Good Friday: Service of the Nails

Introduction to the Service: The service this morning titled the “Service of The Nails” is a series of readings, prayers and a sung hymn response with silent reflection designed to help us enter more deeply into the meaning of Good Friday. It has been adapted from a service written by Richard Fairchild in 1993 . You are invited to hold the nail you received throughout the service until the very end. You can remain seated for the service. Let us pray,

Holy and Merciful God,

On this solemn day, we come before You with heavy hearts, remembering the suffering and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we gather in the shadow of the cross, we ask for Your presence to fill this place with Your grace and truth.

Lord, we hear the echo of the hammer, the weight of the nails, and the sorrow of those who stood near. In this time of remembrance, let us not turn away but look upon the cross with humility and awe. May we see in Christ’s wounds the depth of Your love and the cost of our redemption.

Still our hearts, O God. Remove the distractions of the world so that we may fully enter into this time of worship, reflection, and repentance. As we meditate on the suffering of Christ, may we also find hope in His mercy and strength in His sacrifice.

Loving God, we thank you for Jesus, who had great courage, risking even death to bring about a world of love and justice. In our worship this day, may we hear and feel your passion, your sorrow, your forgiveness, and your call to follow, to love as Jesus loved. We pray in his name. Amen.

Let us sing the hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

The Nail of Pride Mark 12:38–40 “As he [Jesus} taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.””

In response, let us sing one verse of Were you there

Sung Response

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when they crucified my Lord.

Meditation and Prayer: (begin with silence)

Gracious and Humble Lord,

As we stand before the cross, we confess the pride that so often takes root in our hearts—the pride that blinds us to our need for You, that separates us from others, and that keeps us from fully surrendering to Your will.

Lord Jesus, You, who had every reason for glory, chose the path of humility. You did not grasp at power but emptied Yourself, becoming obedient even to death on a cross. Forgive us for the times we have exalted ourselves instead of lifting up others. Forgive us for seeking recognition, control, or status rather than embracing the humility You call us to.

As this nail is placed before us, let it remind us of the nails that pierced Your hands and feet—wounds borne in love, not pride. Teach us to follow Your example, to walk in humility, and to serve with the heart of a servant. Strip away our arrogance, and replace it with a spirit of grace and compassion.

**Lord, may we crucify our pride today, that we might rise in new life with You.

In Your holy and precious name, we pray.

Amen.

The Nail of Betrayal Matthew 26:47–56

Matthew 26:47–56 NRSV

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 perish 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 bandit? 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.

Let us sing in response one verse of Were You There:

Were you there when he walked the road alone?

Were you there when he walked the road alone?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when he walked the road alone?

Meditation and Prayer (beginning with silence)

Faithful and Merciful God,

On this solemn day, we remember the betrayal that led Jesus to the cross—the kiss that wounded deeper than the nails, the denial that echoed in the night, the abandonment of friends in His darkest hour. Lord, we confess that we, too, have been both betrayed and betrayers. We have felt the sting of broken trust, and we have turned away from You and others in moments of weakness and fear.

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have denied You—not just in words, but in our actions, our silence, and our failure to stand for truth. Forgive us for the ways we have wounded those we love, for the promises we have broken, and for the trust we have failed to honor.

As this nail is laid before us, let it remind us of the depth of Your love, even in the face of betrayal. You, O Christ, forgave those who abandoned You. You welcomed back the fallen and restored the broken. Help us to do the same. Teach us to forgive as You forgave, to love as You loved, and to trust in Your unfailing mercy.

May this nail not only remind us of human weakness but also of divine grace. Even in betrayal, You remained faithful. Even in our failures, You offer redemption.

**Lord, may we crucify our betrayal today, that we might lay our hearts before You, trusting in the power of Your forgiveness and the hope of new beginnings.

In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray.

Amen.

The Nail of Envy Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:20–28 NRSV

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Let us sing in response:

Were you there when they stripped him of his clothes?

Were you there when they stripped him of his clothes?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when they stripped him of his clothes?

Meditation and Prayer (beginning with silence)

Gracious and Loving God,

As we gather in the shadow of the cross, we bring before You the burden of envy—the jealousy that poisons our hearts, the resentment that clouds our vision, and the discontent that steals our joy. We remember how envy played its part in this day of sorrow, how the religious leaders, consumed by jealousy, handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Lord, we confess that envy has taken root in our own lives. We have compared ourselves to others, wanting what they have, resenting their blessings, and failing to trust in Your perfect plan for us. Forgive us, O God, for the times we have allowed envy to create distance between us and those we should love, for the moments when we have desired recognition, success, or status more than we have desired You.

As this nail is placed before us, let it be a reminder that Jesus bore the weight of human sin—including our envy—so that we might be set free. Teach us to find contentment in Your love, to celebrate the gifts of others without resentment, and to trust that what You have given us is enough. Fill our hearts with gratitude, generosity, and peace, replacing envy with a spirit of grace.

**Lord, may we crucify our envy today, that we might rise in new life with You.

In the name of Jesus, our humble and selfless Savior, we pray.

Amen.

The Nail of Indecision Matthew 27:20–24 “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.””

Sung Response

Let us sing in response, a verse of Were You There:

Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?

Were you there when they nailed him to the cross?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when they nailed him to the cross

Meditation and Prayer (beginning with silence)

Almighty and Sovereign God,

On this solemn day, we remember how indecision played its role in the road to the cross. Pontius Pilate stood before the crowd, knowing the truth yet wavering in fear. Instead of standing for justice, he washed his hands and turned away.

Lord, we confess that we, too, have struggled with indecision. We have hesitated when we should have spoken, remained silent when we should have acted, and stood still when You called us to move. We have allowed fear, doubt, and the opinions of others to cloud our judgment and keep us from fully following You.

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have chosen comfort over conviction, for the moments we have delayed obedience, and for the opportunities we have let slip away. As we lay this nail before You, let it remind us of the cost of hesitation in the face of truth. Give us the courage to stand firm in faith, to choose You above all else, and to walk boldly in the path You have set before us.

**Lord, may we crucify our indecision today, that we might rise in new life with You.

In the name of Jesus, our steadfast and faithful Savior, we pray.

Amen.

The Nail of Cruelty Matthew 27:27-31, 35-42

Matthew 27:27–31 NRSV

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.

Matthew 27:35–42 NRSV

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 bandits 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.

Let us sing in response:

Were you there when they mocked the son of God?

Were you there when they mocked the son of God?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when they mocked the son of God?

Meditation and Prayer (beginning with silence)

Merciful and Compassionate God,

On this solemn day, we remember the cruelty that led Jesus to the cross—the hands that struck Him, the voices that mocked Him, the hearts that showed no mercy. We see in His suffering the pain inflicted by human sin, and we confess that cruelty is not only found in the past but also in our own hearts, words, and actions.

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have been unkind, for the moments when we have spoken harshly, judged unfairly, or turned away from those in need. Forgive us for the ways we have ignored suffering or contributed to the pain of others, whether by action or inaction.

As we place this nail before You, let it remind us of the depth of Your love—a love that endured cruelty without retaliation, a love that answered hatred with grace. Soften our hearts, Lord, and make us instruments of Your peace. Help us to reject anger, bitterness, and harshness, and instead, clothe ourselves in kindness, gentleness, and compassion.

**May we crucify our cruelty today, that we might rise in new life with You.

In the name of Jesus, who suffered so that we might know mercy, we pray.

Amen.

The Nail of Hatred Luke 6:22,32-35

Luke 6:22 NRSV

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.

Luke 6:32–35 NRSV

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Let us sing in response:

Were you there when the sun refused shine?

Were you there when the sun refused shine?

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Meditation and Prayer (beginning with silence)

God of Love and Mercy,

On this solemn day, we stand before the cross, where hatred did its worst, yet love triumphed. We remember the hatred that surrounded Jesus—the shouts of the crowd, the mockery of the soldiers, the rejection of those He came to save. Though innocent, He bore the weight of human cruelty, yet even in His suffering, He responded with forgiveness.

Lord, we confess that hatred is still present in our world and in our hearts. We have harbored resentment, held grudges, and allowed anger to take root within us. We have divided ourselves from others, choosing bitterness over reconciliation, judgment over grace. Forgive us, O God, for the times we have failed to love as You love.

As we lay this nail before You, let it be a sign of our desire to let go of hatred and embrace Your way of peace. Teach us to forgive as You forgave, to love as You love, and to seek unity where there is division. Replace our hardness with compassion, our bitterness with mercy, and our anger with the healing power of Your grace.

**Lord, may we crucify our hatred today, that we might rise in new life with You.

In the name of Jesus, who conquered hatred with love, we pray.

Amen.

Read Mark 15:21-39

Mark 15:21–39 NRSV

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

THE RESPONSE

On this darkest of days, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.  Confessing our participation today in the sin of this world, we come forward to the cross.  We are invited to place our fears and judgments, our guilt and our worries, at the foot of the cross.

As the music to “Were You There” is played you are invited to come forward and hammer your nail with your red ribbon into the wooden cross. A moment to recall when Jesus was nailed to the cross, his suffering and sacrifice for humanity’s sin, a moment to reflect on our own sins and burdens, nailing them to the cross as an act of surrender and seeking forgiveness. We have people up here to help, so you can either hammer it yourself or give it to them to hammer in, or if it is a struggle to come forward you can have them come get your nail with your ribbon. This will conclude our service, once the nails are all in, the cross will stay erected and we will leave in silence.