Please join us on this holy night to remember the incredible gift of God’s love poured out for us. You can join us in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street in Endicott, NY. Or, you can join us online by clicking on the livestream, right here, at 7:00 PM. All are invited. All are welcome.

Good Friday

Tenebrae: The Service of Lengthening Shadows

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the Gospel According to Matthew

April 3, 2026

Union Presbyterian Church, Endicott, NY

Prelude

“Lenten Reflection,” Lani Smith

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship Rev. Pat Raube 

Blessed be the name of the Lord our God,

who redeems us from sin and death.

For us and for our salvation,

Christ became obedient unto death,

even death on a cross.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

* Hymn #223

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

(Public Domain)

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Prayer of the Day Rev. Pat Raube 

Beloved people of God: 

This is the day when Christ, our Passover Lamb, 

surrendered himself to those who would kill him, 

setting us free from sin and death forever.  

Let us pray:

Almighty God,

look with mercy on your family

for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed

and to be given over to the hands of sinners

and to suffer death on the cross;

who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Psalm 22:1-11

A reading from the Psalter, Psalm 22, beginning at verse 1.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from my deliverance, from the words of my groaning?

My God, I cry by day, and you do not answer;

and by night, and there I find no rest for me.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In you our mothers and fathers trusted;

they trusted, and you rescued them.

To you they cried, and were freed;

in you they trusted, and they were not put to shame.

But I am a worm, and not human;

scorned by humankind, and despised by people.

All who see me mock me;

they flap their lips at me, they shake their heads:

“Commit yourself to the Saving One; let God rescue

and deliver the one in whom God delights!”

Yet it was you who drew me from the womb;

keeping me safe on my mother’s breast.

On you was I cast from birth,

and since my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.

Tenebrae

First Lesson Xavier Rivera

The Agony in the Garden Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again, he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

Candle one is extinguished.

Silence

Hymn # 204

“Stay With Me,” Jacques Berthier

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Stay with me, remain here with me;

Watch and pray. Watch and pray.

Second Lesson Barbara Gannon

The Arrest Matthew 26:47-56

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Candle two is extinguished.

Silence

Third Lesson Ryan DeLap

Jesus Before Pilate Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Candle three is extinguished.

Silence

Fourth Lesson Judy Marsh

Jesus is Handed Over to be Crucified Matthew 27:15-24; 26

Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.

Candle four is extinguished.

Silence

Hymn #210

“Lord, Why Have You Forsaken Me,” Christopher L. Webber

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Lord, why have you forsaken me,

And why are you so far away

From my complaint and my distress

Poured out before you night and day?

Yet you are holy, and the songs

Of praise of Israel are your throne;

When our ancestors called on you,

You saved them, rescued all your own.

But I am mocked and put to scorn.

All those who see me laugh and say,

“You trust in God, so let us see

The help of God to whom you pray.”

Yet you, O Lord, have been my God

And only hope since I was born.

With trouble near me, none can help.

My Savior, leave me not forlorn.

Fifth Lesson Doug Moore

Jesus is Mocked Matthew 27:27-31

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Candle five is extinguished.

Silence

Sixth Lesson Kevin Kelley

Jesus is Crucified Matthew 27:32-44

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

Candle six is extinguished

Silence

Seventh Lesson Rev. Pat Raube

Jesus Dies on the Cross Matthew 27:45-55

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Candle seven is extinguished.

Silence

Hymn #228

“Were You There,” Melva W. Costen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
O! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

The Solemn Intercessions

Dear people of God,

God sent Jesus 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 eternal life.

Silence

Let us pray for the one holy universal

and apostolic church of Christ throughout the world:

for its unity in witness and service,

for all church leaders and ministers

and the people whom they serve,

for all the people of this presbytery,

for all Christians in this community,

for those about to be baptized,

that God will confirm the church in faith,

increase it in love,

and preserve it in peace.

Silence

Eternal God,

by your Spirit the whole body of your faithful people

is governed and sanctified.

Receive our prayers

which we offer before you

for all members of your holy church,

that in our vocation and ministry

we may truly and devoutly serve you;

through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Holy God,

Holy and mighty

Holy eternal One have mercy upon us.

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,

and the Congress and 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 justice and peace may increase,

until the earth is filled

with the knowledge of your love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holy God,

Holy and mighty

Holy eternal One have mercy upon us.

Let us pray for all who suffer

and are afflicted in body or in mind:

for the hungry and homeless,

the destitute and the oppressed,

and all who suffer persecution, doubt, and despair,

for the sorrowful and bereaved,

for prisoners and captives

and those in mortal danger,

that God will comfort and relieve them,

and grant them the knowledge of God’s 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,

hear the cry of those in misery and need.

In their afflictions show them your mercy,

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.

Holy God,

Holy and mighty

Holy eternal One have mercy upon us.

Let us pray for all who have not received the gospel of Christ:

for all who have not heard the words of salvation,

for all who have lost their faith,

for all whose sin has made them indifferent to Christ,

for all who actively oppose Christ by word or deed,

for all who are enemies of the cross of Christ,

and persecutors of his disciples,

for all 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 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 one shepherd,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holy God,

Holy and mighty

Holy eternal One have mercy upon us.

Let us commit ourselves to God,

and pray for the grace of a holy life,

that with all who have departed this life

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

Eternal God of unchanging power and light,

look with mercy on your whole church.

Bring to completion your saving work,

so that the whole world may see

the fallen lifted up,

the old made new,

and all things brought to perfection

by him through whom all things were made,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Holy God,

Holy and mighty

Holy eternal One have mercy upon us.

Tolling of the Bell

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Depart in silence.

Psalm 22: Translation the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A”

Gospel According to Matthew: Translation NRSVUE

Worship With Us

Good Friday: Where Your Treasure Is: At the Place of the Skull