KNOX

United Church of Canada’s Pioneer Pastoral Charge of Alsask, Saskatchewan, Cereal & Oyen, Alberta & Knox United Church, Consort, Alberta, Canada

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GOOD FRIDAY 3 APRIL 2026: Knox United Church, Consort, Alberta – 7pm

Order of Worship to the Glory of God

Prelude/Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship (responsive reading): John 12:20-26 – Some Greeks Seek Jesus

Liturgist: Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. They went to Philip and said, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

Congregation: Philip went and told Andrew, and the two of them went and told Jesus. 

L: Jesus answered them, “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory. I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground & dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains.” 

C: Jesus also said: “Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal.”

ALL: Jesus concluded saying: “Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. My Father will honour anyone who serves me.”

Lighting the Christ Candle (responsive): John 12:27-36 – The Son of Man Must be Lifted Up

Liturgist: “Now my heart is troubled - and what shall I say? Shall I say, ‘Father, do not let this hour come upon me’? But that is why I came—so that I might go through this hour of suffering.  Father, bring glory to your name!”

Congregation: Then a voice spoke from heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.”

L: The crowd standing there heard the voice, and some of them said it was thunder, while others said, “An angel spoke to Him!”

C: Jesus said to them, “It was not for my sake that this voice spoke, but for yours. Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” 

L: In saying this Jesus indicated the kind of death he was going to suffer.

C: The crowd answered, “Our Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever. How, then, can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

L: Jesus answered, “The light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light.”

(The Christ Candle is Lit)

L: Jesus is the light of the world!

ALL: Hallelujah – yes, Jesus is the Light of the World!

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Hymn VU# 336                       “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies”

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Scripture: John 12:37-50: After Jesus spoke, He went & hid himself. Even though Jesus had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in Him, so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true: “Lord, who believed the message we told? To whom did the Lord reveal His power?” They were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said, “God has blinded their eyes & closed their minds, so that their eyes would not see & their minds would not understand & they would not turn to me, says God, for me to heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory & spoke about Him. Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. They loved human approval rather than the approval of God. Jesus said in a loud voice, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in Him who sent me.  Whoever sees me sees also Him who sent me.  I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. If people hear my message & do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day! This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. I know that His command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say.”

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Prayer of Confession (pray in unison): Grant, Almighty God, that as we are scattered on account of our sins and are torn by mutual discords that we may live in peace and harmony, hoping in your promises, so that we may not doubt you are our deliverer. May we patiently bear to be afflicted and cast down by you that we may ever raise up our groans to heaven to be heard through the name of your Son. May we be freed from every trial so that we can enjoy the blessed rest laid up for us in heaven, now here on earth. Forgive us our sins and sustain your Church that we may boldly face your enemies who seem intent to obliterate your gospel. Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon

Scripture Reader: Mary Readman - Scripture: Jn 14:1-21 – I Am the Way & the Truth & the Life

“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?” Jesus answered Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. Now that you have known me you will know my Father also… if you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Holy Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive Him, because it cannot see Him or know Him. But you know Him, because He remains with you and is in you. When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you.  In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”

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Prayer of Adoration (pray in unison)

We praise you O God for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ. May we follow Jesus in the way of the cross, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Humbly we pray, dying and rising with Jesus may we enter your Kingdom through Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, amen.

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Scripture Reader: Charles Gould - Scripture: John 16:16-33 – Your Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

Jesus said to His disciples, “In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me.”  Some of his disciples asked among themselves, “What does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see Him, and then a little while later we will see Him; and He also says, ‘It is because I am going to the Father.’ What does this ‘a little while’ mean? We don't know what He is talking about!” Jesus knew that they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me & then a little while later you will see me.’ Is this what you are asking about among yourselves? I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness. When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world. That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you. When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete. I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father. When that day comes, you will ask Him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask Him on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God. I did come from the Father, and I came into the world; and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” Then Jesu disciples said to Him, “Now you are speaking plainly, without using figures of speech. We know now that you know everything; you do not need to have someone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”

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Hymn VU #135                       “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”

Scripture Reader: Nonavee Kary -  Scripture: John 18:28-40 – Jesus Before Pilate

Early in the morning Jesus was taken from Caiaphas' house to the governor's palace. Jewish authorities did not go inside the palace, for they wanted to keep themselves ritually clean, in order to be able to eat the Passover meal. Pilate went outside to them & asked, “What do you accuse Jesus of?” Their answer was, “We would not have brought Him to you if He had not committed a crime.” Pilate said to them, “Then you yourselves take Him and try Him according to your own law.” They replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.” Pilate went back into the palace & called Jesus. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked Him. Jesus answered, “Does this question come from you or have others told you about me?” Pilate replied, “Do you think I am a Jew? It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my kingdom does not belong here!” So, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, “I cannot find any reason to condemn Him. But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?” They answered Pilate with a shout, “No, not Jesus! We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a bandit.)

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Hymn VU #149                       “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

Scripture Reader: Elaine Devine - Scripture: John 19:1-16 – Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him whipped. The soldiers made a crown out of thorny branches and put it on Jesus head; then they put a purple robe on Him and came to Him and said, “Long live the King of the Jews!” They went up and slapped Jesus. Pilate went back out once more and said to the crowd, “Look, I will bring Jesus out here to you to let you see that I cannot find any reason to condemn Him.” Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the Temple guards saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him, then, and crucify Him. I find no reason to condemn Him.” The crowd answered back, “We have a law that says He ought to die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. He went back into the palace and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus did not answer. Pilate said to Him, “You will not speak to me? Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified.” Jesus answered, “You have authority over me only because it was given to you by God...” When Pilate heard this, he tried to find a way to set Jesus free. But the crowd shouted back, “If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor's friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against the Emperor!” When Pilate heard these words, he took Jesus outside and sat down on the judge's seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement.” (In Hebrew the name is “Gabbatha.”) It was then almost noon of the day before the Passover. Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!” They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “The only king we have is the Emperor!” Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

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Prayer of Grief and Love VU# 140 (pray in unison)

Crucified Saviour, Naked God, you hang disgraced and powerless. Grieving, we dare to hope, as we wait at the cross with your mother and your friend.

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Scripture Reader: TaiLi Rhoad - Scripture: John 19:17-30 – The Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus went out, carrying His cross, and came to “The Place of the Skull,” as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called “Golgotha.”) There they crucified Him; and they also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them. Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross. “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” is what he wrote. Many people read it, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The chief priests said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am the King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written stays written.” After the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier. They also took the robe, which was made of one piece of woven cloth without any seams in it. The soldiers said to one another, “Let's not tear it; let's throw dice to see who will get it.” This happened in order to make the scripture come true: “They divided my clothes among themselves and gambled for my robe.” And this is what the soldiers did. Standing close to Jesus' cross were His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there and Jesus said to His mother, “He is your son.” Then Jesus said to the disciple, “She is your mother.” From that time the disciple took her to live in his home. Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to His lips. Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!”

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Special Music from the Fawcett’s

Hebrews 10:1-14 – Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

The law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Jesus Christ came into the world, He said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” When He said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then He added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Jesus Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

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Message: “The Fulfillment of God’s Will”

Profession of Faith Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven & earth & in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead & buried; He descended into hell; the 3rd day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven & sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick & the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body & the life everlasting. Amen.

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Lords’ Prayer (pray in unison)

Oh God, we praise you & give thanks for the gift of life only you can provide. You are the Creator of all. It is in you & you alone - forever may we sing in our hearts & in our actions - all glory & honour are yours, now & forever.  Hear us as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us as your disciples: 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 & forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom & the power & the glory, forever. Amen.

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Hymn VU #151                       “Lift High the Cross”

Extinguishing the Light from the Christ Candle

Departing from the Sanctuary in Silence:             Jesus is the crucified…

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The story will be continued on Sunday – Easter 5 April 2026 – 11am!

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EASTER MESSAGE: 5 APRIL 2026 – KNOX CONSORT

ORDER OF WORSHIP TO THE GLORY OF GOD

Prelude

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle

 

Hymn VU #409                    “Morning Has Broken”

 

Call to Worship (Isaiah 12 ESV)

Minister: You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. "

Congregation: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation."

M: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

C: And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted.

M: Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

ALL: Shout, and sing for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One.

 

Prayer of Approach

 

Hymn #464   Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

 

Call to Confession (Psalm 30:8-12 ESV)

To you, O LORD, I cry & to the Lord I plead for mercy: "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD & be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!" You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth & clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise & not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Prayer of Confession (pray in unison)

Mighty God: by your power is Jesus Christ raised from death to rule this world with love. I confess that I have not always believed in Him, but fall into doubt and fear. Gladness has no home in my heart, and gratitude is slight. Forgive my dread of dying, my hopelessness, and set me free to live for joy in the victory of Jesus Christ , who was dead but lives, and will put down every power to hurt or destroy, when your promised Kingdom comes.

Assurance of Pardon

Gloria Patri: “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, Amen.

           

Sharing the Peace and Love of Jesus Christ

 

Special Music from the Fawcett’s

 

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark & saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So Mary ran & went to Simon Peter & the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved & said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb & we do not know where they have laid him." So, Peter went out with the other disciple & they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter & reached the tomb first. Stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him & went into the tomb. Peter saw the linen cloths lying there & the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in & he saw & believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

 

Hymn #306   Fairest Lord Jesus

 

Sermon: “I Do Not Understand… But I Believe”

 

Affirmation of Faith: UCC – Song of Faith (2006) – excerpt

Jesus announced the coming of God’s reign - a commonwealth not of domination but of peace, justice & reconciliation. Jesus healed the sick & fed the hungry. Jesus forgave sins & freed those held captive by all manner of demonic powers. Jesus crossed barriers of race, class & culture... Jesus preached & practised unconditional love - love of God, love of neighbour, love of friend, love of enemy - and He commanded His followers to love one another as He had loved them.

 

Offertory Prayer/Offertory/Doxology – tune VU#541

“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Amen.”

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Pastoral/Lords’ Prayer (VU #911): 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 & forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom & the power & the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Hymn VU #155                    “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”

 

Benediction

 

 

Good day & welcome to the worship service! If you are a visitor, we hope that you will experience God’s love and joy. We also hope that you will also experience our friendship. “We are glad having you here!”

 

Music: We are grateful to our Church musicians Elaine Michaels (Cereal & Oyen), Dianne Ball & Trina Mears (Alsask), Stacy Devos (Consort), Vicky Smale (Oyen) & TaiLi Rhoad (Oyen & Concert)

Minister:  Rev. Johnny Rhoad      jcrhoad@yahoo.com

(403) 433-0171 Mobile

(780) 625-4448 Home

(403) 577-3769 Knox United Church, Consort – Mon. & Thurs.

(403) 664-3987 Oyen United Church – Tues. & Wed.

Ministry: You, the Congregation!

God’s grace be with all of you.

 

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